BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

8th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture

89

PP - A5
Outbreak of betanodavirus in cage-cultured Asian seabass (Lates
calcarifer Bloch): A case study
K.P. Jithendran1, P.K. Sahoo2, C.P. Binesh1 and B.R. Mohanty2
Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Santhome High Road, R. A. Puram, Chennai 600 028, India
2
Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture , Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Orissa - 751 002,
India
Email:kpjithendran@hotmail.com
1

Viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), otherwise known as viral nervous

necrosis (VNN) caused by betanodavirus, is a neuropathological condition
affecting more than 40 fish species. Although VER affects mainly marine fish,
the disease has also been detected in certain species reared in low-saline and
freshwater environments. A betanodavirus associated massive mortality was
investigated in juvenile seabass Lates calcarifer, maintained in cage culture
facilities in brackishwater pond in Orissa (India). Histopathology revealed
vacuolation of the nervous system, suggesting an infection by a betanodavirus.
The presence of virus was detected by nested RT-PCR assay and confirmation by
sequencing and analysis of PCR products. Sequencing of the T4 region of the
coat protein gene indicated a phylogenetic clustering of this isolate within the
red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus type. However, the seabass
betanodavirus isolate from the study formed a unique branch distinct from other
betanodavirus isolates. The reservoir of virus at the origin of the outbreak remains
unidentified. This is the first report of mortality associated with natural infection
of betanodavirus infection in seabass culture facilities in India.

Presented in DAAVIII, 21-25 Nov. 2011, College of Fisheries, Mangalore, India