To confirm the possibility of a wild marine crab, Gaetice depressus, as a carrier for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and to develop an alternative experimental model for WSSV in winter season, the susceptibility of the crab to WSSV was assessed by artificial challenge and subsequently tested for infection by PCR assay. The results revealed that the crabs were as highly susceptible as penaeid shrimps. WSSV caused 100% mortality in G. depressus within 16 days after intramuscular injection. The presence of WSSV in the moribund crabs was confirmed by PCR and was found in gills and muscle tissue. These results suggest that G. depressus can be naturally infected by WSSV via moribund shrimps, and can act as a potential carrier of WSSV. In addition, G. depressus can be used as an alternative experimental animal for WSSV