Analysis of viral load between different tissues and rate of progression of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in Penaeus monodon |
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| Authors: | Joseph Jeswin Antony Anju Palahani Chacko Thomas Meleth Porinchu Paulton Koyadan Kizhakedath Vijayan |
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| Affiliation: | Marine Biotechnology Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, India |
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| Abstract: | At present the most common and most devastating disease of shrimp is caused by the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), which has spread throughout the world mainly by different species of crustaceans carrying the virus. After experimental injection of Penaeus monodon with a known copy number of WSSV in the abdominal muscle, the rate of viral progression in different tissues at 12, 24, 36 and 48 hpi (hours post infection) was assessed using quantitative real‐time PCR. At 12 hpi the viral load was highest in haemocytes followed by pleopod, muscle and gills whereas at 48 hpi, the gills, the main target of WSSV, showed the highest viral load followed by pleopod, muscle and haemocytes. Viral copy number in the haemocytes was the lowest beyond 12 hpi indicating a remarkable reduction in the rate of viral replication in haemocytes compared with other tissues. The viral load in haemocytes, though increased again beyond 36 hpi, never surpassed the load in the other tissues. The real‐time PCR assay with its high sensitivity and wide dynamic range make it ideal for detecting low‐level WSSV infections that can occur in apparently healthy P. monodon. |
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| Keywords: |
WSSV
Penaeus monodon
virus quantification real‐time PCR shrimp virus viral load |
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