Detection of IHHN Virus in a Specific Pathogen Free Bonafide <i>Penaeus vannamei</i> (Boone, 1931) Broodstock Consignment Imported to India

Abstract

The World Organization for Animal Health (formerly Office International des Epizooties OIE) listed pathogenic shrimp virus, infectious hypodermal haematopoetic necrosis virus (IHHNV), has been detected in a specific pathogen free (SPF) declared consignment imported from an approved SPF vannamei broodstock supplier to India. The Aquatic Quarantine Facility (AQF), Chennai the only Government-approved quarantine premise for ensuring the SPF status of imported Penaeus vannamei broodstock detected this pathogen during its routine screening process. The AQF, which has so far screened about 1068 SPF batches of vannamei consignment, recorded that one particular batch imported to India was not SPF, though the exporting country declared the stock as SPF. The presence of the viral pathogen was confirmed by both nested PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Sequencing data of the target viral genome revealed 100% similarity with the already published decapod penstyldensovirus-1 isolate IHHNV partial genome (GenBank accession no. KJ862253). The test results declared by AQF were further validated by the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, which is the referral laboratory of AQF. As the import of non-SPF stock into the country is a source of biosecurity threat, the entire batch was incinerated according to the standard operating procedure of AQF. Thus the stringent biosecurity measures and disease diagnostic strategies followed at AQF served to safeguard the industry from this virus, which would have otherwise gained entry into the country through the falsely claimed SPF stock. This communication highlights the importance of SPF stock and detection of IHHNV.

Co‐infection of infectious myonecrosis virus and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei in Penaeus vannamei farms in the east coast of India

“…Hence, the reason for failure to deliver EHP‐free seeds to the farmers needs to be identified, addressed and rectified to prevent large scale geographical spread even in inland regions in the country. The changing disease dynamics vis‐à‐vis, the over‐dependence on a single culture species raises serious concerns, even though SPF shrimp broodstock are imported from various countries (Remany et al, 2010) for the production of disease‐free PL to the farmers. Hence, the source of IMNV infection in Indian shrimp farms is not clear in this study and further work is warranted on the synergistic effect of co‐infection of IMNV with other endemic pathogens, particularly WSSV and EHP which constitute the major disease problems in India.…”

“…Hence, the reason for failure to deliver EHP-free seeds to the farmers needs to be identified, addressed and rectified to prevent large scale geographical spread even in inland regions in the country. The changing disease dynamics vis-à-vis, the over-dependence on a single culture species raises serious concerns, even though SPF shrimp broodstock are imported from various countries (Remany et al, 2010) for the production of disease-free PL to the farmers. Management of diseases relies mainly on strict adherence to stocking disease-free shrimp seed following biosecurity measures to prevent infection during grow-out farming (Lightner, 2005).…”

“…Expansion of P. vannamei culture across the world could be attributed to the availability of fast‐growing and specific pathogen‐free (SPF) strains mainly from selective breeding programmes. In India, the focus was mainly on the black tiger shrimp, P. monodon till 2009 after which the Pacific white shrimp made its foray into India in a regulated manner, effectively replacing it primarily due to the easy availability of SPF broodstock for shrimp farmers and hatchery operators (Remany et al, 2010). The shift in cultivation from black tiger shrimp to white legged shrimp has affected disease concerns throughout the world, including Indian shrimp aquaculture (Tandel et al, 2017).…”

Dataset on the importation of the exotic shrimp Penaeus vannamei broodstock (Boone, 1931) to India

“… Penaeus vannamei is an exotic shrimp species that has gained high culture momentum, since its introduction to India [1] . Currently, the culture of the species in the Country is being done by the shrimp farmers by importation of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) vannamei broodstock from approved suppliers, which are located overseas.…”