Application of in situ detection techniques to determine the systemic condition of lymphocystis disease virus infection in cultured gilt-head seabream, Sparus aurata L

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques have been used for the detection of lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from gilt-head seabream, Sparus aurata L. Diseased and recovered fish from the same population were analysed. IHC was performed with a polyclonal antibody against a 60-kDa viral protein. A specific digoxigenin-labelled probe, obtained by PCR amplification of a 270-bp fragment of the gene coding the LCDV major capsid protein, was used for ISH. LCDV was detected in skin dermis and gill lamellae, as well as in several internal organs such as the intestine, liver, spleen and kidney using both techniques. Fibroblasts, hepatocytes and macrophages seem to be target cells for virus replication. The presence of lymphocystis cells in the dermis of the skin and caudal fin, and necrotic changes in the epithelium of proximal renal tubules were the only histological alterations observed in fish showing signs of the disease.     

Identification and characterization of a novel lymphocystis disease virus isolate from cultured grouper in China

Grouper Epinephelus spp. is one of the most important mariculture fish species in China and South-East Asian countries. The emerging viral diseases, evoked by iridovirus which belongs to genus Megalocytivirus and Ranavirus, have been well characterized in recent years. To date, few data on lymphocystis disease in grouper which caused by lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) were described. Here, a novel LCDV isolate was identified and characterized. Based on the sequence of LCDV major capsid protein (MCP) and DNA polymerase gene, we found that the causative agents from different species of diseased groupers were the same one and herein were uniformly defined as grouper LCDV (GLCDV). Furthermore, H&E staining revealed that the nodules on the skin were composed of giant cells that contained inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm. Numerous virus particles with >210 nm in diameter and with hexagonal profiles were observed in the cytoplasm. In addition, phylogenetic analysis based on four iridovirus core genes, MCP, DNA polymerase, myristoylated membrane protein (MMP) and ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), consistently showed that GLCDV was mostly related to LCDV-C, followed by LCDV-1. Taken together, our data firstly provided the molecular evidence that GLCDV was a novel emerging iridovirus pathogen in grouper culture.     

Transmission of lymphocystis disease virus to cultured gilthead seabream,Sparus aurata L., larvae

The transmission of lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) to gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata L., larvae was investigated using fertilized eggs from a farm with previous reports of lymphocystis disease. LCDV genome was detected by PCR‐hybridization in blood samples from 17.5% of the asymptomatic gilthead seabream broodstock analysed. Using the same methodology, eggs spawned from these animals were LCDV positive, as well as larvae hatched from them. The presence of infective viral particles was confirmed by cytopathic effects development on SAF‐1 cells. Whole‐mount in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed the presence of LCDV in the epidermis of larvae hatched from LCDV‐positive eggs. When fertilized eggs were disinfected with iodine, no viral DNA was detected either in eggs (analysed by PCR‐hybridization) or in larvae (PCR‐hybridization and ISH). These results suggest the vertical transmission of LCDV, the virus being transmitted on the egg surface. Larvae hatched from disinfected eggs remain LCDV negative during the endotrophic phase, as showed by PCR‐hybridization, ISH and IHC. After feeding on LCDV‐positive rotifers, viral antigens were observed in the digestive tract, which suggests that viral entry could be achieved via the alimentary canal, and that rotifers can act as a vector in LCDV transmission to gilthead seabream larvae.     

Lymphocystis disease virus persists in the epidermal tissues of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminch & Schlegel), at low temperatures

Olive flounder artificially infected with lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) were reared at 10, 20 and 30 °C for 60 days, to compare LCD-incidence. In the fish reared at 20 °C, lymphocystis cells appeared on the skin and fins at 35 days post-challenge, and the cumulative LCD-incidence was 80% at 60 days. High levels of LCDV, with a mean polymerase chain reaction (PCR) titre of 10⁶ PCR-U mg⁻¹ tissue, were detected in the fins and skin of LCD-affected fish at 20 °C, but were not detected in the spleen, kidney, brain and intestinal tissues of these fish. No LCD clinical signs were observed in the fish reared at 10 °C and 30 °C; however, a low level of LCDV (10³ PCR-U mg⁻¹ tissue) was detected in the fins and skin of these fish. By increasing the rearing temperature from 10 to 20 °C, lymphocystis clusters appeared on the skin and fins of the fish with no previous LCD clinical signs within 33 days after the temperature change. It was shown that permissive cells for LCDV infection exist in the epidermis of olive flounder. At low temperatures, small amounts of LCDV were able to persist over a period extended for a further 45 days in the fish epidermis, even though the fish showed no LCD clinical signs. The optimum growth temperature of LCDV is near 20 °C.     

