Biology, pathogenesis and management approaches of White Spot Disease in shrimp aquaculture: A review

Authors

1 Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Food Hygiene, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Several viruses cause devastating mortality in economically crucial shrimp species, including Penaeus monodon, Litopenaeus vannamei, and L. stylirostris. In this context, the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a highly contagious lethal, stress-dependent virus, which belongs to the family Nimaviridae, genus Whispovirus, and it is responsible for deadly WSSV affecting the shrimp industry worldwide. This virus possesses a large, circular, and double-stranded DNA genome that varies in sizes (292.9–307.2 kb), where different isolates exhibit differing levels of virulence. The spread of the infection through horizontal transmission may be related to the infected shrimp and carriers such as other crustaceans, seabirds, aquatic arthropods or other vectors. There are various managerial responsibilities including biosecurity measures and the implementation of vaccination programs to control the spread of WSSV in the aquaculture shrimp sectors. There are still many challenges in the management of this disease. Probiotics and immunostimulants show promise methods for controlling WSSV. Additionally, New strains of WSSV are emerging, posing a serious threat to the shrimp aquaculture due to their genetic variation and differing virulence levels, which all complicate existing disease control strategies. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the biology and pathogenesis of white spot disease (WSD), including the mechanisms involved in viral replication, host immune response, epidemiology and disease progression. Moreover, it discusses the various management approaches that have been developed for the control and prevention of WSD in the shrimp aquaculture industry and also highlights the challenges faced in the management of WSD and the potential future directions for research in this field.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 6
November 2025
Pages 1523-1567

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