Publication Abstract

Four years of monitoring for viral haemorrhagic spticaemia virus in marine waters around the United Kingdom

Four years of monitoring for fish viruses in marine waters around the UK

P.F. Dixon, S. Avery, E. Chambers, S. Feist, H. Mandhar, L. Parry, D.M. Stone, H.K. Strømmen, J.K Thurlow, C. Tsin-yee Lui and K. Way

Between 1995 and 1998, marine fish from around the coast of the UK were collected and samples analysed for viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) by isolation in cell culture. In 1997 and 1998 the samples were also analysed by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A total of 1787 fish of 11 species were tested, but VHSV was only isolated one occasion, from herring (Clupea harengus) in 1996 (Dixon et al. 1997). However, despite VHSV not being isolated in 1997 and 1998, in both years samples of herring and cod produced positive signals in the RT-PCR. These results are believed to be true indications of the presence of VHSV nucleic acid in the fish, and the virus isolation results to be false negatives. The reasons for this are discussed. In 1997, birnaviruses from Serogroup B1 were isolated from herring (a previously unrecorded host for the virus) and cod (Gadus morhua), and a birnavirus from Serogroup A2 was also isolated from cod. In 1998, an aquareovirus was isolated from haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), a previously unrecorded host for the virus.

Reference:

P.F. Dixon, S. Avery, E. Chambers, S. Feist, H. Mandhar, L. Parry, D.M. Stone, H.K. Strømmen, J.K Thurlow, C. Tsin-yee Lui and K. Way.2003. Four years of monitoring for fish viruses in marine waters around the UK. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 54 (3) 175-186

P.F. Dixon*, S. Avery, E. Chambers*, S. Feist*, H. Mandhar, L. Parry, D.M. Stone*, H.K. Strømmen, J.K Thurlow, C. Tsin-yee Lui and K. Way*

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 54 (3) 175-186