Identification of stressors that affect white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection and outbreak in pond cultured Penaeus monodon.

Abstract

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has been a big problem to the worldwide shrimp industry. Exposure to stressors related to physicochemical water parameters affect WSSV infection but not all WSSV infections result in outbreaks. This paper describes a detailed monitoring of important physicochemical water parameters on a farm with 11 ponds that had WSSV infection. The virus was detected in shrimp exposed to two or more simultaneous stress factors (temperature, pH, water level) or multiple stressors for a number of days. Exposure to more than three stressors resulted in an outbreak of the disease within 3-6 days. Outbreaks were experienced in ponds with a temperature of 26-27°C, a pH lower than 8.0, pH fluctuation of 1.0, and a water depth of less than 1 m. Shrimp stocked in eight of the ponds were successfully harvested after 128-173 days of culture.The authors wish to thank the Government of Japan for funding the study through the trust fund given to the Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC AQD) through study code 8001 T FD FH0206