Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

William N Batts

Bill loves to identify new fish viruses! Replicating viral agents are amplified by PCR and DNA sequenced to characterize the viruses. When novel viruses are found, he publishes manuscripts in scientific journals and presents findings at fish health conferences. Recently, Bill was an author on two chapters in the 2016 book, “Aquaculture Virology”. 

Research Interests:                                    

Research on all kinds of fish viruses. However, I am focused primarily on RNA viruses of fish. Provide technical assistance to fish health professionals whether they are from state, government, tribal, commercial or from other countries. Specialize in detection and identification methods for existing and novel viruses. I have studied a wide variety of virus types for genomic comparisons: IHNV, VHSV, and other rhabdoviruses of fish, paramyxoviruses, orthomyxoviruses, hepeviruses, nidoviruses, bunyaviruses, picornaviruses, reoviruses, birnaviruses, herpesviruses and iridoviruses. Have performed fish exposure studies to ascertain control and prevention strategies on fish viruses. Investigated various potential virus transmission modes. Overall, I'm just trying to understand how the various viruses do what they do and try to give the fish a better chance for survival.

Professional Experience

  • 1983 to Present - Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. 1990. Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  • B.S. 1983. Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Honors and Awards

  • 2006 - Citation for the Most Significant Paper in the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, Volume 18

     

  • 1998 - Citation for the Most Significant Paper in the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, Volume 9

  • 1991 - Citation for the Most Significant Paper in the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, Volume 2

Science and Products

link
Gizzard shad infected with VHSV

Molecular Characterization of Novel Fish Viruses from Technical Assistance Cases

Viruses occur in many cultured and wild stocks of fish. William Batts collaborates with many government, state, tribal, and private research and diagnostic laboratories to aid in identification of these unknown replicating agents of uncertain pathogenicity. Typically, viruses can be replicated in a variety of fish cell lines and investigated at several temperatures to see if the cytopathic effect...
By
Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease (unpublished), Fisheries Program (unpublished), Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)
link

Molecular Characterization of Novel Fish Viruses from Technical Assistance Cases

Viruses occur in many cultured and wild stocks of fish. William Batts collaborates with many government, state, tribal, and private research and diagnostic laboratories to aid in identification of these unknown replicating agents of uncertain pathogenicity. Typically, viruses can be replicated in a variety of fish cell lines and investigated at several temperatures to see if the cytopathic effect...
Learn More

Analytical and diagnostic validation of a molecular test to detect and discriminate IHNV genogroups U and M

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is an acute pathogen of salmonids in North America, Europe and Asia that is phylogenetically classified into five major virus genogroups (U, M, L, E and J). The geographic range of the U and M genogroup isolates overlap in the North American Columbia River Basin and Washington Coast region, where these genogroups pose different risks depending on the
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)
Filter Total Items: 57

Genetics reveal long-distance virus transmission links in Pacific salmon

In the coastal region of Washington State, a major pathogen emergence event occurred between 2007 and 2011 in which steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) experienced a high incidence of infection and disease outbreaks due to the rhabdovirus infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV). Genetic typing showed that the introduced viruses were in the steelhead-specific MD subgroup of IHNV and indica
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Western Fisheries Research Center

Rapid diagnostic test to detect and discriminate infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) genogroups U and M to aid management of Pacific Northwest salmonid populations

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is an acute pathogen of salmonids in North America, Europe, and Asia that is phylogenetically classified into five major virus genogroups (U, M, L, E, and J). The geographic range of the U and M genogroup isolates overlap in the North American Columbia River Basin and Washington Coast region, where these genogroups pose different risks depending on th
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Novel diagnostic tests for the putative agent of bacterial gill disease in Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula)

Nuclear inclusion X (NIX) is a gamma proteobacteria that infects the nuclei of gill epithelial cells in Pacific razor clams. NIX has been associated with clam die-offs in coastal Washington. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed to detect NIX in Pacific razor clams, and assay specificity was confirmed by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). Both tests were applied to evaluate NIX infe
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Marrowstone Marine Field Station (MMFS)

