title: New Zealand juvenile oyster mortality associated with ostreid herpesvirus 1-an opportunistic longitudinal study.
abstract: During the 2010-11 summer outbreak of ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) in New Zealand, an opportunistic longitudinal field study was conducted. OsHV-1 PCR-negative oyster spat (Crassostrea gigas) were relocated to an OsHV-1 PCR-positive area of the North Island of New Zealand that was experiencing juvenile oyster mortalities. Over a period of 13 d, spat were monitored for mortality, sampled for histopathology, and tested for the presence of OsHV-1 using real time PCR and Vibrio culture. Histopathology showed some evidence of tissue pathology; however, no consistent progressive pathology was apparent. Field mortalities were evident from Day 6 on. After 5 and 7 d of exposure, 83 and 100% of spat, respectively, tested positive for the virus by real time PCR. Vibrio species recovered during the longitudinal study included V. splendidus and V. aestuarianus. This study offers insight into the rapidity of onset and virulence of the virus in naïve oyster spat in New Zealand waters.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Laboratory, Investigation and Diagnostic Centre-Wallaceville, Ministry for Primary Industries, 66 Ward St, PO Box 40742, Upper Hutt 5018, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Keeling
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Brosnahan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gias
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hannah
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral