Detection of new hosts for white spot syndrome virus of shrimp using nested polymerase chain reaction

The presence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) of shrimp in various marine crustaceans was studied by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), The incidence of the virus in non-cultured crustaceans from shrimp farms was also studied. The results indicate that wild-caught asymptomatic marine shrimp such as Merapenaeus dobsoni, Parapenaeopsis stylifera, Solenocera indica and Squilla mantis carry WSSV. This virus could be detected in apparently healthy marine crabs Charybdis annulata, C. cruciata, Macrophthalmus sulcatus, Gelasimus marionis nitidus and Metopograpsus messor. The virus could also be detected in asymptomatic Macrobrachium rosenbergii cultured inland far away from coast. Detection of carrier animals required two-step nested PCR, (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.