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.