ABSTRACT
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus that has emerged as a signicant threat to wild and farmed shrimp worldwide. Although WSSV is infective to a wide range of crustaceans (such as salt and brackish water penaeids, crabs, lobsters, freshwater prawns, and craysh), its impact on penaeid shrimp is nothing short of extraordinary. Besides developing lethargy, emaciation, white spots on the carapace, and reddish discoloration of the body, nearly 100% of shrimp succumb to white spot disease (WSD) within 3-10 days of infection. Clearly, prompt and accurate diagnosis is vital to limit the spread of infection and reduce its impact on aquaculture, which is currently dominated by two shrimp species: the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and the white Pacic shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) [1].
