Pathogenicity of snakehead vesiculovirus in rice field eels (Monopterus albus)

Lindan Sun; Jiagang Tu; Lizhu Yi; Wenjie Chen; Lijuan Zhao; Yunmao Huang; Rishen Liang; Jun Li; Meng Zhou; Li Lin

doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2017.07.042

Pathogenicity of snakehead vesiculovirus in rice field eels (Monopterus albus)

Microb Pathog. 2017 Sep:110:578-585. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.07.042. Epub 2017 Aug 3.

Authors

Lindan Sun¹, Jiagang Tu², Lizhu Yi², Wenjie Chen³, Lijuan Zhao¹, Yunmao Huang³, Rishen Liang³, Jun Li⁴, Meng Zhou⁵, Li Lin⁶

Affiliations

¹ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Waterfowl Healthy Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510225, China; Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
² Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
³ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Waterfowl Healthy Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510225, China.
⁴ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Waterfowl Healthy Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510225, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China; School of Biological Sciences, Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, USA.
⁵ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Waterfowl Healthy Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510225, China. Electronic address: 1049855706@qq.com.
⁶ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Waterfowl Healthy Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510225, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China; Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China. Electronic address: linli@zhku.edu.cn.

PMID: 28782597
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.07.042

Abstract

Snakehead vesiculovirus (SHVV) has caused mass mortality to cultured snakehead fish in China, resulting in enormous economic losses in snakehead fish culture. In this report, the whole genome of SHVV was sequenced. Interestingly, it shared more than 94% nucleotide sequence identity with Monopterus albus rhabdovirus (MoARV), which has caused great economic loss to cultured rice field eel (Monopterus albus). Therefore, the concern of cross-species infection of these viruses prompted us to investigate the susceptibility of rice field eel to SHVV infection. The results showed that rice field eel was susceptible to SHVV in both intracoelomical injection and immersion routes. Severe hemorrhage was observed on the skin and visceral organs of SHVV-infected rice field eels. Histopathological examination showed vacuoles in the tissues of infected liver, kidney and heart. Viral RNA or protein was detected in the tissues of infected fish by reverse transcription polymerization chain reaction (RT-PCR), in situ hybridization (ISH), or immunohistochemistry assay (IHC). Investigation of the epidemic of vesiculovirus in rice field eel as well as other co-cultured fish is invaluable for the prevention of vesiculovirus infection.

Keywords: Immunohistochemistry assay; In situ hybridization; Pathogenicity; Rice field eel; Snakehead fish vesiculovirus; Susceptibility.

MeSH terms

Animal Structures / pathology
Animal Structures / virology
Animals
China
Computational Biology
Eels / virology*
Fish Diseases / pathology*
Fish Diseases / virology*
Histocytochemistry
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
RNA, Viral / analysis
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rhabdoviridae Infections / pathology
Rhabdoviridae Infections / veterinary*
Rhabdoviridae Infections / virology
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Vesiculovirus / genetics
Vesiculovirus / isolation & purification
Vesiculovirus / pathogenicity*
Viral Proteins / analysis
Whole Genome Sequencing

Substances

RNA, Viral
Viral Proteins