Virologists from Japan, Israel and the USA worked together to publish the study which is the first to compare the viral genes of the Israeli, Japanese and USA strains of the virus.
The paper, which is due to be published shortly in the Journal of Virology, says that the virus (now officially known as Cyprinid Herpes Virus III) has a 295 kbp genome, making it the largest so far recorded in the family Herpesviridae.
Some 15 genes found in the KHV genomes have clear homologs (genetic equivalents) in the distantly related channel catfish virus Ictalurid Herpes Virus I, which the experts say confirms its placement within the Herpesviridae.
Source: Practical Fishkeeping
Scientists sequence KHV strain genomes
US - An international team of scientists has sequenced the complete genomes of three different strains of the deadly fish virus KHV.