淋巴囊肿病毒结构蛋白及其抗原性分析

病鱼为威海水产养殖场感染淋巴囊肿病的牙鲆（Paralichthys olivaceus）,收集病鱼的囊肿组织,匀浆破碎,采用差速离心和蔗糖密度梯度离心方法,分离纯化淋巴囊肿病毒粒子.负染后,电镜观察证实获得的病毒纯度高,杂质极少,病毒粒子呈近似于圆形的多角形,结构完整.纯化的淋巴囊肿病毒粒子经SDS-PAGE,硝酸银染色后,电泳图谱清晰显示病毒结构蛋白带共有22条,且分子量主要集中在123～26 kD.应用Western blotting法分析病毒结构蛋白的抗原性,结果显示,分子量分别为123.55 kD、65.292 kD和54.438 kD的3条蛋白带发生了免疫反应,其中分子量为65.292 kD的蛋白带反应强度明显高于其他2条蛋白带.本研究旨为确定淋巴囊肿病毒主要衣壳蛋白提供基础依据.[中国水产科学,2006,13（3）：415-420]     

Induction of apoptosis in a flounder gill cell line by lymphocystis disease virus infection

Lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV), a large icosahedral DNA virus classified to the iridovirus family, is the causative agent of lymphocystis, a disease which occurs in marine and freshwater fish species and is characterized by formation of papilloma-like lesions on the surface of the skin. In vitro, LCDV infection causes flounder gill cells, an adherent cell line, to exhibit an obvious cytopathic effect (CPE). In order to test whether apoptosis is responsible for the observed CPE, cells infected with LCDV at a multiplicity of infection (m.o.i.) of 5 PFU per cell were examined at various time intervals for the appearance of apoptotic signs. Nuclear fragmentation, DNA laddering and caspase activation were observed in the infected cells at the time (i.e. 10 days post-infection) when an intensive CPE was observed. These findings demonstrate that LCDV is capable of inducing apoptosis in vitro, which is different from the result of LCDV infection in vivo, and consequently suggest an intricate LCDV-host interaction.     

牙鲆淋巴囊肿病毒一抗原蛋白的确认及定位

以牙鲆淋巴囊肿病毒（LCDV）为抗原免疫Balb/c小鼠，而后将小鼠脾细胞与P3U1骨髓瘤细胞融合，以囊肿组织冰冻切片的免疫荧光染色筛选杂交瘤细胞，阳性结果显示特异性块状荧光信号集中在囊肿细胞的细胞质边缘部分，且多个荧光信号相连呈现链圈状，有限稀释 法克隆阳性杂交瘤细胞，三次克隆后获得4株稳定产生抗LCDV抗体的单克隆杂交瘤细胞株（1A8、1D7、2B6、2D11）。应用Western-blotting法分析单抗识别蛋白的分子量，结果显示，单抗1D7 和2B6均能特异性结合一条分子量116 kD病毒多肽；应用免疫电镜技术定位单抗识别的抗原决定簇，结果发现胶体金颗粒集中吸附在病毒粒子衣壳周围，且背景清洁，无散在的金颗粒或其他污染物。实验结果说明分子量约为116 kD的蛋白多肽为LCDV病毒衣壳蛋白，且具有线性抗原决定簇。     

淋巴囊肿病毒27.8 ku受体蛋白在牙鲆组织中的分布

应用抗牙鲆淋巴囊肿病毒(lymphocystis disease virus,LCDV)受体蛋白(27.8 ku)的单克隆抗体(2G11和3D9)定位LCDV受体蛋白在牙鲆组织中的分布。通过对牙鲆外周血、白细胞、鳃、胃、肠、表皮、肝脏、头肾、体肾、脾、性腺、脑、心脏等进行LCDV受体蛋白的间接免疫荧光与免疫组织化学定位观察,发现在牙鲆外周血白细胞的细胞膜、鳃上皮细胞、表皮、胃黏膜上皮细胞顶端、肠上皮细胞、肝细胞、脾表层结缔组织细胞及头肾后端的肾小管上皮细胞内均有较强的阳性信号,表明这些部位分布有LCDV的27.8 ku受体蛋白,但在体肾、性腺、脑、心脏及外周血红细胞中未观察到阳性信号。推测LCDV通过与鳃、表皮及消化道上皮的受体结合进入牙鲆体内,通过与外周血白细胞上的受体结合侵染白细胞而进入血液循环,进而感染肝脏、脾脏、头肾等器官。     

Immune response of DNA vaccine against lymphocystis disease virus and expression analysis of immune‐related genes after vaccination

In this study, we found that an intramuscular injection of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus, 60–80 g in weight and 15–20 mL in length) with 5 μg of a DNA vaccine (pEGFP‐N2‐LCDV‐cn‐MCP 0.6 kb, containing lymphocystis disease virus major capsid protein gene) induced a strong immune response. Subsequent real‐time polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression of immune‐related genes [e.g., major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I α, MHC II α, T‐cell receptor (TCR), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR), Mx, interleukin (IL)‐1β, CXC and IL‐8R] was significantly changed after DNA vaccination. The most remarkable alternation was the expression of MHC I α and MHC II α genes: MHC II α reached the maximum on day 8 in different tissues, and MHC I α on day 2 in the intestine and gills. The expression of TCR increased and reached a plateau in 2 days in the spleen, gills, kidney and liver after vaccination and then decreased after day 8. In contrast, the expression of TCR in the intestine increased and reached a plateau in 8 days. The expression of IL‐8R reached the maximum on day 2 in different tissues and then decreased on day 8. Mx increased in the gills, kidney, spleen and liver on days 2, 8, 2 and 2, but decreased in the intestine, gills, spleen and liver on days 2, 8, 8 and 8 respectively. The TNFR expression increased in the spleen, kidney and gills on days 2, 8 and 8, but decreased in intestine, liver and gills on days 2, 8 and 8 respectively. The expression of TNF, CXC and IL‐1β increased 2 and 8 days after the injection of DNA vaccine. However, the expression of TNF, CXC and IL‐1β altered on days 2 and 8 with different patterns in different tissues respectively. The fish responded to the DNA vaccine by yielding a specific immunoglobulin against lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) as observed with indirect ELISA. The DNA vaccine induced a unique humoral response, suggesting that the DNA vaccine activated both cellular and humoral defences of the specific immune system of Japanese flounder.     

军曹鱼淋巴囊肿的病理学研究

应用病理组织学和电镜方法,对患疑似淋巴囊肿病的军曹鱼(Rachycentron canadum)的各器官进行观察.结果表明,患病军曹鱼的皮肤囊肿组织由一些淋巴囊肿细胞集合体组成,这些囊肿细胞排列紧密,直径为10～150 μm,细胞呈圆形、锥形不规则状;细胞外有一层厚的囊膜;细胞质内散布有大量的嗜碱性包涵体,且多数集中在细胞的边缘部分;电镜观察到囊肿细胞质中有大量二十面体的病毒粒子,病毒颗粒直径220 nm.据此确认该病为病毒性淋巴囊肿病.其他器官主要组织病理学变化有:在心脏、肝脏、脾脏和头肾中也存在囊肿细胞,心肌纤维水肿;肾间质淋巴细胞增生,巨噬中心出现,肾小管上皮细胞变性和坏死;脾淋巴细胞增生,脾髓质出血;肝脂肪变性;鳃上皮肿胀.根据观察结果可以认为,该病毒不仅损伤鱼的皮肤,致使病鱼外观异样而严重影响其商品价值,而且对鱼的内脏和免疫器官也造成严重的致命损伤.     

Detection of antigenic proteins expressed by lymphocystis virus as vaccine candidates in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck & Schlegel)

Although the major capsid proteins (MCPs) of lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) have been characterized, little is known about the host-derived immune response to MCPs and other LCDV antigenic proteins. To identify antigenic proteins of LCDV that could be used as vaccine candidates in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, we analysed the viral proteins responsible for its virulence by applying immuno-proteomics. LCDV proteins were separated by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride membrane, and probed with homogeneous P. olivaceus antisera elicited by LCDV natural infection and vaccination with formalin-killed LCDV. Four immune-reactive proteins were obtained at 68-, 51-, 41- and 21 kDa using antisera collected from natural infection while two proteins at 51- and 21 kDa exhibited response to antisera from vaccinated fish, indicating that the latter two proteins have vaccine potential. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and nanoelectrospray MS/MS, the 51 and 21 kDa proteins were identified as MCP and an unknown protein, respectively.     

