Runt-deformity syndrome in cultured giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon

Abstract

A total of 24 morphological abnormalities associated with the Runt-Deformity Syndrome (RDS) is reported for the first time in 17- to 18-mo old F₃ generation <i>Penaeus monodon</i> (&gt;40 mm CL) belonging to three breeding families. Although diagnosed as positive for the infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), the shrimp appeared normal at 9 to 10 mo when they were procured from a commercial facility in Antique, central Philippines, in September 1996. The abnormalities affected either specific shrimp organs and appendages (e.g., rostrum, antennae, uropods) or the whole body (e.g., shell color and hardness). A two-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate differences in the morphometric characters rostral length (RL), carapace length (CL), abdominal length (AL), body length (BL), total length (TL), carapace width (CW), 1^st abdominal segment width (AS₁W), and body weight (BW) and the morphometric ratios RL:CL, CL:AL, and CW:AS₁W by sex and stock (3 families and wild controls). Female <i>P. monodon</i> had significantly larger CL, AL, BL, TL, CW, and BW than males, regardless of stock. Wild females had longer BL and TL than cultured ones, whereas wild male shrimp had shorter CL, CW, and BW than cultured male <i>P. monodon</i>. Cultured shrimp had significantly higher CL:AL and CW:AS₁W ratios and lower RL:CL ratio compared to wild <i>P. monodon</i>. The shorter and narrower abdomen relative to the carapace gave the shrimp a “runted” or dwarf appearance characteristic of RDS earlier described in <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i> with IHHNV. Confirmed by parallel studies, IHHNV infection of the cultured <i>P. monodon</i> may account for their cuticular deformities, slower growth, and smaller sizes. The appearance of deformities in older (and bigger) <i>P. monodon</i> suggests that RDS expression is dependent on age and size. Examination for external abnormalities and evaluation of the three morphometric ratios may complement existing screening protocols for diseases and growth rates in shrimp breeding programs. Cultured giant tiger prawn also had lower sperm count, greater proportion of dead and abnormal sperm, and lower incidence of mating (absence of sperm in thelyca) compared to wild <i>P. monodon</i>.