title: Association of dual viral infection with mortality of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in culture ponds in India.
abstract: Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei has been introduced recently for culture practice in India. Though SPF stocks are imported for larval production and thereafter culture practice, these are prone to infection with the existing viruses in the environment. Here we report mortality of L.vannamei in several farms in India with minimum biosecurity. The shrimp were harvested early within 50-72 days of culture due to the onset of disease and consequent mortality. As per the analysis carried out, the shrimp were infected with two virus, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV). About 80 % of the samples collected had either or both of the viruses. A majority of these samples (60 %) had dual infection with WSSV and IHHNV. Infection of shrimp with WSSV and IHHNV could be detected both by PCR and histopathology. Some of the samples had either exclusively WSSV infection or IHHNV infection and were also harvested before the completion of the required culture period. All the samples analyzed were negative for taura syndrome virus, yellow head virus and infectious myonecrosis virus. While it is difficult to point out the exact etiological agent as the cause of mortality, strict biosecurity measures are advisable for the continuity of L. vannamei culture in India.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Otta
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arulraj
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ezhil Praveena
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manivel
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bhuvaneswari
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravichandran
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Jithendran
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75. Santhome High Road, RA Puram, Chennai, 600 028 India.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ponniah
keywords: Dual viral infection; India; Litopenaeus vannamei; Shrimp mortality