白斑综合征病毒卵黄抗体对凡纳滨对虾免疫相关酶活力和抗病毒能力的影响

摘要：免疫活性物质可以调动或激活虾类自身的免疫系统,提高动物的免疫机能,增强动物的抗病毒能力。有关卵黄抗体对对虾体内酶活力及抗病毒能力的影响,国内外尚未见报道。本实验通过连续投喂的方法,用3个水平(1%、0.5%、0.1%)的Ig-Guard(shrimp)制成的试验饲料,同时以基础饲料为空白对照饲喂凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei) 20 d,分别测定了第5,10,15,20 d血淋巴的酚氧化酶(PO)、溶菌酶(UL)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)及肌肉匀浆液的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)等非特异性免疫因子活性,并对血清及肌肉匀浆液中蛋白进行定量。结果表明,免疫组的PO、UL、ACP、SOD活力均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。免疫20 d后,用白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)投喂感染。攻毒后第7 d各免疫组的相对免疫保护率分别为17.95%、23.08%、35.90%。实验结果说明,Ig-Guard(shrimp)能有效提高对虾免疫因子的活性,对于提高抗WSSV感染能力也有一定作用。将对虾免疫因子活性和累计死亡率协同分析,摄食低浓度Ig-Guard(shrimp)组较之高浓度组的酶活力高,其累计死亡率低,故笔者建议适当地投喂低浓度Ig-Guard(shrimp)更为合理。     

凡纳滨对虾抗WSSV选育家系的建立及其抗病特性

2002-2007年在人工感染白斑综合征病毒(white spot syndrome virus,WSSV)的基础上进行一代个体选育(G1)后,对凡纳滨对虾连续进行4代家系选育,共建立120个抗WSSV家系,感染实验结果显示,G2～G5选育家系对虾平均成活率分别为5.57％ ±9.83％,8.66％±11.52％,9.52％ ±8.84％和13.79％±12.86％;G2～G5选育家系对虾平均成活率的变异系数分别为1.77、1.40、0.97和0.87.根据每个家系对虾的成活情况每个世代可分为敏感、中等抗性和高抗性家系,G2～G5敏感家系在各代选育家系中的比例逐年下降,分别占76.5％、55.2％、51.4％和33.3％,抗病成活率分别为0.44％±1.09％、0.78％±1.70％、2.27％±2.76％和2.44％±3.09％,感染WSSV后2～3d出现1个急性死亡高峰;中等抗病家系在各代选育家系中的比例逐年上升,分别占0、20.7％、31.1％和38.5％,抗病成活率分别为0、9.08％±1.46％、10.7％±1.41％和11.36％ ±3.30％,感染WSSV后出现2个死亡高峰,第1死亡高峰值大于第2高峰;高抗家系在各代选育家系中的比例逐年上升(G4除外),分别占23.5％、24.1％、17.1％和28.2％,抗病成活率分别为22.23％±5.21％、22.70％±12.30％、24.45％ ±6.56％和28.98％ ±8.09％,感染WSSV后出现2个死亡高峰,第1死亡高峰值小于第2高峰.经连续的定向选育,对虾抗病性状一代比一代强,表现出明显的抗病性能,特别是高抗对虾不仅死亡率低且其死亡高峰推迟2～3d,延缓了对虾WSSV暴发的时间,但是每代每尾对虾平均产卵量逐年下降.     

