Distribution, prevalence, and genetic analysis of Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1) from the Caribbean Sea

Abstract

The pathogenic virus Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1) was first discovered in Caribbean spiny lobsters Panulirus argus from the Florida Keys (USA) in 1999 and has since been reported in Belize, Mexico, and Cuba; its distribution in the wider Caribbean is unknown. We collected tissue samples from adult spiny lobsters from 30 locations in 14 countries bordering the Caribbean Sea and used molecular diagnostics to assay for the presence of PaV1. PaV1 occurred primarily in the northern areas of the Caribbean, where its prevalence was highest. The virus was not found in lobsters from the southeastern Caribbean, and its prevalence was lowest in the southwestern Caribbean. DNA sequence analysis was performed on a fragment of the viral DNA to examine the genetic diversity of PaV1 on a Caribbean-wide scale. Sequence variation in the viral DNA fragment was high, with 61 unique alleles identified from 9 areas. The sharing of viral alleles in lobsters from distant locations supports the hypothesis of a strong genetic connectivity among lobsters within the Caribbean, and further supports the hypothesis that postlarvae infected with PaV1 may serve to disperse the virus over long distances. KEY WORDS: Spiny lobster · Disease · Epidemiology · ConnectivityResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher Dis Aquat Org 104: 129-140, 2013 the commercial harvest of P. argus in Florida, USA, totaled 42 million kg, valued at US$365.3 million (Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission 2012). In 2010, more than 35 000 metric tons (t) of P. argus were landed worldwide (FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Information and Statistics Service). Countries with the highest landings include Brazil, the Bahamas, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and the USA (Vondruska 2010).In 1999, a pathogenic virus, Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1), was discovered infecting spiny lobsters from the Florida Keys (Shields & Behringer 2004). Prevalence of PaV1 is highest in early benthic juveniles (EBJs) and lower among larger juveniles and adults (Shields & Behringer 2004, LozanoÁlvarez et al. 2008. Lobsters with clinical disease have chalky-white hemolymph and often have a discolored carapace with a pink hue. Heavily infected lobsters are typically lethargic, cease grooming and foraging, and have lower hemolymph serum protein values compared to uninfected lobsters . Histologically, signs of PaV1 infection include a depletion of the reserve inclusion cells, hemocyte infiltration into the intertubular spaces of the hepatopancreas, focal necrosis of the hepatopancreas, and the presence of infected hemocytes in the heart, gills, and connective tissues (Li et al. 2008).Since its initial discovery in Florida, infections have been confirmed in Belize (Huchin-Mian et al. 2009), Mexico , Cuba (Cruz Quintana et al. 2011), and the US Virgin Islands . Prevalence of PaV1 in juvenile lobsters in Florida is patchy, but has historically ranged from 5 to 8%, with some locations exceeding 60% (Behringer et al. 2011). While typ...

Landscape Analysis for PaV1 Infection in Lobsters Panulirus argus from the Artisanal Fishery of the Eastern Coast of Yucatan, Mexico

“…Although overall prevalence was extremely low (1.12%), at the sites where PaV1 was found prevalence ranged from 20% (site A) to 12.65% (site B); both have seagrass coverage. These levels are consistent with the 0% -15% reported in other zones of the Caribbean [10] [15] [32] [33].…”

“…This prevalence decreases in sub-adults and adults and clinical signs characteristic of PaV1 are difficult to evaluate in the field [12]. PaV1 is highly prevalent throughout the Caribbean region and its propagation could impact P. argus fisheries [2] [10] [12]- [15].…”

Panulirus argus virus 1 detected in oceanic postlarvae of Caribbean spiny lobster: implications for disease dispersal

“…), suggesting that pueruli acquire PaV1 from the water. Results from a recent modeling approach (Kough et al 2015) revealed that if PaV1 is transported by infected postlarvae rather than through water alone, then the results of the model would be more consistent with genetic linkages of PaV1 as reported by Moss et al (2013).…”

“…DNA sequences of PaV1 alleles obtained herein and those previously reported by Moss et al (2013) from adult lobsters (GenBank accession numbers JN786952 to JN786983 and JX987103 to JX987130) and by Montgomery-Fullerton et al (2007) from ju venile lobsters (EF206313) were used to construct a phylogenetic tree and haplotype network. The phylogenetic tree was obtained through the application of the neighborjoining and BioNJ algorithms to get a matrix of distance by pairs estimated with the maximum composite likelihood method.…”

“…PaV1 can be transmitted by contact, but additional modes of transmission may include waterborne ) and the influx of infected larvae from other systems (Dolan et al 2014). Moss et al (2012Moss et al ( , 2013 detected PaV1 in recently settled pueruli and discovered that lobsters from distant Caribbean locations shared viral alleles, suggesting that PaV1 could be dispersed via larval transport. Yet, recent studies in Florida have found no evidence of vertical transmission of PaV1 (D. C. Behringer pers.…”