Occurrence of concurrent infections with multiple viruses in Penaeus monodon from culture ponds of north coastal Andhra Pradesh

A histopathological study of Penaeus monodon showing external symptoms of white spot disease, collected from culture ponds at Mulakuddu and Rambilli villages (Visakhapatnam District) during May and July 2001, provided evidence for the occurrence of multiple viral infections. Each diseased shrimp carried concurrent infections with four different viruses, identified on the basis of nuclear changes, resulting in the formation of characteristic inclusion/occlusion bodies, as WSSV, YHV, MBV and IHHNV. The identification of the various viruses needs confirmation through molecular diagnostic methods. This constitutes a report recording concurrent infections with multiple viruses in a single shrimp.