Exploring Spice-Based dietary supplementation for Enhancing Growth, Immune Response and Resistant Capacity of Shrimp Against AHPND-Causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection.

Penaeid shrimp represents the most commonly cultivated crustacean in the world, with the white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931), and the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) dominating >90% of the market. However, the rapid expansion of intensive shrimp farming systems has led to the emergence and spread of viral and bacterial infections, which pose the greatest threat to the global shrimp aquaculture industry. Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), previously referred to as early mortality syndrome (EMS), is an emerging disease which is primarily caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus that can result in rapid and widespread death of shrimp, with mortality rates reaching 100% within 30-35 days of introduction. Antibiotics are widely used to treat these bacterial infections, and while effective, they also come with potential side effects, such as the development of antibiotic resistance in specific bacteria, an issue that is widespread in aquaculture facilities around the world. Therefore, spices might potentially be utilized as a substitute for antibiotics in shrimp farming due to their antibacterial properties and ability to stimulate the immune system when included in the diet. The research proposal seeks to tackle the problem of lowering AHPND in shrimp caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus. This will be achieved by testing different spice extracts against the V. parahaemolyticus in laboratory conditions and subsequently conducting In vivo trials in shrimp to check the immunostimulant and resistant capacity against that bacteria. The goal is to identify effective spice formulations that can be integrated into shrimp farming practices to mitigate the impact of AHPND. If successful, the findings from this project could contribute to the development of practical strategies for shrimp farmers to prevent and control AHPND, thereby enhancing the overall productivity and sustainability of the shrimp farming industry.

• Research Project