<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_jvetres-2020-0055_s_005">
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>White sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) disease is caused by a virus of the eponymous family and is mostly triggered by stressful environmental conditions, <italic>i.e</italic>. high rearing density, excessive handling, or temporary loss of water. The aim of this study was to develop the most effective diagnostic method for quick and efficient confirmation or exclusion of the presence of WSIV.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2020-0055_s_006">
<h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>A total of 42 samples (spleen, gills, intestine, skin, kidney, and brain) were collected from eight sturgeon (<italic>Acipenser gueldenstaedtii</italic> and <italic>A. oxyrinchus</italic>) aged ≤5+ farmed or caught between 2010 and 2014 in open waters (Dąbie Lake and Szczecin Lagoon). They were tested for WSIV presence using conventional PCR, qPCR, and <italic>in situ</italic> hybridisation (ISH).</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2020-0055_s_007">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>In gross examination, all fish appeared to be healthy. Neither species showed clinical signs typical of WSIV infection. In the majority of cases, fragments of iridoviral DNA were found using molecular methods in the kidneys, and also in the liver, gills, and skin. The detection rate using ISH was 47.37% and most commonly the brain and kidney tissues were positive. The most efficient of the methods used was real-time PCR, with 100% effectiveness in detection of WSIV DNA.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2020-0055_s_008">
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The study demonstrates the capabilities for WSIV diagnosis available to sturgeon farmers and water administrators, indicating useful methods of adequate sensitivity as well as organs to sample in order to achieve the highest probability of viral detection.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
White sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) disease is caused by a virus of the eponymous family and is mostly triggered by stressful environmental conditions, i.e. high rearing density, excessive handling, or temporary loss of water. The aim of this study was to develop the most effective diagnostic method for quick and efficient confirmation or exclusion of the presence of WSIV.

Material and Methods
A total of 42 samples (spleen, gills, intestine, skin, kidney, and brain) were collected from eight sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii and A. oxyrinchus) aged ≤5+ farmed or caught between 2010 and 2014 in open waters (Dąbie Lake and Szczecin Lagoon). They were tested for WSIV presence using conventional PCR, qPCR, and in situ hybridisation (ISH).

Results
In gross examination, all fish appeared to be healthy. Neither species showed clinical signs typical of WSIV infection. In the majority of cases, fragments of iridoviral DNA were found using molecular methods in the kidneys, and also in the liver, gills, and skin. The detection rate using ISH was 47.37% and most commonly the brain and kidney tissues were positive. The most efficient of the methods used was real-time PCR, with 100% effectiveness in detection of WSIV DNA.

Conclusion
The study demonstrates the capabilities for WSIV diagnosis available to sturgeon farmers and water administrators, indicating useful methods of adequate sensitivity as well as organs to sample in order to achieve the highest probability of viral detection.

Detection of white sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) in wild sturgeons <italic>(Actinopterygii: Acipenseriformes: Acipenseridae)</italic> in Poland

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Detection of white sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) in wild sturgeons  in Poland

Introduction
White sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) disease is caused by a virus of the eponymous family and is mostly triggered by stressful environmental...

Species		Open	Intended for restocking
	N	water	(farmed)

		n	n
Acipenser gueldenstaedtii	2	1	1
Acipenser oxyrinchus	6	4	2

	N	Positive isolates

Species		PCR		Real-time PCR

		n	(%)	n	(%)
Acipenser gueldenstaedtii	2	9	100	9	100
Acipenser oxyrinchus	6	25	75.75	33	100

Species	N	Age (n)	Organ	Number of organs analysed	Method
					Real-time PCR	PCR

			Liver	2	2	2
			Gills	2	2	2
Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii	2	0+ (1)	Skin	2	2	2
		5+ (1)	Kidneys	1	1	1
			Gut	2	2	2
			Brain	NA	NA	NA

			Liver	6	6	4
			Gills	6	6	4
		0+ (2)	Skin	6	6	4
Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus	6	1+ (3)
		2+ (1)	Kidneys	5	5	5
			Gut	5	5	3
			Brain	5	5	3

Detection of white sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) in wild sturgeons (Actinopterygii: Acipenseriformes: Acipenseridae) in Poland

Published Online: Sep 16, 2020

Page range: 363 - 368

Received: Feb 29, 2020

Accepted: Aug 13, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2020-0055

Keywords
disease control, freshwater aquaculture, vectors

© 2020 P. Hofsoe-Oppermann et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1

List of sturgeon species caught wild or obtained from a fish farm in Poland

Summary of the results of WSIV detection in fish tested using PCR and real-time PCR

Summary of the results of WSIV DNA detection (positive isolates) using real-time PCR and conventional PCR in various sturgeon organs

Detection of white sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) in wild sturgeons (Actinopterygii: Acipenseriformes: Acipenseridae) in Poland

Published Online: Sep 16, 2020

Page range: 363 - 368

Received: Feb 29, 2020

Accepted: Aug 13, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2020-0055

Keywordsdisease control, freshwater aquaculture, vectors

© 2020 P. Hofsoe-Oppermann et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1

List of sturgeon species caught wild or obtained from a fish farm in Poland

Summary of the results of WSIV detection in fish tested using PCR and real-time PCR

Summary of the results of WSIV DNA detection (positive isolates) using real-time PCR and conventional PCR in various sturgeon organs

Keywords
disease control, freshwater aquaculture, vectors