卵黄抗体对凡纳滨对虾生长、免疫及抗VpAHPND感染的影响

为探讨特异性卵黄抗体抗致急性肝胰腺坏死病副溶血弧菌 (Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease, VpAHPND) 感染的效果及其机制,防控对虾急性肝胰腺坏死病 (Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease, AHPND),本研究以添加不同剂量VpAHPND卵黄抗体制剂 (0、0.2%和0.5%) 的饲料投喂凡纳滨对虾幼虾,测定对虾的生长率和存活率、对虾肝胰腺免疫酶活力和免疫基因相对表达水平,通过浸浴感染实验测定免疫对虾抗VpAHPND感染的能力。生长实验结果显示,免疫28 d后,免疫组与未添加卵黄抗体制剂的对照组对虾在平均生长率、特定生长率和存活率方面均无显著性差异。免疫功能实验结果显示,免疫14 d后,与对照组相比,0.2%免疫组对虾肝胰腺的酚氧化酶 (PO)、超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)、溶菌酶 (LZM) 活力显著升高,抗菌肽 (Crustin) 基因的相对表达水平也显著升高,而β-1,3-葡聚糖结合蛋白-脂蛋白 (β-GBP-HDL) 基因的相对表达水平则显著降低。浸浴感染实验结果显示,0.2%免疫组对虾的存活率显著高于对照组;0.2% VpAHPND卵黄抗体制剂对凡纳滨对虾的相对免疫保护率为63.77%。研究表明,口服卵黄抗体不会对凡纳滨对虾的生长和存活产生不良影响,0.2%的VpAHPND卵黄抗体制剂通过提升凡纳滨对虾的PO、SOD、LZM活力和Crustin基因表达水平,增强凡纳滨对虾的免疫功能,从而提高对虾抗VpAHPND感染的能力,具有很强的应用潜力。本研究为使用特异性卵黄抗体防控AHPND提供了依据,也为其作用机制研究提供了参考。     

毒死蜱胁迫下WSSV对凡纳滨对虾的致病性

为了评价养殖水环境中毒死蜱对凡纳滨对虾生存的危害性,开展了毒死蜱胁迫下白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)对凡纳滨对虾致死实验,分析了毒死蜱胁迫下凡纳滨对虾鳃组织WSSV含量和肌肉组织乙酰胆碱酯酶活性变化。通过急性毒性实验测定了毒死蜱对凡纳滨对虾的半致死浓度(LC₅₀),随着暴露时间的延长,LC₅₀值显著下降,存在着浓度-反应的正向关系,96 h LC₅₀为0.758 μg/L(0.521～0.987 μg/L)。在此基础上,确定了毒死蜱胁迫实验浓度为0.2 μg/L,此浓度下药浴4 d后对凡纳滨对虾注射WSSV,结果显示:毒死蜱胁迫下注射WSSV组的对虾死亡率(83.33?Ee4.7%)极显著高于乙醇-WSSV组(40.00?Ee0.9%);对虾鳃组织WSSV荧光定量PCR检测结果显示:感染72 h后,毒死蜱-WSSV组WSSV含量约是乙醇-WSSV组的4倍;感染96 h后,毒死蜱-WSSV组WSSV含量显著增加,约是72 h毒死蜱-WSSV组的4.9倍,是96 h乙醇-WSSV组的5.9倍。毒死蜱胁迫下,对虾肌肉组织乙酰胆碱酯酶(AchE)活性低于对照组20%左右。由此可见,毒死蜱胁迫下,WSSV增殖速率加快,导致对虾死亡率升高。     

氨氮和亚硝基氮共同胁迫对凡纳滨对虾感染WSSV的影响

为了评价养殖水环境中氨氮和亚硝基氮对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)的危害性,开展了氨氮和亚硝基氮共同胁迫对凡纳滨对虾感染WSSV后的死亡率、WSSV在患病对虾体内增殖速率和对虾主要免疫相关酶活性影响的研究。实验设置氨氮(NH+4)和亚硝基氮(NO-2)的共同胁迫浓度均为20 mg·L-1,分别注射10-4和10-5稀释度的WSSV提取液。结果显示,胁迫下感染10-4WSSV的凡纳滨对虾144 h死亡率达到100%,显著高于无胁迫组(76.67%),相同实验条件下高浓度病毒感染组死亡率高于低浓度组。对虾鳃组织WSSV荧光定量PCR检测结果显示,氨氮和亚硝基氮共同胁迫下凡纳滨对虾体内WSSV的增殖加快,感染48 h后胁迫组病毒量是无胁迫组的1.6倍,72 h时病毒量达到无胁迫组的2.0~3.7倍。此外,免疫相关酶活性结果显示,氨氮和亚硝基氮浓度突变会促使对虾血清中酚氧化酶(PO)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性先短暂升高然后降低。由此可见,氨氮和亚硝基氮共同胁迫会加快WSSV在患病凡纳滨对虾体内的增殖,导致更高死亡率,这可能是因为胁迫造成了对虾免疫相关酶活性的降低和抗病原感染能力下降所致。     

