It has been considered that the primary infection pathway in
cultured shrimps occurs through horizontal waterborne transmission.
A number of shrimp culturists have modified their rearing practices to
change from open to closed systems to prevent the spread of infectious
diseases by water exchange. However, these measures were unsuccessful
at preventing YHD outbreaks. We examined the potential for horizontal
transmission of YHV in P. monodon, including cannibalism of
infected individuals and water-borne transmission, and evaluated the
infective potential of individual shrimps to transmit YHV in early and
later stages of morbidity when cannibalized. Our results suggest that
cannibalism of moribund conspecifics is likely of greater concern in a
culture setting because it results in higher levels of mortality relative
to disease transmission via water. Removal of moribund individuals