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Farmed shrimp. (Photo: Terje Engoe/Copyright: FIS)
New viral disease detected in white shrimp
INDIA
Monday, January 09, 2017, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
A new virus affecting vannamei shrimp, so far known only to Thailand and Vietnam, has been detected by the department of Marine Living Resources of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.
The virus has been affecting over INR 10 billion (USD 146 M) worth shrimps every year.
The country produces over 40.9 M tonnes of shrimps every year out of which 70 per cent is produced in Andra Pradesh state, and exports of this crustacean are expected to reach INR 60 billion (USD 879 million) in the coming years.
The dual infection caused by the viral disease known as Abdominal Segment Deformity Disease (ASDD) and microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) has been affecting the growth and life of the Vannamei shrimps, Hans India informed.
Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was introduced in India in 2008, when aquaculture reached its peak. Brooders are imported from Hawaii by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture and supplied to the hatcheries after screening.
However, “some hatchery owners directly import from Hawaii and set into production without screening. This could be one reason for spreading the diseases all over,” Professor R. Janakiram of the Marine Living Resources department pointed out.
Meanwhile, a research scholar of the department, Gandham Krishna Geetha discovered a new probiotic, which could be resistant to many diseases.
The scientist managed to isolate a new strain of Bacillus cereus from the gut of wild Penaeus monodon brooder and proved to be antagonistic to Vibrio harveyi, and can be used as a feed probiotic in shrimp after field trials.
The discovery has been informed to National Centre for Biotechnology Information.
In Janakiram’s opinion, the commercial application of this new probiotic will give fresh impetus to the aquaculture industry in India.
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