Detection of channel catfish virus DNA in acutely infected channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), using the polymerase chain reaction

Channel catfish virus (CCV) causes an acute haemorrhagic disease in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), fry and fingerlings. The presen t study describes a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay for detecti on of CCV DNA in the tissues of acutely infected juvenile catfish. The assa y is rapid, sensitive and specifically detects CCV DNA derived from epidemi ologically distinct viral isolates. The use of two independent PCR primers sets, each specific for particular CCV genes (open reading frames 8 and 59) , provides a means to confirm the results and minimize false-positive resul ts. The method identifies CCV DNA in several tissues of acutely infected fi sh, including the brain, blood, intestine, kidney and liver. The CCV PCR as say is useful for the diagnosis of acute CCV disease and for studies to inv estigate the molecular basis of CCV pathogenesis.