A zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) infection

Virology. 2008 Jun 20;376(1):1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.12.026. Epub 2008 Apr 21.

Abstract

Zebrafish is a model animal for studies of genetics, development, toxicology, oncology, and immunology. In this study, infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) was used to establish an infection in zebrafish, and the experimental conditions were established and characterized. Mortality of adult zebrafish infected with ISKNV by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection exceeded 60%. ISKNV can be passed stably in zebrafish for over ten passages. The ailing zebrafish displayed petechial hemorrhaging and scale protrusion. Histological analysis of moribund fish revealed necrosis of tissue and enlarged cells in kidney and spleen. The real-time RT-PCR analysis of mRNA level confirmed that ISKNV was replicated in zebrafish. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses further confirmed the presence of ISKNV-infected cells in almost all organs of the infected fish. Electron microscope analyses showed that the ISKNV particle was present in the infected tissues. The establishment of zebrafish infection model of ISKNV can offer a valuable tool for studying the interactions between ISKNV and its host.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Virus Infections / mortality
  • DNA Virus Infections / pathology*
  • DNA Virus Infections / virology*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Fish Diseases / virology*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Iridoviridae / growth & development*
  • Iridoviridae / isolation & purification
  • Iridoviridae / pathogenicity*
  • Iridoviridae / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Necrosis / virology
  • Purpura / virology
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Serial Passage
  • Virion / ultrastructure
  • Virus Replication
  • Zebrafish / virology*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Viral