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Viruses of Lower Vertebrates pp 141–160Cite as

Lymphocystis Disease of Fishes

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Abstract

Lymphocystis disease is a well-known viral infection of teleost fish species. It is characterized by conspicuous disease signs (Fig. 1A): small nodules which are located mostly on the body and fins. Occasionally, lymphocystis nodules occur in or on the surface of the body cavity and the internal organs as well as on the gills. Each nodule represents one single hypertrophied cell which may reach a size up to 2 mm in diameter and a volume of about a million-fold that of the normal cell, for example in European flounder (Platichthys flesus). There are infected fish with just one lymphocystis cell but in most cases several hypertrophied cells occur singly or grouped together in raspberry-like clusters with a tumorous appearance. Therefore, these signs are considered as “pseudo” tumors.

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  1. Institut für Meereskunde, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 2300, Kiel 1, West-Germany

    K. Anders

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  1. K. Anders
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  1. Institut für Zoologie und Hydrobiologie, Universität München, Kaulbachstrasse 37, D-8000, München 22, Germany

    Winfried Ahne

  2. Dept. Microbiology and Immunology Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, P.Q. H 3c 3J7, Canada

    Edouard Kurstak

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© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Anders, K. (1989). Lymphocystis Disease of Fishes. In: Ahne, W., Kurstak, E. (eds) Viruses of Lower Vertebrates. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-83727-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-83727-2_14

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