Anadromous coastal cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii as a host for Argulus pugettensis (Crustacea, Branchiura): Parasite prevalence, intensity and distribution

Coastal cutthroat trout [Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii (Richardson, 1836)] from the marine waters of Puget Sound, WA, was documented as a new host for the ectoparasite Argulus pugettensis (Dana, 1852). The prevalence of A. pugettensis was 66% (49 of 74) on cutthroat trout and 0% (0 of 55) on coho salmon [O. kisutch (Walbaum, 1792)] collected during the winter of 2017/2018. Infestations occurred mos
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Marrowstone Marine Field Station (MMFS)

Ichthyophonus sp. Infection in Opaleye (Girella nigricans)

Over a 3-year-period, 17 wild-caught opaleye (Girella nigricans) housed in a public display aquarium were found dead without premonitory signs. Grossly, 4 animals had pinpoint brown or black foci on coelomic adipose tissue. Histologically, liver, spleen, heart, and posterior kidney had mesomycetozoan granulomas in all cases; other organs were less commonly infected. Four opaleye had goiter; additi
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Marrowstone Marine Field Station (MMFS)

Complete genome sequences of the index isolates of two genotypes of Pacific salmon paramyxovirus

We report here the genome sequences of two index strains of Pacific salmon paramyxovirus isolated in 1982 and 1983 from adult salmon in Oregon. The isolates are most closely related to Atlantic salmon paramyxovirus, the type species of the genus Aquaparamyxovirus, but are sufficiently distinct to be considered two genotypes of a novel species.
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Development and characterization of two cell lines from gills of Atlantic salmon

Gill disease in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., causes big losses in the salmon farming industry. Until now, tools to cultivate microorganisms causing gill disease and models to study the gill responses have been lacking. Here we describe the establishment and characterization of two cell lines from the gills of Atlantic salmon. Atlantic salmon gill cell ASG-10 consisted of cells staining for cyt
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Complete sequences of 4 viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus IVb isolates and their virulence in northern pike fry

Four viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) genotype IVb isolates were sequenced, their genetic variation explored, and comparative virulence assayed with experimental infections of northern pike Esox lucius fry. In addition to the type strain MI03, the complete 11183 bp genome of the first round goby Neogobius melanostomus isolate from the St. Lawrence River, and the 2013 and 2014 isolates fro
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Isolation and characterization of the fall Chinook aquareovirus

BackgroundSalmon are paramount to the economy, ecology, and history of the Pacific Northwest. Viruses constitute one of the major threats to salmon health and well-being, with more than twenty known virus species that infect salmon. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the fall Chinook aquareovirus, a divergent member of the species Aquareovirus B within the family Reoviridae.Me
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Molecular characterization of a novel orthomyxovirus from rainbow and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

A novel virus, rainbow trout orthomyxovirus (RbtOV), was isolated in 1997 and again in 2000 from commercially-reared rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Idaho, USA. The virus grew optimally in the CHSE-214 cell line at 15°C producing a diffuse cytopathic effect; however, juvenile rainbow trout exposed to cell culture-grown virus showed no mortality or gross pathology. Electron microscopy of pre
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Hepeviruses of fish

Originally reported from California, the cutthroat trout virus (CTV) has now been isolated from eight species of salmonids in North America. Early work focused on the replication and physical characteristics of the small, round virus, but not until 20 years later was it determined to be most closely related to viruses causing hepatitis E in humans or infecting avian and mammalian hosts. The genome
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Paramyxoviruses of fish

The first fish paramyxovirus was isolated from normal adult Chinook salmon returning to a coastal hatchery in Oregon in the fall of 1982. Subsequently, the virus was isolated from other stocks of adult Chinook salmon and one stock of adult coho salmon in California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, leading to its designation as the Pacific salmon paramyxovirus (PSPV). The slow-growing virus can be i
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program (unpublished), Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Science and Products