RECENT STUDIES ON ACUTE HEPATOPANCREATIC NECROSIS DISEASE (AHPND, ALSO KNOWN AS EARLY MORTALITY SYNDROME, EMS)  

AHPND diagnosis (PCR & qPCR)

Initially, diagnosis of Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) could only be accomplished through histological examinations and laboratory bioassays, but recently, several molecular diagnostic methods based on conventional PCR those targeting pirA_vp and pirB_vp genes became available. In addition, for monitoring disease progression, a qPCR method targeting the pirA_vp gene was developed to detect and quantify the virulence plasmid in the AHPND affected shrimp.

AHPND transmission (Typing PCR)

We found geographic sequence variations in the virulence plasmid between AHPND America and Asia isolates (Table) and the results suggest that the Asia isolates were different from the Mexico (Central America) isolates (Figure). This method (genetic variation) can be used as markers for monitoring the spread of this disease.