title: The first detection of white spot syndrome virus in naturally infected cultured Chinese mitten crabs, Eriocheir sinensis in China.
abstract: An epidemic with a high mortality rate (80-100%) recently occurred in the cultured Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, which is a very important economic crustacean species in China. Using negative stain, histopathology and nested PCR supplemented by sequencing we identified white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in these crabs. Challenge experiments revealed that the disease was caused by WSSV and confirmed the crab's susceptibility to this virus, which was consistent with previous laboratory-based studies. A cumulative mortality of 100% was observed within 10 days post WSSV injection. This is the first report of WSSV-associated disease outbreaks in the Chinese mitten crab, which is normally reported as an important penaeid-shrimp viral pathogen. Furthermore, this is only the second report to describe a significant pathogen in pond-cultured E. sinensis. These results will enhance the early diagnosis of WSSV in the crab farms and help in monitoring efforts directed at determining the prevalence of the virus in E. sinensis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 Chating East Street, Nanjing 210017, China. Electronic address: dingzf@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Zhengfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Aquaculture Promotion Center of Xinghua City, 68 Changan Road, Xinghua 225700, China.
authors.forename: Fengxiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 Chating East Street, Nanjing 210017, China.
authors.forename: Jinjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 Chating East Street, Nanjing 210017, China.
authors.forename: Mengling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 Chating East Street, Nanjing 210017, China.
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 Chating East Street, Nanjing 210017, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 Chating East Street, Nanjing 210017, China.
authors.forename: Jianqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 Chating East Street, Nanjing 210017, China. Electronic address: jianlinpan2006@126.com.
authors.forename: Jianlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, 79 Chating East Street, Nanjing 210017, China. Electronic address: fishery@126.com.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, 8 Fenghuang East Street, Taizhou 225300, China. Electronic address: jsfish@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Ziming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000821:virology*; D002681:China; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D046848:White spot syndrome virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Eriocheir sinensis; Mortality; Viral disease; White spot syndrome virus