title: Hematology patterns of migrating European eels and the role of EVEX virus.
abstract: We show that European eels infected with the rhabdovirus EVEX (Eel Virus European X) virus, developed hemorrhage and anemia during simulated migration in large swim tunnels, and died after 1000-1500 km. In contrast, virus-negative animals swam 5500 km, the estimated distance to the spawning ground of the European eel in the Sargasso Sea. Virus-positive eels showed a decline in hematocrit, which was related to the swim distance. Virus-negative eels showed a slightly increased hematocrit. Observed changes in plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) are indicative of a serious viral infection. Based on these observations, we conclude that eel virus infections may adversely affect the spawning migration of eels, and could be a contributing factor to the worldwide decline of eel.
authors.affiliation: Institute Biology Leiden (IBL), Leiden University, The Netherlands. Ginneken@LUMC.NL
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: van Ginneken
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ballieux
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willemze
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coldenhoff
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lentjes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antonissen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Haenen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van den Thillart
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004524:Eels / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D005060:Europe; D006400:Hematocrit; D012209:Rhabdoviridae / Q000502:physiology*