Isolation of lymphocystis disease virus from sole, Solea senegalensis Kaup, and blackspot sea bream, Pagellus bogaraveo (Brunnich)

Two viruses were isolated from cultured sole, Solea senegalensis, and wild blackspot sea bream, Pagellus bogaraveo, and preliminarily characterized as lymphocystis disease viruses (LCDVs). Viral isolates were characterized by morphological, biochemical and biophysical properties. In addition, the susceptibility of four fish cell lines was also tested. LCDV isolates developed cytopathic effects on the SAF-1 cell line at 5 and 6 days post-infection and reached titres of 10(6) TCID50 mL(-1). The antigenic and structural protein analysis of the two new LCDV isolates showed identical profiles to that obtained for LCDV strain Leetown NFH (ATCC VR-342), used as a reference viral strain, and for an LCDV isolate collected from gilt-head sea bream, Sparus aurata, cultured in southern Spain. Molecular confirmation was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Specific primers for LCDV produced a 270-bp DNA fragment, the expected size for LCDV.     

病毒铺膜印迹技术分离牙鲆鳃细胞上的淋巴囊肿病毒结合蛋白

利用非变性电泳与病毒铺膜印迹技术(VOPBA)分离了牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)鳃细胞(FG)上淋巴囊肿病毒结合蛋白,结果显示在FG细胞膜上有分子量为135 kD的蛋白与淋巴囊肿病毒特异结合;对该蛋白切胶回收后进行SDS-PAGE与双向电泳,发现135 kD蛋白由3个蛋白组成,分子量分别为58.3 kD、44.6 kD及37.6 kD;135 kD蛋白SDS-PAGE的VOPBA显示,仅出现37.6 kD的蛋白带,而58.3 kD、44.6 kD蛋白皆不与淋巴囊肿病毒结合。结果表明牙鲆FG细胞上135 kD蛋白是淋巴囊肿病毒的结合蛋白,其37.6 kD蛋白具有病毒结合活性。     

山东沿海部分地区真鲷虹彩病毒病初步调查与分析

2008年11月～2010年11月,采集山东海域大菱鲆、石鲽、鲈鱼各20批,按照世界动物卫生组织推荐的PCR检测方法对真鲷虹彩病毒病(Red Sea Bream Iridoviral Disease,RSIVD)进行初步调查.结果显示,共检出4例RSIVD感染样品.以真鲷虹彩病毒(Red Sea Bream Iridovirus,RSIV)和传染性脾肾坏死病毒(Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus,ISKNV)主要衣壳蛋白基因为基础,设计简并引物,PCR扩增本次检出阳性样品的RSIV/ISKNV MCP基因.将MCP基因PCR扩增产物测序,提交GenBank,并以MCP基因为基础,对被检出的阳性样品进行虹彩病毒属系统分类,绘制进化树.由进化树得出,4例阳性病毒株均属于虹彩病毒科细胞肿大病毒属.     

中国大菱鲆虹彩病毒主要衣壳蛋白基因的PCR扩增及序列分析

应用同源PCR技术，从被一种球状病毒感染的患病大菱鲆（Scophthalmus maximus）脾脏和肾脏组织中扩增出了一段长度为620bp的DNA片断。序列测定和Blast分析表明，该DNA片断与鱼类虹彩病毒主要衣壳蛋白（MCP）C末端编码区的DNA序列高度相似，由此证实感染养殖大菱鲆的这种球状病毒为一种鱼类虹彩病毒，暂命名为大菱鲆红体病虹彩病毒（TRBIV）。多序列比对和分析发现，TRBIV MCP C末端的205个氨基酸序列与GenBank中20种虹彩病毒相应序列的相似性分别为99．47％（韩国大菱鲆虹彩病毒）、97％～98％（待指定病毒属的7种病毒），以及50％以下（蛙病毒属、淋巴囊肿病毒属、虹彩病毒属的12种病毒），由此绘制出了包含TRBIV在内的21种虹彩病毒的系统发育树。研究结果表明，感染中国养殖大菱鲆的TRBIV属于虹彩病毒科待指定病毒属，位于该属ISKNV亚群和RSIV亚群之间，是该病毒属的一个新成员。     

