Detection and characterization of white spot syndrome virus in imported blue crayfish (Procambarus alleni) from the ornamental trade

Naomi Falconnier; Adrien Izquierdo; Shannon Gray; Nanny Wenzlow; Kuttichantran Subramaniam

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2025.108330

Detection and characterization of white spot syndrome virus in imported blue crayfish (Procambarus alleni) from the ornamental trade

J Invertebr Pathol. 2025 Jul:211:108330. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2025.108330. Epub 2025 Apr 6.

Authors

Naomi Falconnier¹, Adrien Izquierdo², Shannon Gray³, Nanny Wenzlow⁴, Kuttichantran Subramaniam⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; LSU Diagnostics (Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory), River Road, Room 1043, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
² Audubon Nature Institute, 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.
³ Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1945 SW 16th Ave, Suite V3-111, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
⁴ School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; LSU Diagnostics (Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory), River Road, Room 1043, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. Electronic address: nwenzlow@ttu.edu.
⁵ Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1945 SW 16th Ave, Suite V3-111, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. Electronic address: kuttichantran@ufl.edu.

PMID: 40199437
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2025.108330

Abstract

White spot disease, caused by the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), is a notifiable disease of decapod crustaceans, and international trade poses risks for its spread. Here, we describe an asymptomatic mortality event in blue crayfish (Procambarus alleni) imported from Thailand to the USA through the ornamental trade. WSSV was confirmed with histology, in situ hybridization, and real-time PCR. Next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that this WSSV isolate was genetically distinct from the USA isolate and clustered with Asian isolates. This report exemplifies the poorly documented risk of disease spread through the ornamental trade.

Keywords: Crayfish; Genome; Ornamental industry; Pet trade; Quarantine; WSSV.

MeSH terms

Animals
Astacoidea* / virology
Phylogeny
Thailand
White spot syndrome virus 1* / genetics
White spot syndrome virus 1* / isolation & purification