CHARACTERIZATION OF A TOGAVIRUS-LIKE AGENT,ISOLATED FROM EELS ANGUILLA JAPONIICA IN CHINA

The present paper describes a new kind of epidemic which occurred in eels in South China in summer between temperatures ranging 25-32t and resulted in motality of more than 60% eels in some cultUre ponds. The diseased examination shows: Marked haemorrhage occurred in inter membrane of oral cavity and in cramal cavity and sometimes in the pectoral fin anal fin and abdomina surface.A new virus was isolated from the diseased eels, The virus was spherical in shape,40-80um in diameter, with an envelope tightly around a nucleus about 35-40um,sensitive to chloroform, labile to heat acid (PH3), freezing and thawing. The virus replicated successfully in eels gonads (EG) cell line at temperature 25-32℃ with optimal temperature at 30℃. However, CIK GCk, CAB, FHM and Epc lines were refractory to multiplication of this virus. which replicated in plasma of cells. The results suggest the tentative placement of the virus in the Family Togaviridae.