Author ORCID Identifier
Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
Committee Chair
Patricia Mazik
Committee Member
Luke Iwanowicz
Committee Member
Amy Welsh
Committee Member
Brent Murry
Abstract
Viruses are among the most abundant biological entities on Earth, yet their diversity and ecological roles in aquatic vertebrates, particularly fishes, remain poorly characterized. This dissertation advances fish virology through integrative approaches that combine historical context, molecular diagnostics, and genomic discovery. A novel hepadnavirus (ApHBV) was identified in asymptomatic Alosa pseudoharengus, emphasizing the prevalence of subclinical infections in migratory forage species. In Catostomus commersonii, transcriptomic profiling revealed sexually dimorphic immune responses to hepatitis B and C-like viruses, highlighting complex host-pathogen dynamics. In Micropterus nigricans, next-generation sequencing uncovered a novel nackednavirus and multiple adomaviruses within hyperpigmented lesions, expanding the known virome of a key sportfish. During pandemic-related fieldwork constraints, a nationwide aquarium-based survey confirmed MnA-1 as the dominant agent in blotchy bass syndrome and validated photographic lesion scoring as a diagnostic proxy. Comparative genomics across five Micropterus species revealed distinct MnA-1 genogroups with recent divergence, suggesting anthropogenic stocking as a driver of viral evolution. Collectively, these findings illuminate hidden viral diversity, refine surveillance methodologies, and provide a framework for understanding disease ecology in freshwater systems.
Recommended Citation
Raines, Clayton Douglas, "Evaluation and identification of novel viruses in wild fishes using varied molecular biology techniques" (2025). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 13070.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/13070