A herpes-like virus disease in the blue king crab, Paralithodes platypus

Abstract

A virus was suspected, at the light microscopy level, to have infected bladder and antennal gland labyrinthal epithelium of the blue king crab Paralithodes platypus , causing severe damage. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the relation between the ground substance and nuclear inclusions, and revealed the presence of viral particles within the ground substance. Based on the nucleocapsid's site of development, morphological characteristics and size, the virus is believed to be a member of the family Herpesviridae.