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Journal of Virology, August 2003, p. 8812-8818, Vol. 77, No. 16
0022-538X/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.77.16.8812-8818.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Strain Variation in an Emerging Iridovirus of Warm-Water Fishes

Tony L. Goldberg,1,2* David A. Coleman,1 Emily C. Grant,3 Kate R. Inendino,3 and David P. Philipp2

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61802,1 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801,3 Center for Aquatic Ecology, Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois 618202

Received 20 February 2003/ Accepted 23 May 2003

Although iridoviruses vary widely within and among genera with respect to their host range and virulence, variation within iridovirus species has been less extensively characterized. This study explores the nature and extent of intraspecific variation within an emerging iridovirus of North American warm-water fishes, largemouth bass virus (LMBV). Three LMBV isolates recovered from three distinct sources differed genetically and phenotypically. Genetically, the isolates differed in the banding patterns generated from amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis but not in their DNA sequences at two loci of different degrees of evolutionary stability. In vitro, the isolates replicated at identical rates in cell culture, as determined by real-time quantitative PCR of viral particles released into suspension. In vivo, the isolates varied over fivefold in virulence, as measured by the rate at which they induced mortality in juvenile largemouth bass. This variation was reflected in the viral loads of exposed fish, measured using real-time quantitative PCR; the most virulent viral strain also replicated to the highest level in fish. Together, these results justify the designation of these isolates as different strains of LMBV. Strain variation in iridoviruses could help explain why animal populations naturally infected with iridovirus pathogens vary so extensively in their clinical responses to infection. The results of this study are especially relevant to emerging iridoviruses of aquaculture systems and wildlife.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 2001 South Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61802. Phone: (217) 265-0297. Fax: (217) 244-7421. E-mail: tlgoldbe{at}uiuc.edu.

Journal of Virology, August 2003, p. 8812-8818, Vol. 77, No. 16
0022-538X/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.77.16.8812-8818.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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