Andhra Pradesh recently found that ‘Mud Crab Reovirus (MCRV)’ has been the reason for mass mortality of wild crab (Scylla serrata).

Highlights

• Presence of MCRV in samples collected from Nagayalanka fields was confirmed by Joint research by Centre for Advanced Study in Marine Biology (Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu) and M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).
• MSSRF has been noticing mortality in areas like Machilipatnam and Nagayalanka in Krishna district, since 2019.
• MCRV has taken a toll on wild crab in every farming method, crab polyculture and crab fattening in which shrimp and wild crab are cultured in exclusive mud crab ponds and in same pond.
• Crab fattening technology was introduced in Andhra Pradesh by Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA-Chennai), in 2014.

About Mud Crab Reovirus (MCRV)

Mud Crab Reovirus belongs the “Reoviridae” family. It is responsible for the mass mortality of wild crabs. The virus mainly affects the connective tissue of hepatopancreas, intestine and gills.

By: Brijesh Kumar