title: Megalocytivirus infection in orbiculate batfish Platax orbicularis.
abstract: Megalocytiviruses cause systemic disease in both marine and freshwater fishes, negatively impacting ornamental and food fish aquaculture. In this report, we characterize a megalocytivirus infection in a captive marine ornamental fish, the orbiculate batfish Platax orbicularis. Histologic examination revealed cytomegalic cells characterized by strongly basophilic granular intracytoplasmic inclusions within various organs. Transmission electron microscopy revealed icosahedral virus particles within the cytoplasm of cytomegalic cells consistent with an iridovirus infection. Analysis of the major capsid protein gene sequence confirmed that the orbiculate batfish virus is a member of the family Iridoviridae and is identical to the only other megalocytivirus reported from a marine ornamental fish, the Banggai cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni iridovirus.
authors.affiliation: Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forestry Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32653, USA.
authors.forename: Preeyanan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sriwanayos
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francis-Floyd
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Stidworthy
authors.forename: Barbara D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Waltzek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D005399:Fishes; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D007497:Iridoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010802:Phylogeny