China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (2): 811-822.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.02.031

• Preventive Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles    

Isolation and Identification of a Strain of Snakehead Fish Vesiculovirus

LI Yuanyuan1, YUAN Qian1, FENG Xiaoran1, DENG Si1,2,3,4, LI Na1,2,3,4, YAO Lunguang1,2,3,4, QIN Yinghui1,2,3,4   

  1. 1. College of Life Science, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China;
    2. Henan Field Observation and Research Station of Headwork Wetland Ecosystem of the Central Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, Nanyang 473061, China;
    3. Henan Provincial Engineering and Technology Center of Health Products for Livestock and Poultry, Nanyang 473061, China;
    4. Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Water Security for Water Source Region of Mid-line of South-to-North Diversion Project, Nanyang 473061, China
  • Received:2024-05-17 Published:2025-01-24

Abstract: 【Objective】 This study was aimed to clarify the pathogen,which caused mass mortality of snakehead fish in Nanyang city,Henan province,in September 2021. 【Method】 This study identified pathogens through methods such as surface detection,microscopic observation,bacterial isolation,PCR detection,phylogenetic tree analysis,cell culture,transmission electron microscopy observation,artificial infection,and pathological section observation. 【Result】 No noticeable lesions and blooding points was observed on the surface of diseased fish.No parasite in the gills or on the body surfaces was found,and no pathogenic bacterium was isolated.PCR detection result showed that the diseased fish was positive for Snakehead fish vesiculovirus (SHVV).The similarity analysis of SHVV G gene sequence showed that the isolate had the highest similarity with the Foshan isolate HSHRV-MS2021,reaching 99.85%.The phylogenetic tree showed that the isolated strain was clustered into the same branch as SHVV-2019,SHVV-YL01 and HSHRV-MS2021 strains,belonging to the Siniperhavirus genus,and was most closely related to the HSHRV-MS2021 strain.The tissue homogenate of diseased fish could cause obvious cytopathic effect in EPC and GS cells.Transmission electron microscopy observations showed that abundant bullet shaped virus particles scattered on the surface of diseased EPC cells.Artificial infection experiments showed that infected fish exhibited symptoms similar to those of naturally diseased fish,with a mortality rate as high as 100%.Observation of tissue slices showed that the microvilli in the intestinal tract of the fish with recurrent infection disappeared,and the hemolymph in the liver and spleen increased. 【Conclusion】 In this study,a strain of SHVV was isolated from snakehead fish cultured outside Guangdong province and named SHVV-NY01.A large number of deaths of snakehead fish in this farm were caused by SHVV.The results of this study provided a reference for the epidemiological investigation and control of this virus.

Key words: snakehead fish; Rhabdovirus; Snakehead fish vesiculovirus; isolation; identification

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