Viral Erythrocytic Necrosis: Natural Occurrence in Pacific Salmon and Experimental Transmission

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Authors: Evelyn, T. P. T., Traxler, G. S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1978
• Subjects: General Medicine; Pacific; Keta; Pink salmon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f78-145; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f78-145

A necrotic disease of erythrocytes of chum (Oncorhynchus keta) and pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon is described at the light and electron microscopic level. The disease is characterized by a single cytoplasmic inclusion in affected erythrocytes and by the presence of an associated intraerytnrocytic virus probably belonging to the icosahedral cytoplasmic deoxyribovirus (ICDV) group. Isolation of the virus was unsuccessful, but viral etiology was implicated by inoculation of chum and pink salmon using filtered preparations from diseased specimens of the former. Chinook (O. tshawytscha), coho (O. kisutch), andsockeye (O. nerka) salmon proved refractory. Key words: viral disease, Pacific salmon, blood, erythrocytes, anemia