Rhabdovirus carpio as a causative agent of disease in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss - walbaum)

Abstract

High mortality of 1-year old rainbow trout occured on a fish farm in the spring season, with clinical symptoms typical for acute septicemia. Histological examination revealed inflammatory changes and necrosis of the internal organs. The causative agent was isolated on RTG-2 and EPC cell lines and identified by serum neutralisation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence (IFAT) as Rhabdovirus carpio. Experimental infection using the virus isolated from rainbow trout caused disease in carp fry, as well. This is the first case of disease of rainbow trout caused by Rhabdovirus carpio, and the first reported isolation of Rhabdovirus carpio from rainbow trout in Serbia. Also, this is the first succesful infection of carp with Rhabdovirus carpio isolated from rainbow trout.