First report of spring viremia of carp virus in Percocypris pingi in China

Spring viraemia of carp (SVC) is a rhabdovirus infection capable of inducing an acute haemorrhagic and contagious viraemia in cyprinids. In April 2016, an infectious disease of more than 35% mortality occurred on cultured Percocypris pingi in Leshan County, Sichuan Province, China. Necropsy of diseased fish had signs consistent with spring viremia of carp disease, including hemorrhage on the gills, swim bladder and internal organs. Histopathological examination revealed that a hemorrhagic and necrotic inflammatory response was observed in all major organs, particularly evident in the liver, spleen and kidney. Tissue filtrates of diseased fish produced cytopathic effects (CPE) in epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells and a specific 606 bp fragment from the glycoprotein gene of SVCV was detected by RT-PCR in tissue filtrates of diseased fish and the cell cultures showing CPE. Based on phylogenetic analysis of glycoprotein genes, the isolated virus was classified into the Ia genogroup and more closely to the Chinese isolates. Infection experiment indicated that SVCV was the aetiological agent for this natural epizootic event. Our study reported the first SVCV infection in cultured Percocypris pingi in China.