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Molecular Monitoring and Phylogenetic Analysis of Betanodavirus in Groupers (Epinephelus spp.) and Asian Sea bass (Lates calcarifer) of Iranian Northern Waters of the Persian Gulf

Current Microbiology volume 77, pages 3919–3926 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

The emergence of diseases has caused much health and economic damage. Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) is considered as one of the most important threats to aquatic ecosystems. VNN can cause severe mortality and economic loss in fish farms. The high water temperatures in southern Iran and the observed incidences of fish mortality in the Persian Gulf led to the hypothesis of the possible emergence of VNN. Therefore, this study aimed to monitor two species of fish susceptible to VNN using PCR, and Nested PCR methods and comparing the sensitivity of these methods to the identification of Betanodavirus infection in apparently healthy and symptomatic fish. About 850 Grouper (Epinephelus spp.) and Asian Sea bass (Lates calcarifer) fish of the Persian Gulf were collected randomly and examined. Molecular methods were used to identify NNV in visibly healthy and symptomatic fish of the Persian Gulf of Iran. The results of the PCR showed no positive cases, but the Nested PCR revealed some positive results. Then, the phylogenetic analysis of the virus sequence was performed. The nucleotide sequence of Nested PCR products revealed a 98–100% homology with Red Spotted Grouper Viral Nervous Necrosis (RGNNV). This is the first report on VNN tracing and detection as well as phylogenetic analysis of the virus from the Persian Gulf of Iran. Therefore, considering the importance of emerging viral diseases and the irreparable damage they cause, continuous monitoring and epidemiological studies of VNN were recommended by authorized organizations.

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Data Availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Anna Toffan and Dr. C. Nallathambi for sending Orange-Spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides) larva used as a positive control. Our sincere thanks are also due to Dr. Anna Toffan for her valuable guidance.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Mina Ziarati, Farshid Kafilzadeh & Mohammad Kargar

  2. Scientific Information and Communication Department, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Mohammad Jalil Zorriehzahra

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  1. Mina Ziarati
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  2. Mohammad Jalil Zorriehzahra
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Contributions

MJZ designed and directed the study and prepared the manuscript, MZ prepared the samples and carried out the experiments and the analyses with the use of software, and FK and MK planned the experiments.

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Correspondence to Mohammad Jalil Zorriehzahra.

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Ziarati, M., Zorriehzahra, M.J., Kafilzadeh, F. et al. Molecular Monitoring and Phylogenetic Analysis of Betanodavirus in Groupers (Epinephelus spp.) and Asian Sea bass (Lates calcarifer) of Iranian Northern Waters of the Persian Gulf. Curr Microbiol 77, 3919–3926 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-020-02222-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-020-02222-w