Mud Crab Scylla Serrata (Forskal) as Carrier of White Spot Syndrome Virus (Wssv) in Coringa Mangroves, Andhra Pradesh.

Abstract

The prevalence of white spot syndrome virus in wild mud crabs in Coringa mangroves was studied at molecular level. 357 crab samples were tested through PCR at three sampling stations-Kakinada Bay, Coringa and Gaderu. Of them, 58 were positive (16%) and 299 negative in the first step PCR whereas 132 were positive (37%) and 225 were negative in the nested PCR. At Kakinada Bay, there was 16.4 % positivity in first step PCR and 36% in the second step, whereas in Coringa creek it was 14.4% and 37.3% in the first and second step respectively. In Gaderu creek the crabs were 17.1% positive in the first step PCR and 37.6% in the second step.