Detection of monodon baculovirus and whitespot syndrome virus in apparently healthy Penaeus monodon postlarvae from India by polymerase chain reaction

The simultaneous presence of monodon baculovirus (MBV) and whitespot syndrome virus (WSSV) in apparently healthy postlarvae of Penaeus monodon from different hatcheries in India was studied by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MBV could be detected in 54% of the samples. However, only 15% of samples were positive by non-nested reaction. WSSV could be detected in 75% of samples, 19% being positive by non-nested reaction. The results show simultaneous presence of WSSV and MBV in many samples at various degrees of infection. Only 14% of the samples analysed were negative for both viruses. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.