UST professor develops virus diagnostic kit for shrimp  

UST professor Dr. Marybeth Maningas has developed a kit for diagnosing the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in shrimp.

 

According to Maningas, shrimp infected by the WSSV have a 100% mortality rate, dying within 2-10 days after infection. Aside from white spots on the body of the shrimp, other symptoms include lethargy and increased cannibalism. The virus does not pose a threat for humans.

 

In the 90’s, local shrimp production earned the Philippines USD300 million in exports. However, WSSV killed off a large enough population, reducing earnings by 40-60%, or around USD 120 million to 180 million.


 

The diagnostic kit took almost four years of research and development, with researchers focusing on the development of detection equipment from 2011-2012 and DNA isolation procedures from 2013-2014. Field testing and encouraging local shrimp farmers to adopt the technology is currently taking place in 18 locations until 2016.

 

The Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS) and the College of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) collaborated on the diagnostic kit, with financial support from the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).

 

The diagnostic kit has a patent application pending. - Bea Montenegro/JJ, GMA News