Different in vivo growth of ostreid herpesvirus 1 at 18 °C and 22 °C alters mortality of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Seasonally recurrent outbreaks of mass mortality in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) caused by microvariant genotypes of ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) occur in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. The incubation period for OsHV-1 under experimental conditions is 48-72 hours and depends on water temperature, as does the mortality. An in vivo growth curve for OsHV-1 was determined by quantifying OsHV-1 DNA at 10 time points between 2 and 72 hours after exposure to OsHV-1. The peak replication rate was the same at 18 °C and 22 °C; however, there was a longer period of amplification leading to a higher peak concentration at 22 °C (2.34 × 107 copies/mg at 18 hours) compared to 18 °C (1.38 × 105 copies/mg at 12 hours). The peak viral concentration preceded mortality by 72 hours and 20 hours at 18 °C and 22 °C, respectively. Cumulative mortality to day 14 was 45.9% at 22 °C compared to 0.3% at 18 °C. The prevalence of OsHV-1 infection after 14 days at 18 °C was 33.3%. No mortality from OsHV-1 occurred when the water temperature in tanks of oysters challenged at 18 °C was increased to 22 °C for 14 days. The influence of water temperature prior to exposure to OsHV-1 and during the initial virus replication is an important determinant of the outcome of infection in C. gigas.