Comparison of exploited and unexploited yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchill) populations in Nebraska Sandhill lakes

Exploitation can have a pronounced effect on fish populations. Yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), populations in Nebraska Sandhill lakes were sampled in 1998 and 1999. Three of the 29 lakes containing yellow perch have been closed to fishing for at least 10 years. Unexploited yellow perch populations had fast growth rates, but age structure was similar to exploited populations. For unexploited lakes combined, mortality and condition were not different from exploited lakes. However, one unexploited lake, Marsh Lake, had the fastest growth, highest proportion of older fish and highest condition of all populations sampled. This lake had low interspecific competition and high invertebrate abundance, which likely resulted in fast growth and high condition. However, size structure and growth were also related to lake productivity. Although exploitation may affect yellow perch populations, other factors (food availability, predators and lake productivity) also play an important role in structuring these populations. Regardless, these results indicate the potential of yellow perch in Nebraska Sandhill lakes given no exploitation.     

温度对牙鲆皮肤黏液抗体产生的影响

在9℃、15℃、21℃和26℃4种不同水温下,用淋巴囊肿病毒(LCDV)灭活疫苗腹腔注射牙鲆,应用间接酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)研究了其皮肤黏液中特异性抗体水平的变化,以分析温度对牙鲆皮肤黏液抗体产生的影响.ELISA结果表明,9℃和15℃水温下牙鲆黏液OD值分别在注射LCDV后第9周和第7周达到峰值(9℃:OD=0.179; 15℃:OD=0.233); 21℃水温下OD值上升最快,5周达到峰值(0.316); 26℃水温下OD值较21℃无显著差异,也于5周达到峰值(0.295).采用硫酸铵分步盐析等技术粗提不同温度下OD值最高时的牙鲆皮肤黏液中的免疫球蛋白(Ig),SDS-PAGE检测发现,各温度组黏液蛋白中均含有72 kD和26 kD蛋白条带.Western blotting结果显示,抗牙鲆血清Ig重链的单克隆抗体只与黏液蛋白中72 kD条带发生反应,确定为牙鲆皮肤黏液Ig重链.综上结果表明,牙鲆在最适生活温度(21℃)下,抗体应答强度最大.牙鲆粗提黏液蛋白中Ig的初步确定,为探索牙鲆黏液免疫机制提供了材料.     

牙鲆抗淋巴囊肿病家系选育及生长和抗病性能分析

为了选育抗淋巴囊肿的牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)新品种,2015年建立了5个普通家系(C1~C5)、3个雌核发育家系(G1、G2、G3)和1个对照组,在淋巴囊肿病高发养殖场进行自然染毒实验,统计各家系的抗病保护率。同时对各家系120 d、180 d、240 d和300 d时的生长性状进行跟踪测量和比较。结果表明,各家系牙鲆在不同时期有各自不同的生长规律,呈现出家系间生长规律的不一致性。但在所有家系中,家系G2各个时期的生长表现始终排名靠前。390 d统计抗病保护率的结果显示,对照组的抗病保护率只有59.57%,而经选育所有实验组的抗病保护率都在60%以上,最高达97.20%(家系G2)。但总体上,390 d时牙鲆淋巴囊肿抗病和患病个体间体重和体长差异均不显著;体重、体长与抗病保护率为正相关,但相关性均不显著。家系G2抗病个体的平均体重显著高于患病个体(P0.05)。以G2家系为基础,继续进行选育,有望获得牙鲆抗淋巴囊肿速生新品种。     

Emergence of larval yellow perch, Perca flavescens, in South Dakota lakes: potential implications for recruitment

Abstract  Temporal patterns in length frequency distributions and hatch dates were described for larval yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), captured in surface ichthyoplankton trawls from late April to mid-June 2000 to 2002 in six South Dakota, USA lakes. Fewer than 15 larval yellow perch were collected in four of six lakes during 2002, suggesting that in some cases factors prior to, during or immediately after hatching likely play a critical role in the perch recruitment process. When larval yellow perch were encountered in larger numbers, temporal trends in total length (TL) frequencies indicated that only a single cohort was produced annually in each lake. Most yellow perch in these lakes hatched between 29 April and 17 May, and most hatching occurred during 5–11 days each year. Larval TL was not related to hatch date. The apparent prevalence of relatively short hatch periods in these yellow perch populations probably increases the risk of catastrophic losses resulting from periods of poor environmental conditions.