Abstract.-The largest number of shrimp farms in Costa Rica are located in the Pacific Coast's Gulf of Nicoya. In recent years, these farms have been affected by various diseases that damage the overall health of cultured shrimp. The research objective was to determine the prevalence of the main diseases in 3 different areas of the Gulf of Nicoya (Costa Rica) where Penaeus vannamei specie is produced. From August to October 2013 and February to May 2014, 3 farms were sampled in the region of Nicoya, encoded as F1, F2 y F3; 30 organisms were collected to be analyzed according to climatological season. Diagnostic methodological procedures (clinical examinations, bacteriology of hemolymph, histology and molecular analysis for the viruses WSSV, IHHNV, TSV and YHV) were done on each organism to determine the distinctive clinical signs of the diseases. An average prevalence of 2.22% for IHHNV, 13.33% for NHP, 32.78% for epicommensals, 33.89% for vibriosis, 100% for gregarines and 0% for viruses WSSV, TSV and YHV was found. For F1 and only in summer, IHHNV had the lowest prevalence with 13.33%. Furthermore, in addition to gregarines, one of the highest prevalence was obtained in the F3 during winter. This particular finding corresponded to diseases associated to epicommensals with 63.33%. In addition, the relationship between the prevalence of diseases within sampling site and the presence of diseases taking into account specific site and sampling date was analyzed. There is not enough evidence to establish a clear dependence among variables evaluated.Key words: White spot syndrome virus, parasites in shrimp, shrimp viral diseases, epidemiological surveillance, vibriosis diseaseResumen.-El Golfo de Nicoya de Costa Rica, concentra la mayor cantidad de fincas camaroneras del país, las cuales en los últimos años se han visto afectadas por diversas patologías que dañan el estado sanitario general de los camarones cultivados. La presente investigación determinó la prevalencia de las principales enfermedades en 3 sectores del Golfo de Nicoya (Costa Rica), donde se produce la especie Penaeus vannamei. Entre agosto y octubre del 2013 y entre febrero y mayo de 2014, se muestrearon 3 fincas en la región de Nicoya, codificados como F1, F2 y F3. Se obtuvieron 30 organismos de cada una y por cada estación climatológica analizada. A cada camarón se le realizaron procedimientos para determinar los signos clínicos característicos de las enfermedades más comunes, que incluyeron exámenes clínicos, bacteriología de hemolinfa, histología y análisis molecular para los virus WSSV, IHHNV, TSV y YHV. Se determinó una prevalencia promedio de 2,22% para IHHNV, 13,33% para NHP, 32,78% para epicomensales, 33,89% para vibriosis, 100% para gregarinas y 0% para los virus WSSV, TSV y YHV. Para la F1 y sólo en verano, IHHNV presentó la prevalencia más baja con 13,33% y aparte de las gregarinas, una de las prevalencias más altas se dio en la F3 durante invierno y correspondió a las enfermedades asociadas con epicomensales en un 63,33%. Se analizó la rel...