Proliferation dynamics of WSSV in crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and the host responses at different temperatures

The replication profile of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, at different water temperature was investigated in this study. The WSSV detections were negative at 15 ± 1°C, and the natural infection ratio increased at 19 ± 1°C (24.2% ± 2.25%), reached 100% at 25 ± 1°C and decreased at 30 ± 1°C (93.2% ± 3.37%). The WSSV genome copies number was much higher at 25 ± 1°C (≥5 × 10^{6.45 ± 0.35} /mg) than at 15 ± 1°C (≤5 × 10^{1.13 ± 0.12} /mg), 19 ± 1°C (≤5 × 10^{2.74 ± 0.48} /mg) and 32 ± 1°C (≤5 × 10^{3.18 ± 0.27} /mg). Meanwhile, the significant transcription signals of immediate early gene ie1 and late gene vp28 and a large number of virus particles were detected in epitheliums of stomach, gut and gill, hepatopancreas, heart and muscle cells at 25 ± 1°C by using in situ hybridization (ISH) and transmission electron microscopy. The experimental infection of P. clarkii with WSSV infection showed reduced mortality and lower virus copies number at 19 ± 1°C (23.51% ± 0.84%, ≤5 × 10^{3.41 ± 0.11} /mg) and 32 ± 1°C (38.42% ^±  1.21%, ≤5 × 10^{3.72 ± 0.13} /mg) compared to 25 ± 1°C (100%, ≥5 × 10^{4.99 ± 0.24} /mg). The water temperature regulated the transcription of immune-related genes (crustin2, prophenoloxidase (proPO) and heat shock protein70 (Hsp70)), with some differences between WSSV treatments and control treatments. These results demonstrate that water temperature has effect on WSSV proliferation, which may due to transcriptional response of immune-related genes to temperature.