Distribution of nervous necrosis virus in orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides with asymptomatic infection

Abstract

Distribution of nervous necrosis virus in asymptomatically infected orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides was determined by PCR assay in this study. Fourteen different tissues and organs were collected from apparently healthy groupers including seven individuals of broodstock and 17 juveniles with body weight ranging from 4 to 12 kg and from 2 to 9 g, respectively. No cytopathic effects were found in E-11 cells inoculated with filtrates of sample homogenates. However, all the broodstock and juveniles were positive by nested PCR test except for one juvenile. One hundred percent detection rate of the virus was obtained only from the brain.