Biochemical, physiological and hematological changes in white spot syndrome virus-infected shrimp, Penaeus indicus

Abstract

The biochemical and hematological changes provoked by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in hemolymph, hepatopancreas and muscle of Penaeus indicus were examined. Total carbohydrate, glucose, total protein, amino acids, fatty acids and hemocyanin were measured in healthy and WSSV-infected shrimp. There was a significant increase in glucose and total carbohydrate levels in the hemolymph of WSSV-infected shrimp in comparison to values for healthy shrimp and reductions in muscle and hepatopancreas of infected shrimp. The average total protein and free amino acids were significantly different between two groups in hemolymph, muscle and hepatopancreas. The fatty acid level increased significantly in the hepatopancreas of WSSV-infected shrimp, but was reduced in the hemolymph and muscle of WSSV-infected shrimp in comparison to healthy shrimp. Significant reductions in total hemocyte counts (THC) and hemocyanin contents were observed in WSSV-infected shrimp; hemolymph from WSSV-infected shrimp failed to clot. Some physiological responses such as oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion were examined in both healthy and WSSV-infected shrimp and the results showed reductions in oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion in WSSV-infected shrimp.