Novel Aquareovirus isolated from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) used in mussel restoration efforts in Wisconsin

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are a food fish extensively reared in aquaculture facilities throughout the world and are also among the most abundant wild catfish species in North America, making them a popular target of anglers. Furthermore, channel catfish are important members of aquatic ecosystems; for example, they serve as a glochidial host for the endangered winged mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula fragosa), making them critical for conserving this species through hatchery-based restoration efforts. During a routine health inspection, a novel aquareovirus was isolated from channel catfish used in mussel propagation efforts at a fish hatchery in Wisconsin. This virus was isolated on brown bullhead cells (ATCC CCL-59) and identified through metagenomic sequencing as a novel member of the family Spinareoviridae, genus Aquareovirus. The virus genome consists of 11 segments, as is typical of the aquareoviruses, with phylogenetic relationships based on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and major outer capsid protein amino acid sequences showing it to be most closely related to golden shiner virus (aquareovirus C) and aquareovirus C/American grass carp reovirus (aquareovirus G) respectively. The potential of the new virus, which we name genictpun virus 1 (GNIPV-1), to cause disease in channel catfish or other species remains unknown.