Antigenic properties and experimental transmission to several fish species of a marine birnavirus isolated from sole (Solea senegalensis)

A cross-neutralization test was used to study the antigenic relationship of an aquabirnavirus isolated from sole (Solea senegalensis), named solevirus, and several infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) strains. Solevirus was antigenically similar to IPNV strain Sp. Transmission of the solevirus to other fish species has been determined by inoculation to freshwater and marine fish species (two salmonids and gilt-head seabream). A higher pathogenicity was obtained for the marine fish species, although solevirus caused an asymptomatic infection in all species tested, as demonstrated by the detection of viral RNA and of viral antigens in fish leucocytes, respectively, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow cytometry (FC).This work was supported by grant AGF98-0837 and MAR95-1949-C02-01/02, both from the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologı́a (CICYT) and a grant CAM07B-9. We thank CUPIMAR S.A. and Consejerı́a de Agricultura y Medio Ambiente de la Comunidad de Castilla La Mancha for supply of fish specimens, and M. Sánchez Carmona and M. Jose Navarrete for their excellent technical assistance