Two New Sturgeon Species are Susceptible to Acipenser Iridovirus European (AcIV-E) Infection

Abstract

We report the first case of Acipenser iridovirus European (AcIV-E) infection in starry sturgeon (<i>A</i><i>cipenser</i> <i>stellatus</i>) and in sterlet (<i>A.</i> <i>ruthenus</i>) reared in Northern Italy. During 2018, mortality began in <i>A.</i> <i>stellatus</i> and <i>A.</i> <i>ruthenus</i> specimens reared in co-habitation with Russian sturgeon positive for AcIV-E. Molecular analyses were done on the gills to amplify a fragment of the major capsid protein (MCP) gene using real-time PCR against AcIV-E. DNA of the positive samples was further sequenced and phylogenetic analyses were performed. The MCP gene sequences were highly similar to a virus previously identified in Italy (nucleotide identities between 99.38% and 99.69%). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed our hypothesis of passage of the virus from the infected Russian sturgeon. The detection of AcIV-E in new species of the Acipenseridae family may impact on sturgeon production, with relevant economic losses.