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DAO
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

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DAO 126:239-246 (2017)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03180

Evaluation of blue mussel Mytilus edulis as vector for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV)

Kwang Il Kim1, Young Chul Kim2, Woo Ju Kwon2, Hyun Do Jeong2,*

1Aquaculture Industry Division, East Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Gangwon-do 25435, Republic of Korea
2Department of Aquatic Life Medicine, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: When viral diseases occur in aquaculture farms, the virus released into the seawater from infected animals can re-infect other susceptible species or accumulate in filter-feeding organisms. We conducted a viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) survivability analysis of blue mussel Mytilus edulis digestive enzymes, viral depuration, and infectivity tests via in vitro and in vivo inoculation to evaluate the infectious state. VHSV particles were not completely digested within 24 h in vitro and were maintained for 7 d in the mussel digestive gland. Mussels cohabitating with naturally VHSV-infected olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus could accumulate the viral particles. Although the viral particles in the gill as the entrance of filter-feeding organisms are infectious, the presence of these particles in the digestive gland were not able to induce cytopathic effects in vitro. Viral particles detected by RT-PCR from bivalve mollusks (Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas and mussel) from the field did not produce cytopathic effects in cell culture and did not replicate after intraperitoneal injection into olive flounder. Therefore, VHSV particles in blue mussel might be in a non-infectious stage and the possibilities of VHSV transmission to fish under field conditions are scarce.


KEY WORDS: Viral hemorrhagic septicemia · Blue mussel · Digestive gland tissue · Survivability · Depuration


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Cite this article as: Kim KI, Kim YC, Kwon WJ, Jeong HD (2017) Evaluation of blue mussel Mytilus edulis as vector for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV). Dis Aquat Org 126:239-246. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03180

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