Using Real-Time PCR to Detect Notifiable Viral Diseases (IPN, VHS and IHN) in Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) Rainbow Trout Broodstock Generations

The aim of this study was to identify different virulence pathogens using Real-Time PCR method for rapid and accurate detection of common viral diseases including Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN), Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) and Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis disease (IPN) in rainbow trout broodstock have been the main generation of reproductive populations maintained in the national plan for production the Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) fish. For this purpose, sampling was carried out on selected farms approved by the National Veterinary Organization in the provinces of Mazandaran, Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad and West Azerbaijan. Sampling of fish was done in different age groups and organs and was immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. RNA extraction and Real-Time PCR experiments were performed using primers for the diseases. The results obtained using Real-Time PCR testing of healthy and suspected viral fishes showed the presence of VHS and IHN viruses in a number of selected farms, while the pathogenic virus IPN not detected. Based on the results of this study, it seems that Real-Time PCR can be used as a rapid diagnostic method in screening tests for rainbow trout viruses and as a complementary method for virus detection in routine tissue culture experiments.