The secretory cells of the digestive glands of up to 75% of Tellina tenuis from sheltered sandy heaches on the Scottish coast contained intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies consisting of microcolonies of a rickettsia-like organism. The development and morphology of these parasitic bacteria and the cytopathic effect on the host cells are described. These features closely resemble those of the genus Coxiella of the family Rickettsiaceae. It was possible to culture the organism in embryonated hens' eggs. Scattered particles and paracrystalline arrays of a virus were seen in association with the bacteria. This is believed to be the first description of a phage from a rickettsia.

Recent heavy mortalities amongst 0+ group turbot at a fish farm were found to be associated with a heriDes-type viral itifection of the epithelia of the skin and gills. The morphology o.f the virus is described with ultrastructural observations on its morphogenesis and release from infected cells.

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The histological features of the disease caused by infection of turhot by Herpesvirus scophthalmi are described. Infection of epidermal cells of skin and gill resulted in the formation of giant cells showing a variety of nuclear and cytoplasmic changes associated with the replication of the virus. The effects of the condition together with possible control measures are discussed.

SynopsisHerpesviruses and viruses having the typical morphological and replicative characteristics of the genus Herpesvirus from marine animals have been reviewed. These animals include one teleost fish, two reptiles, one pelecypod mollusc and an arthropod. With the exception of the arthropod, all descriptions of virus-related diseases were from animals maintained under artificial culture conditions and a common theme relates temperature, stress and crowding to outbreaks of disease. The significance of these observations in relation to the possible evolution of the herpesvirus group is discussed.