Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus Dynamics in Salmonid Aquaculture
Summary
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a negative-sense RNA virus that represents one of the foremost threats to salmonid aquaculture worldwide. The virus targets haematopoietic and endothelial tissues, causing severe anaemia, haemorrhage and high mortality in young fish. Transmission takes place both directly, via contact between infected and naïve fish, and indirectly, through waterborne dispersal of shed virus particles. Environmental factors such as temperature, water flow and ultraviolet exposure modulate viral survival and infectivity in aquatic systems. Genetic diversity among IHNV strains influences virulence and host susceptibility, with distinct genogroups displaying variable patterns of pathogenicity. Control measures include vaccination, selective breeding for resistance, antiviral compounds and improved biosecurity to limit viral introduction and spread. A thorough grasp of host–pathogen interactions, viral shedding dynamics and environmental persistence is essential for developing integrated management strategies that sustain production and safeguard wild salmonid populations.
Research from Nature Portfolio
A foundational study described the development of a bivalent DNA vaccine encoding glycoprotein antigens from IHNV and infectious pancreatic necrosis virus. Intramuscular vaccination of rainbow trout elicited robust neutralising antibody titres and upregulated interferon-stimulated genes, leading to dramatic reductions in mortality following challenge with either virus or co-infection. The vaccine induced durable protection lasting at least two months post-vaccination and prevented detectable viral replication in key organs. These findings illustrate the potential of multivalent genetic vaccines to shape immune dynamics and interrupt transmission cycles in intensive aquaculture settings.
Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus Dynamics in Salmonid Aquaculture publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus dynamics in salmonid aquaculture across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Genogroup: A classification of viral strains according to genetic lineage and evolutionary relationships.
Plaque-forming unit: A measure of infectious virus particles based on their ability to form clear zones of cell destruction in culture.
Transcriptome: The complete set of RNA transcripts expressed by a cell or tissue under specific conditions.
Neutralising antibody: An antibody that binds to a virus’s surface proteins and inhibits its capacity to infect host cells.
Shedding rate: The quantity of virus released by an infected host into its environment per unit time.
References
- Comparative transcriptome analysis of rainbow trout gonadal cells (RTG-2) infected with U and J genogroup infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus. Frontiers in Microbiology (2023).
- Traditional Chinese medicine bufalin inhibits infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus infection in vitro and in vivo. Microbiology Spectrum (2024).
- Estimation of Parameters Influencing Waterborne Transmission of Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV) in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar). PLOS ONE (2013).
- Bivalent DNA vaccine induces significant immune responses against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus and infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in rainbow trout. Scientific Reports (2017).
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