Novel DNA virus isolated from samples showing endothelial cell necrosis in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica

Tetsuya Mizutani, Yusuke Sayama, Akira Nakanishi, Hideharu Ochiai, Kouji Sakai, Kouji Wakabayashi, Nozomi Tanaka, Emi Miura, Mami Oba, Ichiro Kurane, Masayuki Saijo, Shigeru Morikawa, Shin ichi Ono

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Economic loss due to viral endothelial cell necrosis of eel (VECNE) of Anguilla japonica is a serious problem for the cultured Japanese eel market. However, the viral genome responsible for VECNE is unknown. We recently developed a rapid determination system for viral nucleic acid sequences (RDV) to determine viral genome sequences. In this study, viral DNA fragments were obtained using RDV, and approximately 15-kbp circular full genome sequences were determined using a next-generation sequencing system, overlapping PCR, and Southern blot analysis. One open reading frame (ORF) was homologous to the large T-antigen of polyomavirus; other ORFs have no homology with any nucleic or amino acid sequences of polyomavirus. Therefore, as this DNA virus might comprise a novel virus family, we provisionally named it Japanese eel endothelial cells-infecting virus (JEECV). JEECV was detected in both naturally and experimentally infected eels, suggesting that JEECV potentially causes VECNE.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-187
Number of pages9
JournalVirology
Volume412
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 Mar 30

Keywords

  • Anguilla japonica
  • Japanese eel endothelial cells-infecting virus
  • Novel DNA virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Novel DNA virus isolated from samples showing endothelial cell necrosis in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this