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Bluegill Picornavirus isolated from a mortality event involving Bluegill ( Lepomis macrochirus ) in the upper Mississippi River
Author(s) -
Leis Eric,
Erickson Sara,
McCann Rebekah,
Standish Isaac,
Katona Ryan,
Brecka Brian,
Baumgartner Wes
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of fish diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-2761
pISSN - 0140-7775
DOI - 10.1111/jfd.13046
Subject(s) - biology , lepomis macrochirus , picornavirus , zoology , physiology , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , rna , biochemistry , gene
A mortality event involving an estimated 1,000 adult bluegills ( Lepomis macrochirus ) was observed in an ice‐covered backwater lake of the upper Mississippi River near Alma, Wisconsin, in December of 2017. Macroscopic signs of disease included abdominal distension due to fluid accumulation within the internal organs as well as external and internal haemorrhaging. Histological evaluation revealed chronic peritonitis with peritoneal adhesions in all fish examined. Kidney, spleen and ascites fluid samples were collected from diseased bluegills and examined for the presence of pathogens. Bluegill picornavirus (BGPV) was isolated using tissue cell culture methods utilizing a recently developed, uncharacterized bluegill fry cell line (BF‐4), and the presence of this virus was confirmed through molecular identification. The current geographic range, known susceptible hosts as well as historical epizootics associated with BPGV is discussed. The ability of BGPV to cause significant mortality in wild fish further emphasizes the importance of monitoring both wild and hatchery populations for this pathogen.