2009 Volume 57 Issue 1 Pages 91-97
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a highly lethal, stress dependent virus belonging to the genus Whispovirus and the family Nimaviridae. Among the various crustaceans, shrimp species are the most susceptible to WSSV infection. In the current study, a quantitative real-time PCR method was established in order to quantify the levels of WSSV in various tissues of shrimp that had been experimentally infected using the immersion bioassay. Two different concentrations of viral inoculums (high and low concentration) were used in the infection procedure. Following infection, we detected WSSV in hemolymph and other tissues including the lymphoid organ, heart, stomach and gills. Although the tissue distribution between the groups exposed to either high or low concentrations of WSSV were found to be similar, the final viral load of the tissues correlated to the concentration of WSSV used in the initial exposure. An increased viral load was confirmed in the lymphoid organ, heart, stomach and gills 10 days following infection. In contrast, an increased concentration of WSSV-DNA in hemolymph was confirmed at only 4 days post-infection.