Investigation on Natural Infection of Covert Mortality Nodavirus in Farmed Giant Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Abstract

Covert mortality nodavirus (CMNV), from the <i>Nodaviridae</i> family, is characterized by its unique cross-species transmission and wide epidemic distribution features. In this study, <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> was proved to be infected naturally by CMNV, which further expand the known host range of CMNV. Here, 61.9% (70/113) of the <i>M. rosenbergii</i> samples collected from Jiangsu Province were CMNV positive in the TaqMan RT-qPCR assay, which indicated the high prevalence of CMNV in <i>M. rosenbergii</i>. Meanwhile, the sequences of CMNV RdRp gene cloned from <i>M. rosenbergii</i> were highly identical to that of the original CMNV isolate from <i>Penaeus vannamei</i>. In situ hybridization (ISH) and histology analysis indicated that the intestine, gill, hepatopancreas and ovary were the targeted organs of CMNV infection in <i>M. rosenbergii</i>, and obvious histopathological damage including vacuolation and karyopyknosis were occurred in the above organs. Notably, the presence of CMNV in gonad alerted its potential risk of vertical transmission in <i>M. rosenbergii</i>. Additionally, numerous CMNV-like particles could be observed in tissues of hepatopancreas and gill under transmission electron microscopy. Collectively, our results call for concern of the potential negative impact of the spread and prevalence of CMNV in <i>M. rosenbergii</i> on its aquaculture, as well as providing a renewed orientation for further investigation and exploration of the diverse pathogenic factors causing <i>M. rosenbergii</i> diseases.