Potential of a new feed solution to improve resistance of white shrimp post larvae challenged by EHP

In vitro tests consolidated by in vivo trials confirmed the potential of a prophylactic solution to control EHP in white shrimp.

By Stephane Frouel, Julie Castier and Maxime Hugonin

Aquaculture is a complex industry with multiple variables that strongly impact its performance. Among these, sources of stress, disease outbreaks and occurrence of new pathogens such as parasites are huge threats.

Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a microsporidian parasite that was first characterised in the giant or black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon in 2009 in Thailand. EHP is restricted to the shrimp hepatopancreas (HP) and its occurrence is usually not heeded because of the overwhelming focus on some secondary diseases such as early mortality syndrome (EMS), white faeces syndrome, etc. However, although EHP does not appear to cause high mortality, it is associated with severe growth retardation and degraded feed conversion ratios (FCRs) in shrimp leading to economic losses for the farmers who in the worst case scenarios, need to decide for an early harvest.

To date, no reliable and sustainable solutions have shown real efficacy on the reduction of impact of EHP in shrimp. The aim of the current research at Mixscience, France, is to design a specific solution against EHP in shrimp aquaculture. Efficacy was demonstrated from the laboratory to shrimp post larvae, focusing on the reduction of germination of EHP spores and its associated effect on shrimp performance. Since EHP has an internal phase during which spores enter host’s cells, it is important to ensure that the parasite is