2株消化道优势菌对凡纳滨对虾免疫酶活性和抗白斑综合征病毒感染力的影响

以凡纳滨对虾为研究对象,在基础饲料中分别添加从健康对虾消化道中分离纯化的优势菌菌株——美人鱼发光杆菌PC463和坚强芽孢杆菌PC465(菌含量≥1011CFU/g)的活菌和破碎菌各1 g/kg,观察其对凡纳滨对虾血淋巴免疫酶活性和抗WSSV感染保护率的影响。经过20 d养殖实验后发现,与对照组相比,饲料中添加坚强芽孢杆菌活菌的免疫组和添加美人鱼发光杆菌灭活菌的免疫实验,其凡纳滨对虾血淋巴中酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在不同程度上有所提高,并显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。WSSV感染后饲料中添加坚强芽孢杆菌活菌的免疫组存活率(53%±12%)和添加美人鱼发光杆菌灭活菌的免疫组存活率(49%±15%)显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。结果表明:饲料中添加坚强芽孢杆菌活菌和美人鱼发光杆菌灭活菌可以在一定程度上提高凡纳滨对虾免疫酶活性和抗WSSV感染能力,上述有防病作用的益生菌株以饲料添加剂的方式应用于对虾养殖生产,可望成为对虾白斑病生物防治的有效途径之一。     

凡纳滨对虾白斑综合征血液病理研究

对自然发病、投喂和注射感染的凡纳滨对虾白斑综合征（white spot syndrome,WSS）血液病理进行研究,结果发现：不同感染方式患病对虾的血液病理变化相似,表现为：1．患病对虾血细胞总数、透明细胞数量极显著减少,小颗粒细胞、大颗粒细胞极显著增加。2．显微病理变化主要表现为血涂片中血细胞明显减少且分布不均匀,破损或解体的细胞增多,呈典型的溶血状态。3．超微病理变化表现为,大部分血细胞坏死,少数血细胞呈不典型的凋亡。患病对虾的血细胞核中可见大量白斑综合征病毒（white spot syndrome virus,WSSV）粒子。病理变化表明血细胞是WSSV的主要靶细胞。     

氨氮胁迫对凡纳滨对虾肠道免疫相关指标的影响

为研究急性氨氮胁迫对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)肠道免疫功能的影响,将对虾暴露于氨氮浓度为20 mg·L^-1的海水中72 h,测定了不同时间点肠道中抗病原感染指标如酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、溶菌酶(Lys)、酚氧化酶原(proPO)以及抗氧化功能指标如总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、热休克蛋白70(HSP70)、热休克蛋白90(HSP90)等变化。结果显示,与对照组相比,氨氮胁迫后:1)ACP和ALP活性均于6 h显著升高(P<0.05),随后于48～72 h显著低于对照组(P<0.05);Lys活性于24 h显著升高至最大值(P<0.05),随后于72 h显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。2)T-AOC和SOD活性均于6 h和12 h显著高于对照组(P<0.05),随后于48 h和72 h显著降低(P<0.05)。3)HSP70基因表达水平于24 h显著升高至最大值,随后虽有降低,但仍显著高于对照组(P<0.05);HSP90和proPO基因表达水平均于12...     

vp28重组核酸疫苗对凡纳滨对虾抗WSSV感染的免疫反应和保护效果

利用改构的pEGFP-N1-ie1强启动子载体构建含vp28基因的核酸疫苗,通过肌肉注射和饲料添加的形式免疫对虾,分析各实验组相对保护率和免疫基因(Dicer,Argonaute,STAT和Lyzome)表达,研究构建vp28重组核酸疫苗对凡纳滨对虾的保护效果。RT-PCR结果表明,注射和口服vp28组均可在对虾鳃组织中检测到vp28基因表达。在注射组中vp28的相对保护率为22.4%,饲料免疫组中vp28的相对保护率可达到36.84%。相对于对照组,vp28的注射组的STAT基因和Dicer基因表达量于第7天达到最大值。Argonaute基因表达量于第3天达到最大值,以后呈下降趋势。溶菌酶基因表达量一直呈相对较高的趋势。vp28的饲料投喂组的STAT基因和Argo-naute基因表达量于第7天达到最大值,以后呈下降趋势。Dicer基因表达量第3天达到最大值。实验结果表明,构建的vp28核酸疫苗在对虾抗WSSV防治中具有潜在应用价值。     

