Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
DAO is a hybrid research journal on all aspects of disease phenomena in aquatic organisms.
Impact Factor1.2 (JCR 2025 release)
Article Acceptance Rate47.2% (2024)
Average Time in Review183 days (2024)
Total Annual Downloads629.252 (2025)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02594
copiedMegalocytivirus infection in orbiculate batfish Platax orbicularis
- Preeyanan Sriwanayos
- Ruth Francis-Floyd
- Mark F. Stidworthy
- Barbara D. Petty
- Karen Kelley
- Thomas B. Waltzek
ABSTRACT: Megalocytiviruses cause systemic disease in both marine and freshwater fishes, negatively impacting ornamental and food fish aquaculture. In this report, we characterize a megalocytivirus infection in a captive marine ornamental fish, the orbiculate batfish Platax orbicularis. Histologic examination revealed cytomegalic cells characterized by strongly basophilic granular intracytoplasmic inclusions within various organs. Transmission electron microscopy revealed icosahedral virus particles within the cytoplasm of cytomegalic cells consistent with an iridovirus infection. Analysis of the major capsid protein gene sequence confirmed that the orbiculate batfish virus is a member of the family Iridoviridae and is identical to the only other megalocytivirus reported from a marine ornamental fish, the Banggai cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni iridovirus.
KEYWORDS
Preeyanan Sriwanayos (Co-author)
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forestry Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32653, USA
Ruth Francis-Floyd (Co-author)
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forestry Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32653, USA
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
Mark F. Stidworthy (Co-author)
- International Zoo Veterinary Group, Station House, Parkwood Street, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD21 4NQ, UK
Barbara D. Petty (Co-author)
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forestry Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32653, USA
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
Karen Kelley (Co-author)
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR), Cellomics Division, Electron Microscopy and Bio-imaging Core Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
Thomas B. Waltzek (Corresponding Author)
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA