March 6, 2009

Malaysia has discovered an edible stimulant vaccine to fight White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), a serious shrimp disease which causes losses amounting to billions of US dollars annually, official news agency reported on Thursday (Mar 5).

Universiti Malaya Professor Phang Siew Moi said it could trigger the immune system in prawns towards the WSSV, using the VP28 viral coat protein that could protect the prawn from the deadly disease.

Phang said that when the shrimp eats the vaccine, it will start producing immunisation, stimulating immune response, also adding that the prawn was not a genetically-modified organism.

She said the finding was the first of its kind in Malaysia and further testing is currently being conducted before it could be commercialised.

WSSV is currently the most serious viral pathogen of prawns worldwide and can cause up to 100 percent mortality within 7 to 10 days, resulting in losses to prawn farmers.

Losses due to WSSV are estimated at US$1 billion annually, out of the US$13 billion global cultured prawn market.