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NCKU research team develops white spot syndrome virus resistant shrimp
NCKU Press Center
[Tainan, Taiwan, August 25, 2015]
 Dean Lo Chu-Fang of the College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and her team have finally cultivated a black tiger shrimp that is resistant to the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in a collaborative study with OSO Organic Shrimp Farm, a black tiger shrimp enterprise established in Madagascar by the largest aquatic product distributor in France.
According to Lo, two WSSV resistant shrimp families have already been successfully produced, these breakthroughs have already generated a lot of interest and excitement in the shrimp farming community.
Over the past two years, OSO has generously shared their shrimp farming and water quality maintenance technologies as well as their expertise in shrimp farm design, said Lo.
Lo’s team and OSO have built up a good partnership since 2012, often sharing experiences and results with one another.
 Lo and her team began cultivating the first generation of WSSV-resistant black tiger shrimp in NCKU last November, starting from shrimp postlarvae almost invisible to the naked eye.
It takes on average one and half year for a black tiger shrimp to grow to the point where their reproductive organs are mature and they can be used for breeding.
The shrimp were grown in a strictly-controlled room for 9 months and are now roughly 20 cm long, according to the team.
Lo indicated that all of the shrimp are very healthy, and that not even one shrimp has become sick.
A special feed is currently being used to accelerate the shrimps’ growth, so that they can be used for breeding as soon as possible, she said.
Lo pointed out that virus-resistant shrimp is just the beginning, and that she will continue to research and develop black tiger shrimp families that are also stress resistant and fast growing.
This will reduce farming costs and increase the shrimp farmers’ revenue, and hopefully help to drive a renewed and sustainable shrimp farming industry in Taiwan and other Asian countries, according to Lo.
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