title: Sampling and evaluation of white spot syndrome virus in commercially important Atlantic penaeid shrimp stocks.
abstract: In 1997, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was discovered in shrimp culture facilities in South Carolina, USA. This disease was known to cause devastating mortalities in cultured populations in Southeast Asia and prompted concern for the health of wild populations in the USA. Our study surveyed wild shrimp populations for the presence of WSSV by utilizing molecular diagnostics and bioassay techniques. A total of 1150 individuals (586 Litopenaeus setiferus, 477 Farfantepenaeus aztecus and 87 F. dourarum) were examined for the presence of WSSV DNA by PCR. A total of 32 individuals tested positive and were used in a bioassay to examine the transmission of disease to healthy individuals of the culture species L. vannamei. DNA sequencing of PCR products from a positive individual confirmed that the positive individuals carried WSSV DNA. Significant mortalities were seen in test shrimp injected with tissue extracts from heavily infected wild shrimp. These data confirm the existence of WSSV in wild shrimp stocks along the Atlantic Coast and that the virus can cause mortalities in cultured stocks.
authors.affiliation: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, 217 Ft. Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA. chapmanr@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Craig L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Browdy
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savin
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wenner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary*; D006652:Histological Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013022:South Carolina