Taura Syndrome virus has devastated shrimp industries across the world. Photo: Valerie Like

A US company has developed new a vaccine for Taura Syndrome virus, which has devastated shrimp industries across the world.

Replikins, the vaccine's manufacturer, claims that the vaccine protects 91% of shrimp against the disease. In addition, the company can produce the vaccine in seven days compared with up to a year for other manufacturing methods. This fast development may be able to keep pace with virus mutation, which can make a vaccine ineffective in a short period of time, the company adds.

The vaccine was chemically synthesized specifically for the Taura Syndrome virus, using technology patented by Replikins. Dr Sam Bogoch of Replikins expects the vaccine, which has yet to be named, to be part of the company's Syntope range.

Replikins says that it is to form a division to focus on viruses lethal to shrimp, as these have caused huge losses to global aquaculture, and there are few companies producing such treatments. The company also plans to develop synthetic viruses for the control of fish hemorrhagic viruses and other aquatic microorganisms.

The Taura Syndrome virus was first identified in Ecuador in 1992. It is now found in most shrimp farming areas. Early symptoms of the disease include loss of appetite in infected shrimp, lethargy, and clustering at the edges of ponds. Clinical signs include a pale red body and a soft shell. Mortality during a Taura virus outbreak can reach 95%, with infected shrimp usually dying during molting. The disease is caused by a small RNA virus of the Dicistroviridae family.

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