凡纳滨对虾感染白斑综合症病毒后的新症状

2007年6-7月,辽宁营口地区凡纳滨对虾养殖场陆续出现死虾现象,通过组织病理观察和PcR检测,确定为白斑综合症.患病初期,对虾并未表现出典型白斑、甲壳易剥离等症状,而在鳃区头胸甲内侧滋生一种囊状胶状物,导致头胸甲内侧肿胀,病理观察发现该滋生物为对虾感染白斑综合症病毒后,皮下组织"胶质化"的结果,同时胃和皮下组织的结缔组织中有大量的典型性病变核;细菌分离结果显示,伴随着弧菌和假单胞菌的混合感染.     

Protection of Fenneropenaeus chinensis (Osbeck, 1765) against the white spot syndrome virus using specific chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins by oral delivery

Two kinds of specific chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgYs), IgY‐WSSV and IgY‐VP28, were, respectively, raised against the 2 mM binary ethylenimine (BEI)‐inactivated white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and a principal envelope protein VP28. The activity of purified specific IgYs was stable under the conditions of 20–70 °C, pH 3.0–10.0 and 0–700 g L^?1 sucrose solution. In the neutralization assay, these high‐affinity IgY antibodies can specifically bind with the virus particles to protect shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) against WSSV infection. After oral delivery for 20 days, the IgY‐WSSV exerted a higher protection effect (RPS: 71.5%) than IgY‐VP28 (RPS: 63.7%). Moreover, an increase in RPS (79.2%) was found on addition of IgY‐WSSV:VP28 (0.1% IgY‐VP28 plus 0.2% IgY‐WSSV). This may indicate that neutralization of WSSV refers to the multiple‐hit model. By time‐course study of the levels of the specific IgYs in vivo, the data showed that the titre was enhanced to a relatively high level (P/N=8.35±0.45) at 3 days post administration, declined slightly (P/N=7.13±1.01) at 7 days post administration and then remained stable for further investigation. The stable antibody level potentially contributes towards blocking a large number of WSSV particles from entering and infecting on the major tissues at the early and late stages after challenge in shrimp.     

Experimental white spot syndrome virus challenge of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) at different salinities

In recent years, the shrimp industry has turned to inland freshwater culture as one method to avoid problems such as the introduction of possible vectors of viral pathogens into seawater ponds. Our experiments evaluated susceptibility to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in Litopenaeus vannamei held under different salinity regimens. Juvenile L. vannamei that were conditioned at salinities of 35, 25, 15, 5 and 2 g L⁻¹ were challenged with WSSV. In order to assess the severity of white spot disease, histological analysis and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were carried out on the challenged shrimp every 4 h after 48 h post challenge. The results indicated that significantly more severe infections resulted at 15‰ than at other salinities. Mortality could not be compared due to the sampling design and because severe WSSV infections occurred in all test groups such that few shrimp remained alive in each challenged group at the end of the test. Despite this, the results suggest that salinity may affect the course and outcome of WSSV infections.     

对虾白斑综合征病毒在螯虾动物模型的感染特性

应用克氏原螯虾作为动物模型研究对虾白斑综合征病毒（ＷＳＳＶ）的感染增殖特性，涉及感染温度，感染途径，继发感染，半数致死量（ＬＤ５０），免疫保护及保存期等，结果显示，２２－２５℃时，接种ＷＳＳＶ的螯虾一般于２－７d内死亡，温度升高对病毒增殖影响不显著，３０－３２℃时，平均死亡时间２－６d，温度降低对病毒增殖影响较显著，１５－１９℃时，接种螯虾平均２－１０d内死亡，８－１０℃时，平均死亡时间３－６d，感染途径分别用腹节肌肉，腹节皮下洲射及口服，均能使螯虾感染发病，而浸泡方式不能使螯虾发病，细菌分离和细菌定量结果表明，寄考于螯虾心脏，肝胰腺内的阴沟肠杆菌在感染后期大量增殖，菌量分别是正常螯虾的２５和３０倍，形成继发感染，用螯虾心脏，肝胰腺内的阴肠杆菌在感染后期大量增殖，菌量分别是政党螯虾的２５和３０倍，形成继发梁。用螯虾测定ＷＳＳＶ的ＬＤ５０为１０^-6.5.mL^-1种毒液，将病毒５６℃，３０min灭活后免疫螯虾，不能使螯虾形成免疫保护，ＷＳＳＶ匀浆液－３０℃冻存１年后失活，而－３０℃冻存于螯虾体内ＷＳＳＶ保存１年后仍有活力。     

