Koi herpesvirus and carp oedema virus: Infections and coinfections during mortality events of wild common carp in the United States

Koi herpesvirus (KHV; cyprinid herpesvirus‐3) and carp oedema virus (CEV) are important viruses of common and koi carp (Cyprinus carpio); however, the distribution of these viruses in wild common carp in North America is largely unknown. During the summers of 2017 and 2018, 27 mass mortalities of common carp were reported from four states in the USA (Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin), the majority of which were distributed across eight major watersheds in southern Minnesota. Samples from 22 of these mortality events and from five clinically healthy nearby carp populations were screened for KHV, CEV and SVCV using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). KHV was confirmed in 13 mortality events, CEV in two mortality events and coinfections of KHV/CEV in four mortality events. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the KHV and CEV detected here are closely related to European lineages of these viruses. While molecular detection alone cannot conclusively link either virus with disease, the cases described here expand the known range of two important viruses. This is also the first reported detection of KHV and CEV coinfections in wild carp populations.     

Do wild fish species contribute to the transmission of koi herpesvirus to carp in hatchery ponds?

The koi herpesvirus (KHV) has spread worldwide since its discovery in 1998 and causes disease and mortality in koi and common carp populations with a high impact on the carp production industry. Many investigations have been conducted to examine ways of distribution and to identify possible transmission vectors. The answers, however, raise many new questions. In the present study, different wild fish species taken from carp ponds with a history of KHV infection were examined for their susceptibility to the virus. In the tissue of these fish, the virus load was determined and it was tested whether a release of the virus could be induced by stress and the virus then could be transferred to naive carp. Wild fish were gathered from carp ponds during acute outbreaks of virus‐induced mortality in summer and from ponds stocked with carp carrying a latent KHV infection. From these ponds, wild fish were collected during the harvesting process in autumn or spring when the ponds were drained. We found that regardless of season, temperature variation, age and infection status of the carp stock, wild fish from carp ponds and its outlets could be tested positive for the KHV genome using real‐time PCR with a low prevalence and virus load. Furthermore, virus transfer to naive carp was observed after a period of cohabitation. Cyprinid and non‐cyprinid wild fish can therefore be considered as an epidemiological risk for pond carp farms.     

Virulence of a chimeric recombinant infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus expressing the spring viraemia of carp virus glycoprotein in salmonid and cyprinid fish

Infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) are both rhabdoviruses of fish, listed as notifiable disease agents by the World Organization for Animal Health. Recombinant rhabdoviruses with heterologous gene substitutions have been engineered to study genetic determinants and assess the potential of these recombinant viruses for vaccine development. A recombinant IHNV (rIHNV), containing the full‐length genome of a European IHNV strain, was modified by deleting the glycoprotein (G) gene and replacing it with a European SVCV G‐gene to make the rIHNV‐Gsvcv. The chimeric rIHNV‐Gsvcv level of virulence in rainbow trout, common carp and koi was assessed, and its ability to induce a protective immune response in surviving koi against wild‐type SVCV infection was tested. The rIHNV‐Gsvcv infection of trout led to high mortality, ranging from 78% to 92.5%, after immersion. In contrast, no deaths occurred in juvenile common carp after infection with rIHNV‐Gsvcv by either immersion or intraperitoneal (IP) injection. Similarly, koi infected with rIHNV‐Gsvcv via IP injection had little to no mortality (≤9%). Koi that survived initial infection with a high dose of recombinant virus rIHNV‐Gsvcv were protected against a virulent SVCV challenge resulting in a high relative per cent survival of 82.5%.     

The effect of feeding commercial diets on the development of juvenile crucian carp (Carassius carassius,L.). Part 1: Skeletal deformations

The crucian carp (Carassius carassius, L.) is a cyprinid freshwater species, whose wild‐living populations have decreased in recent years due to an increasing competition of invasive species. Several initiatives were launched, attempting to reintroduce this fish back into its native open waters, which requires the use of crucian carp fry grown under controlled conditions. However, the use of popular commercial diets results in severe developmental abnormalities. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of feeding natural feed (Chironomidae sp. larvae) or two popular commercial diets on the skeletal development of crucian carp juveniles. Whole‐mount staining and histological methods were used in the study. Skeletal tissues of fish fed both commercial diets were demineralized and displayed a variety of deformities, such as abnormal vertebral spines and vertebral fusion, as well as a new type of deformation, which involved the action of dorsal fin pterygiophores upon the spine. Finally, a novel analytical method was proposed, which utilizes LA‐ICP‐MS for the estimation of bone mineralization. The study proved that basic commercial diets are inadequate for the rearing of crucian carp juveniles.     

