Virus screening of cultured carp and tilapia species and the virus sensitivity of cell cultures from indigenous fish species

Abstract

Three virus particles were isolated in vitro and tentatively classified into three groupings, namely Herpesviridae, Birnaviridae and Iridoviridae. Virus groupings were based on the ultrastructural morphology and cytopathology observed. Distinct virus-like cytopathic effects were noted on four established fish cell lines viz. CHSE-214, GCK-84, EPC and TmB, utilized in the study. The virus-like particles, from pelleted infected cell cultures and clarified cell culture supernatant, were visualized under transmission electron microscopy. Virus titration utilizing BB cells for the Birnavirus-like isolate achieved a mean titre of 7.40 X 105 TClD50/ml. Relatively high virus titres were also recorded