Specific genomic DNA fragment analysis of different geographical clinical samples of shrimp white spot syndrome virus

Abstract

White spot syndrome (WSS) has been found in many species of shrimp and crabs, not just In Asia but globally. The causative agent is known as white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). In order to clarify the relatedness of WSSV from various geographic regions, we compared the viral DNA of a number of clinical samples of WSSV. (1) China96-116A from Penaeus chlnens~s, (2) India95-314 from Penaeus monodon, (3) grocery store95-204 and grocery store96-l15 from P. rnonodon possibly originating from Thailand, (4) crayfish97-25 from Orconectespunctimanuscollected from the U.S. National Zoo, (5) Thailand95-46 from experimentally infected Penaeus vannamei. ( These specimens were first examined by dot hybridization analysis with nucleic acid probes derived from a WSSV Taiwan isolate.