Mortalities of cultured shrimp, Penaeus vannamei (Boone), induced by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) have occurred in Ecuador since May 1999. Three epidemiological surveys in Ecuadorian farms were carried out and showed an apparent association between lower temperature and increased mortality rates in commercial ponds. Infected animals showed a reddish discolouration and lethargy and occasiona...

Larvae and post-larvae of Penaeus vannamei (Boone) were submitted to primary challenge with infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) or formalin-inactivated white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Survival rate and viral load were evaluated after secondary per os challenge with WSSV at post-larval stage 45 (PL45). Only shrimp treated with inactivated WSSV at PL35 or with IHHNV ...

Six isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets containing commercially defatted, toasted and lightly toasted soy flours (SF) (diets 1 and 2) and four soy protein concentrates (SPC) (diets 3-6) as replacements for 40% of animal protein were fed to satiation to juvenile shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) for 10 weeks. The SPCs used in diets 3 and 5 were chemically modified products with reduced trypsin inhibitor (T...

We report here the identification of a tachykinin-related peptide (TRP) in crustaceans. Direct MALDI-TOF MS with brain slices of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii indicated the presence of a peptide having an MS number of around 934. Quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight (Q-TOF) MS/MS analysis implied the sequence to be APSGFLGMRamide, identical to that of CabTRP Ia, isolated previou...

Ecdysteroids, or molting hormones, have been proven to be key differentiation regulators for epidermal cells in the postembryonic development of arthropods. Regulators of cell proliferation, however, remain largely unknown. To date, no diffusible insect peptidic growth factors have been characterized. Molecules structurally related to insulin have been discovered in insects, as in other eucaryo...

In arthropods, a group of peptides possessing a -Y((SO3H))GHM/LRFamide carboxy-terminal motif have been collectively termed the sulfakinins. Sulfakinin isoforms have been identified from numerous insect species. In contrast, members of this peptide family have thus far been isolated from just two crustaceans, the penaeid shrimp Penaeus monodon and Litopenaeus vannamei. Here, we report the ident...

The maturation and reproduction of Pacific whiteleg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, through the practice unilateral eyestalk ablation though common is an animal welfare concern. This study assessed resilience offspring from non-ablated P. vannamei when challenged with isolate Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (VpAHPND), white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). VpAH...