First detection, isolation and molecular characterization of infectious salmon anaemia virus associated with clinical disease in farmed Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) in Chile

• Published in: BMC Veterinary Research
• Main Authors: Calbucura Marlene, Lisperguer Angelica, Grothusen Horts, Yason Carmencita V, Groman David B, Kibenge Molly JT, Aedo Alejandra, Godoy Marcos G, Avendaño Fernando, Imilán Marcelo, Jarpa Miguel, Kibenge Frederick SB
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2008
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine; SF600-1100; Chiloé; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-4-28; https://doaj.org/article/83919063e5f344eabacf97bed1ff8ab4

Abstract Background Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is a viral disease of marine-farmed Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) caused by ISA virus (ISAV), which belongs to the genus Isavirus , family Orthomyxoviridae . The virus is considered to be carried by marine wild fish and for over 25 years has caused major disease outbreaks in marine-farmed Atlantic salmon in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, ISAV was first detected in Chile in 1999 in marine-farmed Coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ). In contrast to the classical presentation of ISA in Atlantic salmon, the presence of ISAV in Chile until now has only been associated with a clinical condition called Icterus Syndrome in Coho salmon and virus isolation has not always been possible. During the winter of 2007, unexplained mortalities were registered in market-size Atlantic salmon in a grow-out site located in Chiloé in Region X of Chile. We report here the diagnostic findings of the first significant clinical outbreak of ISA in marine-farmed Atlantic salmon in Chile and the first characterization of the ISAV isolated from the affected fish. Results In mid-June 2007, an Atlantic salmon marine farm site located in central Chiloé Island in Region X of Chile registered a sudden increase in mortality following recovery from an outbreak of Pisciricketsiosis, which rose to a cumulative mortality of 13.6% by harvest time. Based on the clinical signs and lesions in the affected fish, and laboratory tests performed on the fish tissues, a confirmatory diagnosis of ISA was made; the first time ISA in its classical presentation and for the first time affecting farmed Atlantic salmon in Chile. Rapid sequencing of the virus-specific RT-PCR products amplified from the fish tissues identified the virus to belong to the European genotype (Genotype I) of the highly polymorphic region (HPR) group HPR 7b, but with an 11-amino acid insert in the fusion glycoprotein, and ability to cause cytopathic effects (CPE) in CHSE-214 cell line, characteristics which make it ...