Molecular identification of a new strain of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) in a Croatian rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farm

Summary Through the regular clinical control of a Croatian rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farm, aberrant fry behaviour was revealed whereby diagnostic protocols of sampled fish evidenced the presence of the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). Identification of an IPNV type isolated from the source farm was necessary to develop an adequate epizootiological survey at the country level. A previous IPNV outbreak and virus molecular characterization had been reported on only one previous occasion. Amplification of a 359-bp fragment (GenBank HM036118) of the capsid protein VP2 variable region supported the hypothesis of the European origin of the isolate that clusters within genogroup III, belonging to A2 serotype, although showing a distinction from the previously reported strain.