POSSIBILE EMERGENZA DA RHABDOVIRUS (EVEX) SULLE
POPOLAZIONI SELVATICHE DI ANGUILLA ANGUILLA: PRIMO
MONITORAGGIO
POTENTIAL EMERCENCY BY RHABDOVIRUS (EVEX) ON WILD
POPULATION OF ANGUILLA ANGUILLA: FIRST MONITORING
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a catadromous species evaluated as Critically Endangered
(CR) by IUCN based on the significant population decline occurred in the last 30 years. The threats
on this species are numerous, among these, the presence of the nematode Anguillicoloides crassus
and the infection caused by rhabdovirus EVEX (Eel virus European X) represent the major causes
of reduction efficiency in eel’s swimming performances, compromising the migration capacity of
the species. For the purpose to carry out an experimental test regarding the artificial spawning of
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this species, some specimens of A. anguilla were captured from some watercourses in Sardegna
Region. A few days later, some morbidity event occurred with the appearance of clinical signs as
lethargy and hemorrhagic skin lesions of lateral line, fins and head. For this reason, between 2016
and 2017, 53 individuals of A. anguilla were sampled from different watercourses of Sardegna
Region. In particular, 20 from Rio Pramaera (Municipality of Lotzorai, OG), 13 from Rio Barca
(Municipality of Alghero, SS) and 20 from Flumedosa River (Municipality of Villaputzu, CA) in
order to verify the possible presence of the virus in wild populations. The virological analysis (cell
lines and PCR end point) were negative for all samples. Nevertheless, it is important to carried out a
health monitoring on wild population to investigate the etiological role and the distribution of the
virus in wild population of eels.
