Baculovirus penaei (BP) is a virus that infects the hepatopancreas and foregut of Penaeus vannamei shrimp, primarily affecting early stages of development and causing losses in hatcheries. Its high genetic diversity hampers molecular detection, as many common PCR methods fail to identify all infections. Infection causes hepatopancreatic necrosis, intranuclear occlusion bodies, and epithelial sloughing, often accompanied by bacterial infections. Improved diagnostic techniques are needed to better assess the prevalence and impact of BP on shrimp health.