Rotifer cellular membranes bind to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)

Cell membranes from the rotifer, Brachionus urceus, were obtained by centrifugation and found to specifically bind white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in vitro. This finding suggests that there is likely a WSSV receptor on the rotifer cell membrane and provides evidence that rotifers may be a host for WSSV.     

Silencing Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei LvRab7 reduces mortality in brooders challenged with white spot syndrome virus

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a major threat for farmed shrimp worldwide. RNA interference (RNAi) is the most recent tool against viral diseases. Rab7 silencing effectively inhibited virus infections in juvenile shrimp, but the antiviral effect in brooders remains unknown. This study found a homologue Penaeus monodon Rab7 gene in Litopenaeus vannamei brooders from Mexico. Sequence identity was >99% to a Thai LvRab7 sequence and >94% to Rab7 sequences from P. monodon or Marsupenaeus japonicus. Animals treated with a partial (494 bp) or a complete (618 bp) LvRab7 dsRNA sequences and challenged 48 h post treatment (hpt) with a high WSSV dose showed 80–88% mortality respectively. Shrimp treated with 4 or 20 μg LvRab7 dsRNA and challenged with a WSSV high dose had 80% mortality each, but it was reduced to 33% and 40%, respectively, with a low dose. Efficacy of dsRNA to reduce shrimp mortality was dependent on virus dose used regardless of dsRNA concentration. A significant reduction in LvRab7 mRNA levels was observed at 120 hpt. In conclusion, silencing LvRab7 in brooders showed a mild antiviral effect against a WSSV challenge at 48 hpt.     

氨氮胁迫下白斑综合征病毒对凡纳滨对虾的致病性

为了评价养殖水环境中氨氮(NH_4-N)对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)的危害性,开展了NH_4-N胁迫对凡纳滨对虾感染白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)后的死亡率、WSSV增殖速率和对虾主要免疫相关酶活性影响的实验。在NH_4-N胁迫质量浓度为15.6 mg·L-1,分别注射2×105和2×106个WSSV粒子,结果显示,NH_4-N胁迫下注射2×105个WSSV粒子的凡纳滨对虾第144小时死亡率达到53.3%,显著高于无胁迫组(40.0%)。对虾鳃组织WSSV荧光定量PCR检测结果显示,NH_4-N胁迫下凡纳滨对虾鳃组织内WSSV的增殖加快。此外,免疫相关酶活性结果显示,NH_4-N浓度突变会促使对虾血清中酚氧化酶(PO)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)和碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性短暂升高后持续降低。由此可见,NH_4-N胁迫会加快WSSV在患病凡纳滨对虾体内的增殖,导致更高死亡率,这可能是因为胁迫造成了对虾免疫相关酶活性降低和抗病原感染能力下降。     

White spot syndrome virus epizootic in cultured Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in Taiwan

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has caused significant losses in shrimp farms worldwide. Between 2004 and 2006, Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) were collected from 220 farms in Taiwan to determine the prevalence and impact of WSSV infection on the shrimp farm industry. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis detected WSSV in shrimp from 26% of farms. Juvenile shrimp farms had the highest infection levels (38%; 19/50 farms) and brooder shrimp farms had the lowest (5%; one of 20 farms). The average extent of infection at each farm was as follows for WSSV‐positive farms: post‐larvae farms, 71%; juvenile farms, 61%; subadult farms, 62%; adult farms, 49%; and brooder farms, 40%. Characteristic white spots, hypertrophied nuclei and basophilic viral inclusion bodies were found in the epithelia of gills and tail fans, appendages, cephalothorax and hepatopancreas, and virions of WSSV were observed. Of shrimp that had WSSV lesions, 100% had lesions on the cephalothorax, 96% in gills and tail fans, 91% on appendages and 17% in the hepatopancreas. WSSV was also detected in copepoda and crustaceans from the shrimp farms. Sequence comparison using the pms146 gene fragment of WSSV showed that isolates from the farms had 99.7–100% nucleotide sequence identity with four strains in the GenBank database – China ( AF332093 ), Taiwan ( AF440570 and U50923 ) and Thailand ( AF369029 ). This is the first broad study of WSSV infection in L. vannamei in Taiwan.     

