tUsing differential velocity centrifugation, cell membranes of Artemia sp. were prepared, and their bindingto white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was analyzed in vitro. The results indicated that WSSV can specif-ically bind to Artemia cell membranes, and that WSSV receptor very likely existed in this membrane,which suggested that Artemia sp. may be a reservoir of WSSV. This study investigated the specific WSSVbinding site by performing competitive inhibition experiments using shrimp gill cell membranes to bindWSSV to Artemia cell membranes. The results showed that shrimp gill cell membranes had a distinct inhi-bition effect on the specific binding of Artemia cell membranes to WSSV. Thus, potentially similar WSSVreceptors or binding sites existed on Artemia sp. cell membranes and shrimp gill cell membranes. Takentogether, these findings may provide experimental basis for the development of an effective approach tocontrolling WSSV, and theoretical basis for the study of WSSV receptors.© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.