Detection of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in an invertebrate (Callibaetis sp)

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) was detected in the common Mayfly (Callibaetis sp) by western immunoblot assay and was propagated in fish cells (CHSE-214) in culture. When propagated in cell culture, cytopathic effect characteristic of IHNV infection was observed. Antibody specific for IHNV was used to detect all of the major proteins of IHNV in the western immunoblot assay. When the crude lysate was subjected to electron microscopy, bullet-shaped particles (84 nm x 194 nm) characteristic of IHNV were observed. The data suggested that the Mayfly may be a factor in the dissemination of IHNV.