Complete genome sequence and analysis of the ictalurid herpesvirus 2

Ictalurid herpesvirus 2 (IcHV-2) has been causing substantial losses in black bullhead aquaculture industry since the 1990s. Using next generation sequencing method, the genome of IcHV-2 was completely sequenced and analysed in this study. The complete genome sequence proved to be 142,925 bp in size containing 77 predicted protein-coding regions, including 12 ORFs that seems to have a homologue in every alloherpesvirus genome sequenced to date. The genome organization of the IcHV-2 shows high similarity to that of the IcHV-1 the founder member of the genus Ictalurivirus within the family Alloherpesviridae. The unique sequence region 101 kbp is flanked by terminal direct repeats 20 kbp. 13 putative genes from the 77 do not show homology to any known genes in public databases; 6 of them are found in the repeat regions. The whole genome analysis confirms the formerly established taxonomic position of IcHV-2.