Evaluating potential competitive bottlenecks between invasive common carp and native bluegill and yellow perch

Processes influencing fish recruitment are often highly complex and inherently difficult to understand. Invasive species may complicate recruitment through habitat and food web modifications resulting in competitive bottlenecks. Common carp Cyprinus carpio have been distributed worldwide, and their introductions have resulted in destructive effects on aquatic ecosystems and food web dynamics. Common carp are highly fecund, and high densities of age‐0 carp may occur in some years that may reduce invertebrate prey resources and adversely affect native age‐0 fishes. We used enclosures and field observations to examine potential effects of age‐0 common carp on growth and survival of age‐0 yellow perch Perca flavescens and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus. Yellow perch and bluegill were stocked into enclosures with and without common carp (31 fish/m³) using a substitution experimental design, and fish growth and survival and invertebrate prey resources were assessed. Common carp reduced growth of yellow perch but not bluegill and did not affect survival of either species in mesocosms. Next, we used patterns of common carp, bluegill, and yellow perch abundance and total length across 38 lake‐years to evaluate potential interspecific interactions in natural systems. Age‐0 common carp abundance was not negatively related to size or abundance of bluegill or yellow perch. However, adult common carp and age‐0 yellow perch abundance were inversely related, suggesting a potential competitive bottleneck. Thus, age‐0 common carp may suppress growth of yellow perch when prey is limited, but adult common carp may have larger effects than early life stages on native juvenile fishes.     

鲤春病毒血症病毒核蛋白、磷蛋白与基质蛋白的表达、抗体制备及免疫原性比较

鲤春病毒血症病毒(SVCV)能够引起鲤科鱼类大量死亡,被世界动物卫生组织(OIE)列为必须申报的重要疫病,也是我国唯一被列为一类疫病的鱼类传染病。为建立SVCV的快速免疫学诊断方法,研究其主要结构蛋白间的免疫原性差异,实验首先采用原核表达系统克隆并诱导表达,纯化SVCV的核蛋白(N)、磷蛋白(P)和基质蛋白(M),并进一步免疫新西兰白兔制备抗血清,抗血清经Protein A柱进一步纯化获得3种蛋白的多克隆抗体。利用间接酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)和免疫印迹实验(Western blot)对抗体效价和特异性进行分析验证。结果发现,SVCV的N、P和M重组蛋白均在原核表达系统获得大量表达,且表达的蛋白经纯化后免疫实验动物产生了相应的多克隆抗体。Western blot结果显示,3种蛋白抗体均与SVCV重组蛋白及天然蛋白发生特异性的免疫反应。ELISA结果显示,针对P蛋白制备的抗体效价最高,可达409 600;针对N和M蛋白制备的抗体效价也均大于204 800。同时,特异性检测实验结果显示,制备的3种蛋白抗体均仅与SVCV发生特异性免疫反应,而与SVCV宿主其他易感病毒均不发生交叉反应。实验结果将对SVCV的快速诊断及疫苗开发提供新的手段和思路。     

Establishment of a cell line from the kidney of black carp and its susceptibility to spring viremia of carp virus

In this study, we established and characterized a cell line derived from the kidney of black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), which is an important freshwater aquaculture species. The cell line was designated as MPK and subcultured for more than 70 passages in DMEM medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 28°C. MPK had a modal diploid chromosome number of 48. Moreover, a transient MPK transfection efficiency was up to 18% using a green fluorescent protein plasmid by a modified electroporation. In addition, the MPK cells showed susceptibility to spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), as demonstrated by the presence of severe cytopathic effects (CPEs) and increased viral RNA. Unexpectedly, the MPK cells expressed pluripotency‐associated genes such as nanog, oct4 and vasa, indicating that these are possibly adult stem cells. Taken together, we have established a stable cell line from kidney that may potentially be utilized as an in vitro platform for genetic modifications and host–pathogen analysis in black carp.     

鲤春病毒血症病毒生物学研究进展

近年来,鱼类急性出血性疾病——鲤春病毒血症的暴发屡屡给水产养殖业带来巨大的经济损失.鲤春病毒血症是由鲤春病毒血症病毒引起的,该病毒具有传染性强,发病率高的特点,目前尚无有效治疗药物.文章从流行特点、临床症状、生物学特征、检测技术和疫苗研究等方面总结概述了鲤春病毒血症病毒的生物学研究进展,可为进一步深入研究该病毒提供参考...     

Potential vector species of carp edema virus (CEV)

During a PCR‐based CEV survey in Poland in 2015–2017, the virus was detected in many farms both in clinical and asymptomatic cases and in common as well as in koi carp (Cyprinus carpio). In order to evaluate the potential carrier role of fish species that share the same habitats with carp, an experimental trial was performed. Investigations carried out on specimens of bleak (Alburnus alburnus), crucian carp (Carassius carassius), European perch (Perca fluviatilis), Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and tench (Tinca tinca) cohabited with CEV‐infected carp yielded positive results. These species of fish were experimentally cohabited with CEV‐infected common carp at a temperature of 16°C ± 1. Material from the brain, gills, spleen, kidneys, intestine and skin was investigated for the presence of CEV DNA. Similar investigations were performed with uninfected fish designated controls. Samples were tested for CEV by qPCR.     

