Prevalence of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in Marine Organisms around the Shrimp Farm and Polychaete Worm-Mediated Transmission of WSSV to Fenneropenaeus chinensis

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a strong causative agent for high mortality in cultured and wild shrimps. From this study, the WSSV prevalence in marine organisms around shrimp farm as well as live feed-mediated transmission of WSSV to farmed shrimps were investigated. Based on nested-PCR method, WSSV was detected in wide array of marine organisms including Perinereis aibuhitensis (81.3% of prevalence rate, 13/16), Enedrias fangi (100%, 16/16), Ruditapes philippinarum (20%, 2/10), crab larvae (100%, 10/10), copepoda (30%, 3/10), Periophthalmus modestus (50%, 5/10), Pachygrapsus crassipes (10%, 1/10), Helice tridens (20%, 2/10) and Neomysis sp. (70%, 7/10). On the other hand, WSSV was not detected in Bullacta exarata, Uca arcuata, and Reishia clavigera. The percent prevalence of WSSV in wild shrimps, Fenneropenaeus chinensis was only 6%, but markedly increased up to 56% after a feeding trial using polychaete worms for one month, indicating that the live feed is one of significant carriers of WSSV to shrimps under practical farming conditions.