Genetic variation of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone 1931) culture of Thailand

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is highly pathogenic to penaeid shrimp and has caused significant economic losses in the shrimp farming industry in Thailand. Genotyping analysis was done in 124 WSSV isolates from cultured Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. These samples were obtained during 2007–2014 from eight provinces in Thailand. We investigated five variable loci in the virus genome: deletions in two variable regions, VR14/15 and VR23/24, and three variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) located in open reading frame (ORF) 75, 125 and 94. WSSV genotype was characterized as (X_14/15, X_23/24) (N₇₅‐N₁₂₅‐N₉₄) where X is the number of base pair deletion in the variable region and N is the number of repeat units (RUs) in a specific ORF. The deletion pattern in VR14/15 and VR23/24 regions characterized three WSSV genotypes. The most prevalent genotype was (5950_14/15, 10971_23/24), and it was found in all studied areas. At least 33 genotypes of WSSV were analysed based on 3 VNTR loci, indicating that the VNTRs of WSSV genome are highly variable. From 124 WSSV samples, two samples presented the characteristic of all five variable loci similar to WSSV collected during 2010 in Saudi Arabia (5950_14/15, 10971_23/24) (3₇₅‐6₁₂₅‐7₉₄). Many different WSSV genotypes shown in this study as compared to previously reported genotypes in Thailand suggests current status of disease epidemiology, as well as probable movements of WSSV between countries.     

Competition of infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) for binding to shrimp cellular membrane

Infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) are two widespread shrimp viruses. The interference of IHHNV on WSSV was the first reported case of viral interference that involved crustacean viruses and has been subsequently confirmed. However, the mechanisms underlying the induction of WSSV resistance through IHHNV infection are practically unknown. In this study, the interference mechanisms between IHHNV and WSSV were studied using a competitive ELISA. The binding of WSSV and IHHNV to cellular membrane of Litopenaeus vannamei was examined. The results suggested that there existed a mutual competition between IHHNV and WSSV for binding to receptors present on cellular membrane of L. vannamei and that the inhibitory effects of WSSV towards IHHNV were more distinct than those of IHHNV towards WSSV.     

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection and immunity responses in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) exposed to sublethal levels of metals

To determine if exposure to a sublethal mixture of metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) increases susceptibility to White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection, Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles were fed WSSV‐infected shrimp tissues after 21 days of exposure to the metal mixture (WS‐MM treatment). Other treatments consisted of shrimp not exposed to metals and fed infected tissues (WS), and shrimp fed healthy tissues and exposed (MM) or not exposed to metals (C). The presence of viral DNA and inclusion bodies was detected at 32 hr postinfection (hpi) in the stomach epithelium of shrimp from the WS treatment, and eight hours later in shrimp from the WS‐MM treatment, possibly because of an initial negative effect of metals in viral replication. At 40 hpi, the severity of infection represented by the histopathological index increased in both WS and WS‐MM treatments, and values were higher in WS‐MM than in WS shrimp at the end of the experiment. From 56 hpi to the end of experiment, total hemocyte counts were lower in both WS‐MM and WS treatments, and concentrations were particularly low in WS‐MM shrimp. Conversely, phenoloxidase activity was higher in the WS‐MM treatment from 32 to 56 hpi, suggesting a possible role of the prophenoloxidase (proPO) system in the antiviral defense against WSSV. The presence of heavy metals at sublethal concentrations may increase shrimp susceptibility to WSSV; this is supported by a decrease in circulating hemocytes, an increase in the humoral response, and the development of a higher number of WSSV inclusion bodies.