Detection of megalocytivirus from imported tropical ornamental fish, paradise fish Macropodus opercularis

Megalocytivirus was detected from paradise fish Macropodus opercularis imported from Indonesia. Four of 11 fish (36%) in 2006 and 40 of 117 fish (34%) in 2008 were found to be PCR- positive for megalocytivirus. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial major capsid protein (MCP) gene nucleotide sequences revealed that the sequences detected in paradise fish were classified as Geno- type II, which includes freshwater fish isolates from Southeast Asian countries, closely related to infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), Murray cod iridovirus (MCIV), and dwarf gourami iridovirus (DGIV-2004). Paradise fish was added as a new host for megalocytivirus based on this study.