by Dr Temitope A. Aloba, Technical Sales Manager & Dr Bernhard Eckel, Vice President, Animal Nutrition
Worldwide shrimp farming is severely affected by Early Mortality Syndrome, resulting in billions of dollars in losses. Phytogenic additives offer a promising natural solution to improve shrimp health and resilience. This breakthrough approach could significantly change the sustainability and profitability of shrimp aquaculture.
The Enemy Is Microscopic, The Threat Is Huge
Shrimp farming is a vital pillar of the aquaculture industry. For almost 15 years now, it has been grappling with the daunting challenge of Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), also known as Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND). This has morphed into a significant threat to Penaeid shrimp farming, triggering widespread economic losses and disrupting global supply chains. The disconcerting trend points to a surge in EMS outbreaks, leading to a drastic 60 percent decline in shrimp production in affected regions. This translates to a global financial loss estimated at USD 43 billion. However, the quest to combat EMS and fortify the resilience of Penaeid shrimp is a dynamic process, with a promising solution on the horizon—phytogenic additives derived from natural sources.
Understanding EMS as a Stressor
The looming threat of EMS casts a dark cloud over the global shrimp farming industry, affecting Penaeid shrimp species like Litopenaeus Vannamei and Penaeus monodon. Since its emergence in China in 2009, EMS has rapidly spread across Southeast Asia and beyond, resulting in significant losses for shrimp farmers worldwide. At the heart of this disease is Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacterium that thrives in warm marine environments and releases toxins into the shrimp’s gastrointestinal tract, severely damaging the hepatopancreas. The development of EMS is closely linked to specific virulence factors in V. parahaemolyticus, particularly the toxins PirAvp and PirBvp. Similar to the insect-related Pir toxins found in Photorhabdovirus, these toxins play a crucial role in the onset of EMS. The disease is characterized by distinct symptoms in shrimp, such as empty gut, atrophied and necrotic hepatopancreases, leading to 100 percent mortality within a few weeks of being stocked in affected ponds. Environmental stressors like fluctuating water temperatures, poor water quality, and overcrowded conditions exacerbate shrimp susceptibility to EMS. The effects of EMS are not limited to mortality, as surviving shrimp often experience physiological stress, compromising their immune function and making them more vulnerable to secondary infections. Thereby, EMS outbreaks can cause significant financial losses and market instability for shrimp farmers.
Phytogenics Shine a Ray of Hope
Amidst the challenges posed by EMS, phytogenic additives derived from herbs, spices, and other plant-based materials offer a promising solution. These natural compounds provide a holistic approach to disease management, leveraging the therapeutic properties of plants to bolster shrimp health and resilience. One way to support this is Anta®Ox Aqua. The phytogenic feed additive has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing shrimp physiology and immune function throughout their lifecycles in commercial applications. This innovative product harnesses the power of plant-based compounds to optimize shrimps’ health and growth rates during the different stages of their development, offering a natural and efficient solution to shrimp producers aiming to maximize their output.
Numerous trials have shown how Anta®Ox Aqua improves shrimp stress resilience by benefiting their immune and metabolic systems. For instance, an organism’s immune reaction to pathogens indicates stress levels. The better the defence system functions, the greater the resistance to potential infections and pathogen-related stress. In a commercial trial with nine earthen ponds stocked with Pacific white shrimp, the shrimp group receiving Anta®Ox Aqua showed a significant decrease in Vibrio counts in the hepatopancreas compared to the control group, even without being challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The integrity of the hepatopancreas in the Anta®Ox Aqua group remained normal, whereas the control group exhibited a considerably higher percentage of necrotic tubule epithelium (Figure 1). Furthermore, the healthy hepatopancreas and substantially reduced Vibrio counts translated to higher shrimp production.
Anta®Ox Aqua: Pioneering to sustainable shrimp farming As EMS continues to pose a significant threat to shrimp farming, it is crucial to pursue innovative solutions that address the immediate challenges of the disease and promote long-term sustainability within the aquaculture industry. By harnessing the potential of Anta®Ox Aqua, shrimp farmers can effectively prevent EMS outbreaks and safeguard their livelihoods against future threats, making a more resilient and sustainable shrimp farming industry increasingly attainable. This approach not only yields ecological and societal advantages but also aligns with sound business practices, reinforcing the profitability essential to sustainable aquaculture. The emergence of this groundbreaking solution for EMS shines as a promising light in the relentless fight against this devastating disease.
Published in the August 2024 issue of International Aquafeed.
