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Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV)

Unassigned sp. from family Dicistroviridae. Virions measure 32nm, non-enveloped icosahedral, ssRNA, 3 genotypes (Americas, SE Asia and Belize) Affected countries: China, Peru, Belize, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Thailand, Taiwan, Mexico, Nicaragua, USA

Up to 100% mortalities in affected farm ponds. TSV can infect all cultured Penaeids and other genera in wild. Gross symptoms - moribund shrimp, expansion of chromatophores, moult mortalities, empty gut, high bird numbers around ponds, melanised shell lesions

Necrosis of cuticular epithelium, haemopoietic tissues, antennal gland. Loss of cuboidal structure to epithelial cells, infected cells are rounded with pyknotic nuclei. Lymphoid organ itself is not infected but lymphoid organ spheroids (LOS) develop during infection. Ectopic spheroids can be fouund in other tissues such as heart and gill.

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

USA