Diagnostic approaches and contribution of next-generation sequencing technologies in genomic investigation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus that caused acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND)

Yu, Lean Huat; Teh, Cindy Shuan Ju; Yap, Kien Pong; Thong, Kwai Lin

A unique strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (designated as VP(AHPND)) causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), a deadly bacterial disease associated with mass mortality in cultured shrimps since 2009. AHPND is responsible for severe economic losses worldwide, causing multimillion-dollar loss annually. Because of the rapid and high mortality rates in shrimps, substantial research has been carried out to develop rapid detection techniques. Also, recent technological advances such as the next-generation sequencing (NGS) have made it possible to elucidate relevant information about a pathogen in a single assay. This review summarizes the current research pertaining to VP(AHPND), focusing on diagnosis and contribution of NGS technologies in the genomic studies of AHPND.