Analysis of clinical ostreid herpesvirus 1 (Malacoherpesviridae) specimens by sequencing amplified fragments from three virus genome areas

Although there are a number of ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) variants, it is expected that the true diversity of this virus will be known only after the analysis of significantly more data. To this end, we analyzed 72 OsHV-1 "specimens" collected mainly in France over an 18-year period, from 1993 to 2010. Additional samples were also collected in Ireland, the United States, China, Japan, and New Zealand. Three virus genome regions (open reading frame 4 ORF4], ORF35, -36, -37, and -38, and ORF42 and -43) were selected for PCR analysis and sequencing. Although ORF4 appeared to be the most polymorphic genome area, distinguishing several genogroups, ORF35, -36, -37, and -38 and ORF42 and -43 also showed variations useful in grouping subpopulations of this virus.