Subject(s)
Carps/genetics , Disease Susceptibility/veterinary , Fish Diseases/genetics , Herpesviridae Infections/veterinary , Animals , Breeding , Carps/virology , Czech Republic , Fish Diseases/mortality , Fish Diseases/virology , Herpesviridae/physiology , Herpesviridae Infections/genetics , Herpesviridae Infections/mortality , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
A survey was performed on ornamental fish imported into the EU to detect viral agents belonging to the genus Ranavirus. The objective was to gain knowledge of the potential for these systemic iridoviruses to gain entry into the EU via international trade in ornamental fish. A total of 208 pooled samples, representing 753 individual fish, were tested. The samples included 13 orders and 37 families, originating from different countries and continents. Tissues from fish that died during or just after transport were collected and examined by standard virological techniques in epithelioma papulosum cyprini cells, by transmission electron microscopy and by PCR for the detection of the major capsid protein and DNA polymerase gene sequences of ranaviruses. Virus was isolated from nine fish species but ranavirus was not identified in those samples. The results suggest that ranaviruses are not highly prevalent in ornamental fish imported into the EU.
Subject(s)
DNA Virus Infections/veterinary , Fish Diseases/virology , Fishes/virology , Ranavirus/genetics , Animals , Capsid Proteins/analysis , Capsid Proteins/genetics , Carcinoma/virology , Cell Line/virology , DNA Virus Infections/genetics , DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/analysis , DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/genetics , European Union , Microscopy, Electron, Transmission , Phylogeny , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Ranavirus/classification , Ranavirus/enzymology , Ranavirus/ultrastructure , Viral Proteins/analysis , Viral Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
Branched aliphatic oligoester microspheres (msp) with incorporated rotavirus were used to induce the production of systemic and mucosal antibodies in mice. The msp with a mean diameter of 7.4 microm were prepared by the w/o/w technique. The mice were immunized intraperitoneally or orally. High ELISA titres of systemic and local IgG and IgA antibodies were indicative of rotavirus incorporation and of the adjuvant activity of msp. Oral immunization with a split dose administered on three consecutive days, resulted in the production of systemic IgG and IgA antibodies, but failed to induce the production of mucosal antibodies even if the immunization dose was increased threefold. Specific antibodies were detectable in faeces of orally immunized mice only after another triple administration of the same dose in the fourth week of the experiment. Reactions of blood serum IgG with the structural viral proteins VP4, VP6, and VP7 were demonstrated by western blotting. Both systemic, and faecal IgA antibodies were specific for the VP6 protein and the dimeric form of the glycoprotein VP4.
