Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of megalocytivirusin Brazilian ornamental fish

AbstractMegalocytiviruses have a worldwide distribution, causing serious economic loss to the global aquaculture industry. Theyalso present a threat to ornamental fish trade because megalocytiviral infections have unspecified symptoms, making earlydiagnosis difficult. In this study, 100 ornamental fish from 24 different species were tested by PCR for megalocytivirus, witha 47% positive rate being identified. Phylogenetic reconstruction, based on the major capsid protein (MCP) gene, clusteredall Brazilian samples into a single clade, showing identity values ranging from 99% to 100% when compared to each other.This is the first report of megalocytivirus infection in some ornamental fish species in Brazil