Taura syndrome

Other formats

This information is also available in the following formats:

Taura syndrome PDF [2.7mb]

Signs of disease

Important: animals with disease may show one or more of the signs below, but disease may still be present in the absence of any signs.

Taura syndrome in white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei).
Note distinctive red tail fan of Taura syndrome.
Rough edges around tail fin are also common.
Source: DV Lightner

Taura syndrome in white shrimp. Note darkening
of body from infection. Source: DV Lightner

Disease signs at the farm level

lethargy
cessation of feeding
animals gather at pond edge when moribund

Clinical signs of disease in an infected animal

pale red body surface and appendages
tail fan and pleopods particularly red
shell soft and gut empty
death usually at moulting
multiple irregularly shaped and randomly distributed melanised cuticular lesions

Disease agent

Taura syndrome is caused by Taura syndrome virus (TSV), a small picorna-like RNA virus that has been classified in the new family Dicistroviridae.

Host range

Crustaceans known to be susceptible to Taura syndrome:

Pacific blue shrimp* (Penaeus stylirostris)
Pacific white shrimp* (Penaeus vannamei)
Chinese white shrimp (Penaeus chinensis)
giant black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon)
Kuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus)
northern brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus)
northern pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum)
northern white shrimp (Penaeus setiferus)
red endeavour prawn (Metapenaeus ensis)
southern white shrimp (Penaeus schmitti)

While the principal host species for TSV all belong to the penaeid genus Litopenaeus, other penaeid species can be infected with TSV by direct challenge, although disease signs do not develop.

* naturally susceptible (other species have been shown to be experimentally susceptible)

Presence in Australia

EXOTIC—not present in Australia.

Epidemiology

Taura syndrome is a disease of the nursery phase of the Pacific white shrimp. It usually occurs within 14–40 days of stocking postlarvae into grow-out ponds or tanks, with mortality of 40–90 per cent.
TSV can persist outside a host and retain infectivity at experimental temperatures between 0°C and 121°C.
Transmission is horizontal through ingestion. Although vertical transmission is suspected, it has not been demonstrated.
Migratory birds, aquatic insects and humans are likely mechanical vectors of the disease.
Resistance of the giant black tiger prawn and the Kuruma prawn to TSV is unclear, but they appear to be more resistant than the Pacific white shrimp.
Individuals surviving the chronic phase of Taura syndrome are thought to be carriers of the virus.

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnostic table and the list of similar diseases appearing at the bottom of each disease page refer only to the diseases covered by this field guide. Gross signs observed might well be representative of a wider range of diseases not included here. Therefore, these diagnostic aids should not be read as a guide to a definitive diagnosis, but rather as a tool to help identify the listed diseases that most closely account for the gross signs.

Similar diseases

Yellowhead disease

Further images

Sample collection

Because of uncertainty in differentiating diseases using only gross signs, and because some aquatic animal disease agents might pose a risk to humans, you should not try to collect samples unless you have been trained. Instead, you should phone your state or territory hotline number and report your observations. If samples have to be collected, the agency taking the call will advise you on what you need to do. Local or district fisheries/veterinary authorities could advise you on sampling.

Emergency disease hotline

For your state or territory emergency disease hotline number, see Whom to contact if you suspect a disease.