Summer Field Program 2008
Shrimp Aquaculture and Disease
Amanda Vincent
Marine shrimp aquaculture is a worldwide industry that generates $15 billion annually. Although shrimp is the most consumed seafood in the United States, the U.S. imports more than 80% of the shrimp it consumes creating a trade deficit of $3.5 billion. The University of Southern Mississippi is one of seven member institutions of the U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program whose goal is to develop technologies necessary for the U.S. to become competitive in the world shrimp market.
A major obstacle to shrimp aquaculture is disease. White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), Taura syndrome virus (TSV) and Necrotizing hepatopancreatitis bacterium (NHPB) each produce significant mortality and economic losses to shrimp crops. The current research by graduate students in our research group is discussed for WSSV, TSV, and NHPB. Masters student Michael Turner examines the geographic variation of two isolates of WSSV and their host specificity in Litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) and Callinectes sapidus (blue crab). Masters student Jocelyn Warner investigates the effect of temperature on TSV transmission and virulence in L. vannamei. Ph.D. candidate Amanda Vincent studies the ecology and epidemiology of NHPB in L. vannamei. Many opportunities exist for future graduate student research of diseases affecting shrimp aquaculture.
Presentation Slides
