title: Localised Infection of Atlantic Salmon Epithelial Cells by HPR0 Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus.
abstract: Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is an important, systemic viral disease of farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Endothelial cells are the main target cells for highly virulent HPR-deleted ISA virus (ISAV) types. Here we examine the pathogenesis of non-virulent ISAV HPR0 infections, presenting evidence of an epithelial tropism for this virus type, including actual infection and replication in the epithelial cells. Whereas all HPR0 RT-qPCR positive gills prepared for cryosection tested positive by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescent labelling, only 21% of HPR0 RT-qPCR positive formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gills were IHC positive, suggesting different methodological sensitivities. Only specific epithelial cell staining was observed and no staining was observed in endothelial cells of positive gills. Furthermore, using an ISAV segment 7 RT-PCR assay, we demonstrated splicing of HPR0, suggesting initial activation of the replication machinery in the epithelial gill cells. Immunological responses were investigated by the expression of interferon-related genes (e.g. Mx and γIP) and by ELISA for presence of anti-ISAV antibodies on samples taken sequentially over several months during an episode of transient HPR0 infection. All fish revealed a variable, but increased expression of the immunological markers in comparison to normal healthy fish. Taken together, we conclude that HPR0 causes a localized epithelial infection of Atlantic salmon.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aamelfot
authors.affiliation: Food and Veterinary Authority, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.
authors.forename: Debes H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ole Bendik
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, Scotland.
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McBeath
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Sylvie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Benestad
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falk
mesh_terms: D058500:Animal Fins / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005880:Gills / Q000821:virology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D046829:Isavirus / Q000502:physiology*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers