Experimental Infection and Pathogenesis of Viral Erythrocytic Necrosis (VEN) in Atlantic Cod, Gadus morhua

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Reno, Paul W., Kleftis, Katherine, Sherburne, Stuart W., Nicholson, Bruce L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1986
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; atlantic cod; Gadus morhua
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f86-117; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f86-117

Mature Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were experimentally infected with viral erythrocytic necrosis (VEN) by inoculation with washed erythrocytes or ceil-free homogenates of erythrocytes from naturally infected fish. Approximately one third of the animals exposed exhibited active infections. The temporal pattern of infection was similar between naturally infected and experimentally infected fish. One to two months after infection, immature erythrocytes began to show clear evidence of VEN followed by a rapid increase in the proportion of infected immature erythrocytes, frequently reaching 100%. A subsequent dramatic drop in infection of immature erythrocytes occurred, coinciding with an increase of infection in mature erythrocytes. Significant erythroblastosis occurred when the overall erythrocyte infection rate reached approximately 10%, but none of the newly generated erythrocytes appeared infected. The peak infection rate (40–60% of erythrocytes infected) declined slowly and the infection, in most instances, was completely resolved.