Analysis of resistance against white spot syndrome virus infection in Fenneropenaeus chinensis considering different inbreeding coefficients

The relationship between inbreeding and traits of disease resistance in shrimp has not been studied comprehensively. To explore the effect of inbreeding on white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) resistance in Fenneropenaeus chinensis, we established F. chinensis “Huanghai No. 5” populations with different inbreeding coefficients. We infected F. chinensis individuals with WSSV to compare WSSV-resistance between five inbred groups and a control group. Survival time, survival rate, distribution of deaths, and cumulative mortality rate were analyzed. A mixed linear model was established based on the acquired data. The viral load in muscle tissue of F. chinensis of 12 families from the five inbred groups and the control group was determined at different time points via real-time PCR. The average survival and longest survival time of the inbred groups were lower than those of the control group, and the coefficient of variation was universally greater than that of the control group. The least squares means of survival time of the five inbred groups (F0.1325, F0.25, F0.3125, F0.375, F0.5) were 118.96 115.14, 124.58, 123.97, and 101.34 h, respectively, which were 10.28%, 13.16%, 6.04%, 6.5%, and 23.57% lower than that of the control group. Further, when the inbreeding coefficient increased by 10%, WSSV infection survival time was changed by − 7.76%, − 5.26%, − 1.93%, − 1.73%, and − 4.71% for the five inbred groups, respectively. Thus, the results indicated that inbreeding enhanced the susceptibility of F. chinensis to WSSV infection, and the resistance of F. chinensis to WSSV declined as the inbreeding coefficient values increased, consequently, resulting in greater population dispersion, intensified differentiation, and instability of resistant phenotypes. In conclusion, we elucidated the effect of inbreeding on F. chinensis resistance to WSSV infection and established a theoretical basis to conduct further research in the future