Retroviral properties inherent to viral erythrocytic infection in sea bass.
The characterization of the aetiological agent of viral erythrocytic infection (VEI) of sea bass suggests a retroviral origin of the disease. RNA from viral erythrocytic infection virus (VEIV) and DNA from blood and organs of VEI-affected fish hybridized to a specific retrovirus cDNA probe. Sequences homologous to retrovirus genome were also detected in non-infected SBL cells (a sea bass cell line), however, Southern blot analysis showed that the DNA restriction patterns in VEI-affected erythrocytes differed from those of SBL cells. RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity was detected in VEI-affected sea bass blood. This reverse transcription was strongly Mn(2+)-dependent and is the first report of its occurrence in a marine fish and in fish blood samples. Nucleic acid sequences homologous to retrovirus RNA were detected in chromatographic fractions exhibiting reverse transcriptase activity and the presence of virus-like particles, 125-150 mm in diameter. The density of VEIV in sucrose was 1.17-1.18 g/cm3. The symptomatology of VEI is not far from those described for some retroviral diseases.
Pintó
R M
RM
Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Ribes
E
E
Jofre
J
J
Bosch
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000821:virology*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase