New developments in marine prawn disease research in south east Asia.

Abstract

Researches on marine shrimp diseases for the past three years centered primarily on the diagnosis and control of viral and bacterial infections as well as nutritional, toxic and environmental diseases. Diagnostic techniques developed or adopted recently for prawn viruses include the ELISA technique for detecting baculoviruses, acridine orange fluorescence, eosin flourescence and in vitro culture of the Penaeus monodon-type baculovirus (MBV) on lymphoid organ-derived monolayer culture. Studies have been conducted on the identification, pathogenicity and chemical control of bacteria causing luminous vibriosis and shell disease. Investigations on non-infections diseases such as the chronic soft-shell syndrome, blue shrimp disease and aflatoxicosis elucidated the factors responsible for the development of these diseases. Current research on marine shrimp diseases, other related problems and recommendations are discussed.