APPLICATION OF GENE PROBES TO DETECT A PENAEID SHRIMP BACULOVIRUS IN FIXED TISSUE USING IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

DNA inserts obtained from a cloning of the penaeid shrimp baculovirus, BP, were non radioactively labelled with digoxigenin for use as gene probes to detect BP in paraffin-embedded, formalin/alcohol-fixed tissue sections using in situ hybridization. Results show that the probes detect BP in various species of shrimp from different geographical areas. The probes demonstrate no reaction to BP-negative tissue sections. The probes also demonstrate no reaction to tissue infected with other penaeid shrimp viruses.