title: Novel iridovirus in a nautilus (Nautilus spp.).
abstract: Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies suggestive of iridovirus infection were observed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from a nautilus (Nautilus spp.) that died without premonitory signs. Transmission electron microscopy revealed enveloped, hexagonal, viral particles that measured approximately 176 nm in diameter. Virions contained a dense central core and morphology typical of iridoviruses. Extracted DNA was amplified using primers homologous to conserved iridovirus sequences. The amplicons were cloned, sequenced, and determined to be approximately 60% similar to reported amphibian iridovirus sequences. A polymerase chain reaction-generated digoxigenin probe was used to detect viral nucleic acid in tissue sections by DNA in situ hybridization and high-affinity cytochemistry. The detected nucleic acid corresponded to the inclusion bodies observed microscopically. This represents a novel iridovirus of mollusks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Zoo and Exotics Pathology Services, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens 30602, USA. crg@uga.edu
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Latimer
authors.forename: Kate E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Pennick
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017994:Iridovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D007668:Kidney / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D049850:Nautilus / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral