SUSPECTED VIRAL ERYTHROCYTIC NECROSIS (VEN) IN THE INTERTIDAL FISH MAULIGOBIUS-MADERENSIS FROM MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

Suspected viral erythrocytic necrosis (VEN) was detected in two specim ens of the intertidal fish Mauligobius madernesis (Teleostei: Gobiidae ) from Madeira, Portugal. While one host was lightly infected, the oth er showed intraerythrocytic cytoplasmic inclusions within all mature e rythrocytes examined. The inclusions were round to oval, 0 . 8-2 . 0 m u m in diameter, and most were associated with dense eosinophilic gran ular areas of various sizes and shapes. Up to three of these granular regions accompanied each inclusion body, but they were sometimes widel y separated from it. In a number of infected erythrocytes, a granular halo was observed surrounding the nucleus. The cytoplasm enclosed by t he halo often had a different refringence from that outside. None of t he 120 other fishes examined from Madeira, representing 43 species of intertidal, pelagic, and deep-sea origin, had detectable infections.