Poster 2: White Spot Syndrome

Question 1

When did the disease emerge?

Answer 1

• first emerged in Taiwan in 1992

Question 2

Where is the disease prevalent?

Answer 2

• India, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Phillipines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Japan, Iran

Question 3

Canada’s control measures?

Answer 3

• regulate imports following OIE’s guidelines
• humanely destroy infected animals
• disinfect contaminated areas
• reportable disease under CFIA

Question 4

Why important to find resolution?

Answer 4

• shrimp makes up 15% of fish industry
• mortality reaches 100% around 3-7 days after infection
• no successful detection technique, current treatment or prevention
• large economic impact

Question 5

How is it transmitted?

Answer 5

• through infected tissue/shrimp
• cannibalism/predation
• exposure to contaminated water

Question 6

Future containment?

Answer 6

• remove vectors from the pond and infected shrimp
• development of an oral/topical vaccine
• increase surveillance strategies
• genetically modify shrimp to become more resistant
• expose shrimp to similar, non lethal bacteria
• normalize pond pH