CHARACTERISTICS OF A NOVEL ISOLATE OF GRASS CARP HEMORRHAGIC VIRUS

A virus isolated from hemorrhagic grass carp at Shao Yang County, Hunan Provice revealed icosahedral particles of approximately 71 nm in diameter with a double capsid under eletron microscopic observations. Polyacrylamide gel eletrophoresis showed that the viral genome was composed of 11 segments of dsRNA. This was proved by RNase or DNase treatment and acridine orange staining as well as nucleic acid denaturing assay. The virus replicated well in the CIK cell line, forming plaqus approximately 2 mm in diameter in monolayer culture. It was ether and chloroform resistant, stable at pH 3.7 and 10, and at a temperature of 56℃ for 30 min. This virus is distinct from any of the Min Jiang, Chang Jiang, Yellow River, and may be a novel member of this family.