Serological studies of the rhabdovirus of penaeid shrimp (RPS) and its relationship to three other fish rhabdoviruses

Abstract. The serological relationship of rhabdovirus of penaeid shrimp (RPS) to three fish rhabdoviruses was determined by plaque-reduction and neutralization kinetics techniques using polyclonal antiserum against RPS. Although RPS was found to be serologically related to Rhabdovirus carpio (RC), a Vesiculovirus type, the two viruses were clearly distinguishable from one another, RPS was unrelated to two other fish rhabdoviruses of the Lyssavirus type, infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). Under single cycle growth conditions, immunofluorescence studies showed the appearance of RPS viral antigens as early as 3h post-infection (pi). The degree of fluorescence and the number of fluorescing cells progressively increased until 24 h pi when more than 90% of the cells showed viral antigens.