DETECTION OF PENAEID ROD-SHAPED DNA VIRUS (PRDV) IN WILD-CAUGHT SHRIMP AND OTHER CRUSTACEANS

Penaeid acute viremia (PAV) caused by penaeid rod-shaped DNA virus (PR DV), has been damaging kuruma shrimp (Penaeus japonicus) culture in Ja pan. The detection of PRDV in wild-caught shrimp and other crustaceans was conducted by using 2-step PCR. Fifty-one out of 202 wild-caught s hrimp spawners showed PRDV-positive (25.2%) by 2-step PCR. The filtrat e of the heart homogenate of those infected or virus-carrying adult sh rimp was confirmed to kill healthy kuruma shrimp by injection challeng e. Eleven decapod crustacean species, which were caught inside and out side kuruma shrimp ponds where PAV occurred, were PRDV-positive by 2-s tep PCR. The virus was frequently detected in the shore crab Helice tr idents. The kuruma shrimp that cohabited with those infected shore cra bs died showing white spots inside of the carapace, from which the vir us was detected. These results suggest that PRDV can be transmitted by both horizontal and vertical routes.