title: Natural host-range and experimental transmission of Laem-Singh virus (LSNV).
abstract: Slow growth caused by viral diseases has become a major constraint in shrimp aquaculture. Laem-Singh virus (LSNV), a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus, has been identified in Penaeus monodon showing slow growth syndrome. To examine the host-range and transmission modes of the virus, 6 species of penaeid shrimp of varying life stages, sourced from the wild and from farms, as well as juvenile mud crabs Scylla serrata, were screened using RT-nested PCR. LSNV was detected in P. monodon, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, Metapenaeus dobsoni, and Litopenaeus vannamei, but not in E indicus, Marsupenaeus japonicus or S. serrata. LSNV was most prevalent in P. monodon followed by M. dobsoni, F. merguiensis, and L. vannamei, and real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that LSNV infection loads were highest in P. monodon, followed by L. vannamei, M. dobsoni, and E merguiensis. The nucleotide sequence of the LSNV RdRP gene fragment amplified by RT-nested PCR was highly conserved (99% identity) across these 4 penaeid species. LSNV was detected in both small and normal-sized P. monodon collected from the same pond. In experimental infections of both P. monodon and S. serrata, LSNV infection loads increased over time. The present study extends the known natural penaeid host-range and geographical distribution of LSNV and shows for the first time the potential susceptibility of S. serrata.
authors: Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Panch Marg, Off Yari Road, Versova, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400061, India.
authors: T Sathish
authors: TS
authors: Kumar
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Krishnan
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Makesh
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chaudhari
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Purushothaman
authors: K V
authors: KV
authors: Rajendran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000821:virology*; D058507:Host Specificity; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000821:virology*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*