An investigation of Artemia as a possible vector for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) transmission to Penaeus indicus

The pathogenicity of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) for different developmental stages of Artemia was carried out by immersion challenge and oral route in order to investigate the possibility of Artemia acting as a reservoir or carrier of WSSV to marine shrimp. The WSSV failed to infect the developmental stages of Artemia; there were no differences in mortality between control and challenged groups. The PCR detection for WSSV revealed no positive results for Artemia exposed to WSSV by immersion challenge and oral route. No mortalities were observed in the juveniles of Penaeus indicus fed with Artemia exposed to WSSV by immersion challenge and oral route, whereas 100% mortality was observed in P. indicus fed with WSSV-infected shrimp meat. The PCR analysis was WSSV-positive for P. indicus fed WSSV-infected shrimp meat, whereas it was negative for P. indicus fed Artemia exposed to WSSV. Histological studies agree with these observations.