Preliminary studies on the detection and presence of Lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) in sea breams (Sparus aurata) raised in the Aegean Sea

Abstract

Lymphocystis disease (LCD) is the most frequently reported viral infection in sea bream farms in the South Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. Therefore, in this study, the presence of lymphocystis disease virus (LCVD) which is the causative agent of LCD was investigated in sea bream (Sparus aurata) farm in the Aegean region. The 78 fish samples, 40 of them showing fin/skin lesions characteristic to LCD and 38 fishes without skin lesions were collected. Samples from skin lesions and spleen and livers were taken from the fishes without skin lesions. The samples pooled were analyzed for the presence of LCDV by SYBR-Green real time PCR. All samples were found to be positive by real time PCR, but an amplification was seen only in 1 sample by conventional PCR. Sequence analysis has indicated that nucleotide sequences were belong to capsid gene of LCDV. In conclusion, this study shows that LCDV is present in Türkiye and causes serious health problems in sea bream in Izmir, Türkiye. Screening of fishes for LCDV by real time PCR is very crucial especially in fishes without skin lesions. Sequence analysis helps to determine circulating strains and variants of the virus in Türkiye.