A Short Review on Infectious Viruses in Cultural Shrimps (Penaeidae Family)

A major constraint limiting the shrimp production is diseases. Shrimp aquaculture is an important industry in many countries especially Southeast Asia and Iran. In cultured pond, the shrimp may be infected with several pathogens such as several viruses. There are at least six lethal viruses affecting penaeid shrimps production in the world especially Southeast Asia and Thailand. However, known viral pathogen in shrimp is about 20. They have been identified from 1970. Incidence of infection in artificial condition is more than nature. The 6 viruses are very important and they cause serious problem for shrimp cultivation and economic losses. They are consisting of HPV, IHHNV, MBV, TSV, WSSV and YHV. Two of them are highly pathogenic and lethal in shrimp such as WSSV and TSV. Shrimp aquaculture is a successful activity. Despite this success, annual production decreased in the latter because of widespread epidemics (epizootics) caused by new viral pathogens. Molecular diagnostic methods such as PCR are tools to detection viral diseases in shrimp in many parts of the world. Pathological methods and electron microscopy are good tools to detection viral disease especially at the first outbreak. Sanitary methods are the best way to control and prevention of viral diseases.