Antioxidant and membrane bound enzymes activity in WSSV-infected Penaeus monodon Fabricius

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a pathogen of major economic importance in shrimp aquaculture throughout the world. The activities of lipid peroxidation, total reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and membrane bound ATPases (Na+/K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, and Mg2+-ATPase) were analyzed in WSSV-infected and uninfected tissues of Penaeus monodon (i.e., hepatopancreas, gill, muscle, heart, eye and haemolymph). In WSSV-infected P. monodon, the activity of lipid peroxidation increased significantly (P < 0.05) in all tissues whereas in the activity of antioxidants and membrane bound enzymes declined when compared to controls. This indicated that membrane dynamics may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the WSSV infection.