Betanodavirus infection is responsible of mortality and economic losses in
European sea bass farm in the Mediterranean Sea. Symptoms generally are not observed in wild
fish, despite infection was detected in several species. Interspecies transmission are possible and
sub clinically infected carrier are suspected in wild fish. Betanodavirus infection was
investigated in many fish species collected from fish market of Cesenatico. 11.9% of samples
were positive for Betanodavirus isolation. Six new fish species and four previously signalised
species were evidenced infected. Viruses isolated were genetically characterized by RT-PCR
and sequencing. Two viral strains were evidenced. High genetic identity was evidenced for both
strains with viruses isolated from European sea bass during outbreaks with mortality. The
spreading of the same strains in both wild and farmed fish could be potentially responsible for
interspecies transmission and need to be monitored by virus detection and characterization.
