Detection of oyster herpesvirus DNA and proteins in asymptomatic Crassostrea gigas adults

Since 1972, several herpes-like virus infections have been reported among different bivalve species around the world. Most of these reports involved larvae or juveniles presenting high mortalities. Two case reports of herpes-like viruses concerned adult oysters, Crassostrea virginica in USA and Ostrea angasi in Australia. Molecular techniques including PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH) have been recently developed to detect the oyster herpesvirus genome. In the present study, 30 Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, adults have been analyzed using three different techniques: PCR, ISH and immunochemistry, in order to detect herpesviruses in asymptomatic individuals. PCR and ISH allowed detection of oyster herpesvirus DNA in 93.3 and 86.6%, respectively, of analyzed oysters while polyclonal antibodies allowed detection of viral proteins in 76.6% of analyzed adult oysters. These results suggest that oyster herpesvirus infects adult oysters with high prevalence and that the virus may persist in its host after primary infection. The detection of viral DNA and viral proteins in the gonad of several individuals supports the hypothesis of a possible vertical transmission of the infection. Lastly, concordance among the three techniques used in this study is discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved.