IFAS FA-30, Iridovirus in Gouramis

IFAS# FA-30

Iridovirus in Gouramis

RuthEllen Klinger, Ruth Francis-Floyd, John Slaughter and Craig Watson

Opening Paragraph:
What Are Iridoviruses? Iridoviruses are a family of viruses (130--300 nanometers in size) that contain DNA as their genetic material and have an icosahedral (20-sided) capsid. Iridoviruses have been found in a wide variety of fish, including both freshwater and saltwater species. Some iridoviruses have been associated with serious diseases (e.g., viral erythrocytic necrosis of salmonids) while others have only been found in apparently healthy animals (e.g., goldfish iridovirus). One iridovirus causes a disease called lymphocystis which causes unsightly skin lesions on infected fish, but otherwise is of little consequence.

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