Mass mortalities associated with viral
nervous necrosis in hatchery-reared groupers in the People's Republic of
China
L. Lin, J.G. He, K. Mori, T. Nishioka, J.L. Wu, S.P.
Weng, K. Mushiake, M. Arimoto, T. Nakai-2001
Fish Pathology, 36(3): 186-188
(from Current Contents)
Abstract :
The viral etiology of mass mortalities of groupers,
Epinephelus coioides and E. akaara, cultured in the People's Republic of
China was examined. Disease outbreaks occurred in 7 to 45 day-old fish with
erratic swimming motion and marked vacuolation was observed in the brain and
retina of the affected fish. The piscine nodavirus (the Betanodavirus), the
causative agent of viral nervous necrosis (VNN), was detected in the
affected tissues by electron microscopy, indirect fluorescent antibody test
and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. This paper is the first
record of the agent in the People's Republic of China.
(Zhongshan Univ, Sch Life Sci, Guangzhou 510275, Peoples R China, e-mail
of J.G. He: lsbrc05@zsu.edu.cn)