Phylogenomic Characterization of Ranavirus Isolated from Wild Smallmouth Bass ( Micropterus dolomieu )

• Published in: Viruses 2024-04, Vol.16 (5), p.715
• Main Authors: Quail, Hannah, Viadanna, Pedro H O, Vann, Jordan A, Hsu, Hui-Min, Pohly, Andrea, Smith, Willow, Hansen, Scott, Nietlisbach, Nicole, Godard, Danielle, Waltzek, Thomas B, Subramaniam, Kuttichantran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Bacteriology; Bass; Bass - virology; Capsid protein; Capsid Proteins - genetics; DNA Virus Infections - veterinary; DNA Virus Infections - virology; Fish; Fish Diseases - virology; Fishes; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; Genome, Viral; Genomes; Genotype; Genotypes; Histopathology; iridovirus; Laboratories; Lakes - virology; largemouth bass virus; Liver; Micropterus dolomieu; Mortality; Phylogeny; ranavirus; Ranavirus - classification; Ranavirus - genetics; Ranavirus - isolation & purification; Reptiles & amphibians; Skin; Skin diseases; Skin lesions; Skin tests; smallmouth bass; Spleen; Swimming; Viral proteins; Viruses; Water temperature
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v16050715

In September 2021, 14 smallmouth bass (SMB; with skin lesions were collected from Green Bay waters of Lake Michigan and submitted for diagnostic evaluation. All the skin samples tested positive for largemouth bass virus (LMBV) by conventional PCR. The complete genome of the LMBV (99,328 bp) isolated from a homogenized skin sample was determined using an Illumina MiSeq sequencer. A maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis based on the 21 core iridovirus genes supported the LMBV isolated from SMB (LMBV-WVL21117) as a member of the species . Pairwise nucleotide comparison of the major capsid protein (MCP) gene showed that LMBV-WVL21117 is identical to other LMBV reported from the United States and nearly identical to doctor fish virus and guppy virus 6 (99.2%) from Southeast Asia, as well as LMBV isolates from China and Thailand (99.1%). In addition, ML phylogenetic analysis based on the MCP gene suggests three genotypes of LMBV separated by region: genotype one from the United States, genotype two from Southeast Asia, and genotype three from China and Thailand. Additional research is needed to understand the prevalence and genetic diversity of LMBV strains circulating in wild and managed fish populations from different regions.