ISOLATION OF BIRNAVIRUS FROM AGEMAKI (JACK KNIFE CLAM) SINONOVACURA-CONSTRICTA AND SURVEY OF THE VIRUS USING PCR TECHNIQUE

Two strains of birnavirus were isolated from Agemaki (jack knife clam) Sinonovacula constricta originating in the Ariake sea, Japan, and fro m imported shells from Korea. The genome sequence of the VP2/Ns juncti on regions of virus genome revealed that the 2 strains are very simila r to each other and also similar to other birnaviruses isolated from s everal marine fishes. Routine survey of the virus genome from Agemaki by PCR was performed in 1993 and 1994. The birnavirus genome was detec ted in high ratios using samples recollected from several fishing grou nds where Korean shells were transplanted. The imported shells from Ko rea also possessed the virus genome. These findings suggest that birna virus is widely present in Agemaki in the Ariake sea and on the Korean coast.