Detection of nervous necrosis virus using RT-PCR combined with tissue culture

The detection rates of viral nervous necrosis (VNN) virus by direct RT-PCR, tissue culture using SSN-1 cell line and RT-PCR combined with tissue culture were compared. Tested specimens were whole bodies of striped jack and brown sole larvae, eyes and brain of Pacific cod juveniles, and heads of Japanese flounder juveniles, which were affected by VNN. The specimens were diluted with a 10-fold serial dilution. RT-PCR combined with tissue culture for seven clays using the SSN-1 cell line was the most sensitive and rapid method for the detection of infectious VNN virus.