PRESENCE OF HERPESVIRUS ANGUILLAE (ANGHV1) DNA IN THE NATIVE ICHTHYOFAUNA OF NORTH-WESTERN POLAND.

Anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AngHV1), an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus, occurs in eel and poses a threat to the farmed and wild eel species. With a prevalence of up to 48%, the virus causes severe losses in aquaculture and seriously hampers the recovery of the severely depleted eel stocks. To date, there have been no reports on non-eel species that may act as vectors of AngHV1 transmission. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen marine and freshwater fish species as potential vectors. Totally, 332 fish samples representing 20 families were collected, and DNA from the gills as well as internal organs (liver, kidney, spleen, intestine and heart) was extracted. Detection of the gene fragment encoding the AngHV1 DNA polymerase was positive in 17 fish samples obtained from the Prussian carp Carassius gibelio (n = 2), European perch Perca fluviatilis (n = 2), pikeperch Stizostedion lucioperca (n = 2), sterlet Acipenser ruthenus (n = 5), and round goby Neogobius melanostomus (n = 6). This is the first study in which non-eel species have been reported as possible AngHV1 carriers. Cohabitation studies should be conducted to test whether these possible vectors may transmit AngHV1 to eel and thereby cause mortality of eel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]