Effect of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection on immune enzyme activity and ultrastructure in the haemolymph tissue of Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda, Astacidea)

To explore the pathogenic mechanism of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), we analysed activities of the three immune-related enzymes PO, SOD and LSZ in haemolymph tissue of C. quadricarinatus before and after infection, and simultaneously studied the ultrastructural pathology. The results show that WSSV infection affects activities of the three enzymes. After 6-24 h of WSSV infection, the activities of PO, SOD and LSZ increased, but decreased significantly during longer infection times. The enzyme activities in WSSV-infected crayfish were significantly lower than those in controls at 72 h, except for LSZ (P<0.01). Interestingly, the activities of PO, SOD and LSZ in the group treated with immune-polysaccharides before challenge with WSSV were higher than in the directly infected group, and the immune protection rate reached 51.9%, suggesting that the polysaccharides could improve enzyme activities and enhance antiviral defences of the organism. Ultrastructural pathological changes showed damaged haemolymph tissue, deformed golgiosomes, fuzzy damage in the mitochondrial structures, and nuclear membrane deformation and fracture. High levels of heterochromatin appeared in the nucleus; organoid and chromatin dissolved in dying blood cells, cytoplasm appeared oedematous and cells dissolved. WSSV particles were visible in blood cell nuclei of infected crayfish.