Specific pathogen free (SPF), specific pathogen resistant (SPR) and specific pathogen tolerant (SPT) as part of the biosecurity strategy for whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei boone 1931)

Abstract

The sanitary and genetic characterization of farmed penaeid shrimp needs to be selected based on the type of culture system and biosecurity strategy applied. This paper attempts to define the concepts specific pathogen free (SPF), specific pathogen resistant (SPR) and specific pathogen tolerant (SPT) and presents the process for development of a combined approach where white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV) SPT/SPR animals were selected to create SPF stocks for use in a low-biosecurity facility. The success of this approach was proven when they were imported and adopted as the only stocks cultured in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after the local species were wiped out by WSSV. Record national production has been achieved since their introduction and WSSV has been eradicated even from the wild population. It is suggested that this type of stock (WSSV SPT+SPF) could be an alternative for countries still impacted by WSSV that do not have the technical competence or the investment capacity to transform the industry to small intensive ponds where viral exclusion strategies could be implemented.