In experimental challenge with infectious clones of Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV), MrNV alone can cause mortality in freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii).

To overcome the lack of immortal shrimp cell lines for shrimp viral research, we constructed and tested DNA infectious clones of Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) often found together in freshwater prawn (M. rosenbergii) exhibiting white tail disease (WTD). Full-length cDNAs of MrNV and XSV genomic RNA were individually inserted into the baculovirus pFastBacDUAL shuttle vector. Individual Sf9 (insect cell line) transfection resulted in production of RNA (RT-PCR) and capsid proteins (immunofluorescence) for both viruses. Presence of respective virions was confirmed by density gradient purification followed by RT-PCR and transmission electron microscopy. Infectivity was by tested in immersion-challenge tests with M. rosenbergii post-larvae (PL) using both semi-purified viruses, individually or combined, and confirmed by histological analysis (morphology and immunofluorescence) and quantitative RT-PCR. Mortality accompanied by WTD lesions occurred with MrNV alone or in combination with XSV but not with XSV alone, despite its replication.