鲤Rhbdd3蛋白的抗病毒功能

Rhbdd3(Rhomboid domain-containing protein 3)蛋白在哺乳动物天然免疫中发挥了重要作用,但水生动物中rhbdd3基因的确定序列及Rhbdd3蛋白的功能均尚未见报道。为研究鲤(Cyprinus carpio)的Rhbdd3蛋白在鱼类细胞中的功能,探讨其过表达对鱼类病毒感染的影响,本研究通过PCR扩增得到了鲤rhbdd3基因的编码序列,并将其克隆至pCI-neo载体上,构建了真核表达质粒pCI-rhbdd3。pCI-rhbdd3转染鲤上皮瘤细胞EPC(epithelioma papulosum cyprinid)和鲑囊胚细胞CHSE-214(chinook salmon embryo)后利用制备的特异性抗体进行Western blot,检测Rhbdd3蛋白的表达情况,并利用CCK-8试剂检测其过表达对细胞增殖的影响。转染后分别进行鲤春病毒血症病毒(SVCV)和传染性胰腺坏死病毒(IPNV)的感染实验,并利用间接免疫荧光、Western blot和RT-qPCR方法检测Rhbdd3过表达对SVCV和IPNV增殖的影响。结果显示,pCI-rhbdd3转染后Rhbdd3蛋白在EPC和CHSE-214细胞中得到了过表达,且Rhbdd3蛋白的过表达能显著抑制SVCV和IPNV的复制,但不影响两种细胞的正常活性。本研究为鱼类广谱抗病毒药物的开发提供了新的实验依据,也为鱼类抗病毒新品种的培育奠定了重要基础。     

In vitro cultivation model for Heterosporis saurida (Microsporidia) isolated from lizardfish,Saurida undosquamis (Richardson)

Heterosporis saurida is a microsporidian that infects lizardfish, Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848), in the Arabian Sea. Spores were isolated from infected lizardfish and used to infect derived fish cell lines: common carp brain (CCB), epithelioma papulosum cyprinid (EPC), fathead minnow epithelial (FHM), rainbow trout gonad (RTG), bluegill fry (BF‐2) and chinook salmon embryo (CHSE). Non‐fish cell lines were also tested that include: insect (SF‐9), rabbit (RK‐13) and African green monkey (Vero E6). No growth of H. saurida was observed in any fish cell line, SF‐9 or Vero E6 cell lines. H. saurida spores grew only in RK‐13 cell line and were detected by immunofluorescence. Developmental stages of H. saurida were seen in RK‐13 cells by light and transmission electron microscopy, and species identification was confirmed by sequencing. This study demonstrated that H. saurida was able to proliferate in the mammalian RK‐13 cell line, which thus represents an in vitro model for conducting molecular genetics and cell–pathogen interaction studies of Heterosporis.     

Evaluation of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal model for the viral infections of fish

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a laboratory model organism used in different areas of biological research including studies of immune response and host–pathogen interactions. Thanks to many biological tools available, zebrafish becomes also an important model in aquaculture research since several fish viral infection models have been developed for zebrafish. Here, we have evaluated the possible use of zebrafish to study infections with fish viruses that have not yet been tested on this model organism. In vitro studies demonstrated that chum salmon reovirus (CSV; aquareovirus A) and two alloherpesviruses cyprinid herpesvirus 1 (CyHV‐1) and cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV‐3) are able to replicate in zebrafish cell lines ZF4 and SJD.1. Moreover, CSV induced a clear cytopathic effect and up‐regulated the expression of antiviral genes vig‐1 and mxa in both cell lines. In vivo studies demonstrated that both CSV and CyHV‐3 induce up‐regulation of vig‐1 and mxa expression in kidney and spleen of adult zebrafish after infection by i.p. injection but not in larvae after infection by immersion. CyHV‐3 is eliminated quickly from fish; therefore, virus clearing process could be evaluated, and in CSV‐infected fish, a prolonged confrontation of the host with the pathogen could be studied.     

Susceptibility of isogeneic ginbuna Carassius auratus langsdorfii Temminck et Schlegel to cyprinid herpesvirus‐2 (CyHV‐2) as a model species

Herpesviral haematopoietic necrosis (HVHN), caused by cyprinid herpesvirus‐2 (CyHV‐2), has affected the commercial production of the goldfish Carassius auratus and gibelio carp Carassius auratus gibelio. High water temperature treatments are reported to reduce the mortality rate of infected goldfish and elicit immunity in the survivors. To define the mechanism by which this intervention induces resistance, clonal ginbuna Carassius auratus langsdorfii, which is closely related to both species and has been used in fish immunology, may represent a promising model species. In this study, we investigated the susceptibility of clonal ginbuna strains to CyHV‐2 and the effect of high water temperature treatment on infected ginbuna and goldfish. Experimental intraperitoneal infection with CyHV‐2 at 25 °C caused 100% mortality in ginbuna strains, which was accompanied by histopathological changes typical of HVHN. Both infected ginbuna S3n strain and goldfish, exposed to high temperature for 6 days [shifting from 25 °C (permissive) to 34 °C (non‐permissive)], showed reduced mortalities after the 1st inoculation, and subsequent 2nd virus challenge to 0%, indicating induction of immunity. It was concluded that ginbuna showed a similar susceptibility and disease development in CyHV‐2 infection compared to goldfish, suggesting that ginbuna can be a useful fish model for the study of CyHV‐2 infection and immunity.