Herpes-type virus diseases of marine organisms

Abstract

SynopsisHerpesviruses and viruses having the typical morphological and replicative characteristics of the genusHerpesvirusfrom marine animals have been reviewed. These animals include one teleost fish, two reptiles, one pelecypod mollusc and an arthropod. With the exception of the arthropod, all descriptions of virus-related diseases were from animals maintained under artificial culture conditions and a common theme relates temperature, stress and crowding to outbreaks of disease. The significance of these observations in relation to the possible evolution of the herpesvirus group is discussed.