Optimal Conditions for Isolation of Salmonid Herpesvirus Type 2 from Maricultured Coho Salmon

Abstract

Optimal conditions for the isolation of salmonid herpesvirus type 2 (SH-2) from the diseased maricultured coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, were studied.CHSE-214 cells had the highest susceptibility to SH-2 among the cell lines tested (CHSE-214, RTG-2, SSE-5, BB, EPC and FHM). Optimal temperature for the virus culture was 10-15°C and freezing of the sample organ markedly decreased the virus titer.Homogenates of both the liver and the heart showed high virus titers.Conclusively, for the isolation of SH-2 from maricultured coho salmon it is recommended to use the pooled sample of the heart and the liver without freezing, inoculate the sample homogenate on CHSE-214 cells, and incubate at 10-15°C.