Case Report: First occurrence of Lymphocystis disease virus 3 (LCDV-Sa) in Wild Marine Fish in Tunisia

Abstract

The results of the present study describe the molecular identifi cation of Lymphocystis Disease Viral partial genome (LCDV-Sa) and histopathology in skin nodules and internal organs of Tunisian gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). The report supports as well as the existence of multiple reservoirs of LCDV within wild fi sh species caught near the cage facility; delivering a list of possible vector species susceptible to transmit the disease to farmed sea bream. Histology sections revealed irregular nucleus with basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, molecular results added new viral reservoirs to the list of susceptible fi sh species described worlwide, including Sardinella aurita, Sardina pilchardus, Trachurus trachurus, Sarpa salpa, Diplodus vulgaris, Diplodus puntazzo, Liza aurata, Sparus aurata, Diplodus anularis, and Spicara maena. The virus detection was not correlated with neither the fi sh species nor the sampling temperature which varied between 15°C and 25°C. Partial sequence analysis of the MCP gene indicated that the newly identifi ed LCDV strains were clustered within genotype VII and shared 96-100% of sequence identity with previously identifi ed Tunisian LCDV sequences from farmed sea bream.

A Review of Marine Viruses in Coral Ecosystem

“…According to the study by Cherif [161], the molecular detection of Lymphocystis Disease Viral partial genome (LCDV-Sa) in Tunisian gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) caused fatal, chronic, rare and slowly developing disease which affects more than 150 marine and freshwater fish [162][163][164]. The etiological agent of LCD (Lymphocystis Disease Virus) belongs to genus Lymphocystivirus, family Iridoviridae [165,166].…”