Establishing environmental <scp>DNA</scp> and <scp>RNA</scp> protocols for the simultaneous detection of fish viruses from seawater

Aquatic viruses are major threats to global aquacultural productivity. While conventional diagnostic methods for disease investigation laborious, time-consuming, and often involve the sacrifice of animals, environmental DNA RNA (eDNA/eRNA) tools have potential in being non-invasive alternatives effective early detection various pathogens simultaneously. In this study, three seawater filtration methods—Sterivex syringe filtration, centrifugal ultrafiltration, vacuum pump with iron flocculation—were assessed recovery rates co-detecting fish virus eDNA/eRNA from natural that was spiked red seabream iridovirus (RSIV, virus) nervous necrosis (NNV, virus). The ultrafiltration method most capture small-sized like NNV a rate 63.23%, while flocculation chloroform disintegration filter membranes had highest RSIV 32.61%. We also optimized both automated manual nucleic acid extraction found comparable efficiencies. Our findings systematic comparison suggest each filtration/nucleic can cater different aquatic animal surveillance scenarios. These highlight approaches advancing field ecology safeguarding health.