Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
DAO is a hybrid research journal on all aspects of disease phenomena in aquatic organisms.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao065023
copiedHerpes-like virus infection causing mortality of cultured abalone Haliotis diversicolor supertexta in Taiwan
A herpes-like virus is demonstrated for the first time to be associated with high mortality rates in maricultured abalone Haliotis diversicolor supertexta in Taiwan. Histopathology of moribund abalone indicated that the nerve system was the primary target tissue. The lesions were characterised by tissue necrosis accompanied with infiltration of haemocytes. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated viral particles within the degenerated cerebral ganglion cells. The viruses were hexagonal, approximately 100 nm in diameter and had a single coat. Some viral particles contained a dense nucleoid, while others were empty. The ultrastructure and morphogenesis of the virus particles were consistent with those of the herpesvirus described from the oyster Crassostrea virginica. Experimental infection using supernatant collected from minced visceral organs and muscle of moribund abalone induced 100% mortality through both intramuscular injection and bath treatments.
KEYWORDS
Pen Heng Chang (Co-author)
Shu Ting Kuo (Co-author)
- National Institute for Animal Health, Tansui 25158, Taiwan, ROC
San Huei Lai (Co-author)
Hong Shii Yang (Co-author)
- Mariculture Research Center, Fisheries Research Institute, Tainan 72453, Taiwan, ROC
Yun Yuan Ting (Co-author)
- Mariculture Research Center, Fisheries Research Institute, Tainan 72453, Taiwan, ROC
Ching Lung Hsu (Co-author)
- Department of Aquaculture and Coastal Fisheries, Council of Agriculture, Taipei 10093, Taiwan, ROC
Hon Cheng Chen (Co-author)
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC