Histopathological and ultrastructural features of Koi herpesvirus (KHV)-infected carp Cyprinus carpio, and the morphology and morphogenesis of KHV.

Epizootics of Koi herpesvirus (KHV) cause mass mortalities in koi carp and common carp worldwide. We used a newly developed 'per-gill infection' procedure with live KHV, and then conducted detailed histopathological and ultrastructural studies of KHV-infected cells including an examination of the morphology and morphogenesis of KHV. The primary target of KHV was respiratory epithelial cells of the gill lamellae, and release of virions from infected epithelial cells resulted in a systemic infection affecting the kidney, spleen, heart, brain and liver.