Expression of Hsp70 in Koi Herpesvirus-Infected Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus)

Abstract

Koi herpesvirus (KHV) not only can infect cyprinidae, but also infect other freshwater fishes. It causes KHV to spread widely throughout the world. Infection of KHV in fish has several symptoms and one of them is increased HSP70 expression. The purpose of this study is to detect HSP70 expression in KHV-infected tilapia. The study were carried out by qualitatively examining expression of HSP70 in the gill of tilapia, both normal tilapia and KHV-infected tilapia, and by detecting the tissue damage caused by KHV by means of histopathology. The results of this study show that HSP70 was detected in fish that were infected by KHV, while in control fish, HSP70 was not detected. This result indicates that tilapia infected by KHV experience an increase in HSP70 expression. Damage to the gill of tilapia is also one of the responses to KHV antigens in the host cell. Thus, this study presumed that KHV infection in tilapia is influenced by the expression of HSP70.