Nodavirus infection in hatchery-reared orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides: First record of viral nervous necrosis in the Philippines

Abstract

Mass mortality occurred in 34-day old larval orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides reared at a hatchery in the Philippines with clinical signs such as anorexia and abnormal swimming behavior. Histopathology of moribund fish demonstrated marked vacuolation of the brain, spinal cord and retina. Cytopathic effects were observed in SSN-1 cells inoculated with the tissue filtrate of affected grouper. Electron microscopy revealed non-enveloped virus particles measuring 20 to 25 nm in diameter in the cytoplasm of degenerated SSN-1 cells. Piscine nodavirus (betanodavirus), the causative agent of viral nervous necrosis (VNN), was detected in the affected tissues and SSN-1 cells inoculated with the tissue filtrate of affected fish by RT-PCR. This is the first record of VNN in the Philippines.