Effects of Acholeplasma laidlawii and an unidentified mycoplasma on selected fish cell cultures and the replication of fish viruses

• Published in: Journal of Fish Diseases
• Main Authors: EMERSON, M., NICHOLSON, B. L., BAYER, R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1979
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2761.1979.tb00162.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2761.1979.tb00162.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2761.1979.tb00162.x

Abstract. An unidentified mycoplasma was isolated from cultures of Atlantic salmon (AS) cells and implicated as the cause of cytopathic effects (CPE). The agent did not visibly affect RTG‐2 cells. Experimental infection of RTG‐2 cells with Acholeplasma laidlawii resulted in increased cellular granularity and destruction. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination of infected RTG‐2 and AS cultures revealed typical mycoplasmas distributed on cell surfaces and a marked effect on the cell surface topography, characterized by a loss of microvilli and cellular processes. SEM also revealed mycoplasmal contamination that was not detected by culturing. Comparisons of contaminated and uncontaminated RTG‐2 cells showed enhanced (2–100 fold) replication of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in the presence of A, laidlawii .