Improvement in a simple method for isolating white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) from the crayfish Procambarus clarkii

A very simple and efficient protocol for purification of intact White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) viral particles from infected tissues was developed using crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, as a proliferation system. No density gradient centrifugation, ultracentrifugation or protease inhibitors were needed and intact WSSV virions could be purified using a 30% sucrose solution combined with a few steps of differential centrifugation. Virus DNA quantitative analysis and infection trial suggested that the purity of the virions was sufficiently high for subsequent experimental work.