Emergence of Salmon Gill Poxvirus

• Published in: Viruses
• Main Authors: Haitham Tartor, Maria K. Dahle, Snorre Gulla, Simon C. Weli, Mona C. Gjessing
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022
• Subjects: respiratory disease; red blood cells; fish; circulatory disturbance; anaemia; epithelial barrier; Microbiology; QR1-502; Norway; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/v14122701; https://doaj.org/article/2df2caf54f1a45d6b5ddd7dccf386e30

The Salmon gill poxvirus (SGPV) has emerged in recent years as the cause of an acute respiratory disease that can lead to high mortality in farmed Atlantic salmon presmolts, known as Salmon gill poxvirus disease. SGPV was first identified in Norway in the 1990s, and its large DNA genome, consisting of over 206 predicted protein-coding genes, was characterized in 2015. This review summarizes current knowledge relating to disease manifestation and its effects on the host immune system and describes dissemination of the virus. It also demonstrates how newly established molecular tools can help us to understand SGPV and its pathogenesis. Finally, we conclude and ask some burning questions that should be addressed in future research.