White Spot Disease In Shrimp:
Over the past month, white spot disease has affected over 100 acres of shrimp farming in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu.
- White Spot Disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects crustaceans such as prawns, yabbies and crabs.
- When found in high-intensity production areas, such as prawn farms, white spot disease results in the rapid mortality of prawns.
- It has the potential to cause a significant financial impact on the farmed prawn industry.
- Causative Agent : White spot syndrome virus, a large DNA virus assigned as the only member of the genus Whispovirus (family Nimaviridae).
- The virus is known to occur in fresh, brackish and marine water.
- The virus does not pose a risk to food safety or human health.
- It is primarily spread through the movement of infected animals or contaminated water.
- Birds that feed on and move infected animals can spread the disease.
- Marine worms have been implicated as potential carriers of the disease.
