Characterisation of myocardial lesions associated with cardiomyopathy syndrome in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) using laser capture microdissection.

When I first started working in the Fish Health Laboratory in Tasmania as a veterinary fish pathologist back in 2002, I was contemplating doing an Honours project on the reason for different morphometric aspects of salmon hearts that we saw coming through the labs. Could it be due to genetics? Does it have any impact on their health, growth or disease susceptibility/resistance? We did not see inflammatory infiltrates such as these, but it’s an interesting article nonetheless.

Journal of Fish Diseases
Volume 35, Number 12 (December 2012)
	Characterization of myocardial lesions associated with cardiomyopathy syndrome in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., using laser capture microdissection
	Authors:	J Wiik-Nielsen, M Løvoll, C Fritsvold, A B Kristoffersen, Ø Haugland, I Hordvik, M Aamelfot, E Jirillo, E O Koppang, S Grove
	Author Affiliations:	no affiliations available
	Source:	Journal of Fish Diseases, Volume 35, Number 12 (December 2012)
	Page Numbers:	907 – 916
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: EBSCOhost EJS
	Abstract:	Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., is characterized by focal infiltration in the spongy myocardium and endocardium of the heart. The origin of the mononuclear infiltrate is unknown. Using experimentally infected fish, we investigated localization of the causative agent, piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV), within the heart and characterized the cell population associated with myocardial lesions. Cellular and transcriptional characteristics in the lesions were compared with adjacent non-infiltrated tissues using laser capture microdissection, RT-qPCRand immunohistochemistry. Our results reveal that PMCV is almost exclusively present in myocardial lesions. The inflammatory infiltrate comprises a variety of leucocyte populations, including Tcells, Bcells, MHCclass II+and CD83+cells, most likely of the macrophage line. Correlation analyses demonstrated co-ordinated leucocyte activity at the site of the virus infection. Cellular proliferation and/or DNA repair was demonstrated within the myocardial lesions. Different cell populations, mainly myocytes, stained positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Densities of endothelial cells and fibroblasts were not significantly increased. The simultaneous presence of PMCV and various inflammatory cells in all myocardial lesions analysed may indicate that both viral lytic and immunopathological effects may contribute to the pathogenesis of CMS.
	Citation:	J Wiik-Nielsen, M Løvoll, C Fritsvold, A B Kristoffersen, Ø Haugland, I Hordvik, M Aamelfot, E Jirillo, E O Koppang, S Grove . Characterization of myocardial lesions associated with cardiomyopathy syndrome in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., using laser capture microdissection. Journal of Fish Diseases, Volume 35, Number 12 (December 2012), pp. 907-916, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=48CA861BCFE8B90E8833&gt;
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=48CA861BCFE8B90E8833