Isolation, purification and characterization of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) from...

A protocol was developed for the isolation and purification of the infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) of penaeid shrimps. Cesium chloride-banded virus obtained from three sources of infected shrimps was found to have a buoyant density of 1.33 g/cm3. Also, electron microscopical studies employing negative stain revealed isometric particles having a size of 19 +/- 1 nm. Colorimetric analysis of its nucleic acid type indicated that these particles contain only RNA.