Early or Simultaneous Infection with Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus Inhibits Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus Replication and Induces a Stronger Antiviral Response during Co-infection in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) are the most common viral diseases of salmon in aquaculture worldwide. The co-infection of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with IHN virus (IHNV) and IPN virus (IPNV) is known to occur. To determine the influence of IPNV on IHNV in co-infection, rainbow trout were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with IPNV at different time intervals prior to, simultaneously to, or after IHNV infection. The replication of IHNV in the brain, gill, heart, liver, spleen, and head kidney was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results showed that when rainbow trout were i.p. injected with IPNV prior to, simultaneously to, or after IHNV on 2 day (d), IHNV replication was inhibited (p < 0.05) in all collected tissues. Nevertheless, when rainbow trout were i.p. injected with IPNV after IHNV on 7 d (H7P), IHNV replication was only inhibited (p < 0.05) in the liver 14 d post-IHNV infection. Moreover, stronger antiviral responses occurred in all challenge groups. Our results suggest that IPNV can inhibit IHNV replication before or simultaneously with IHNV infection, and induce a stronger antiviral response, and that this inhibition is most sensitive in the liver. Early i.p. injection of IPNV can significantly reduce the mortality of rainbow trout, compared with the group only injected with IHNV.