Fighting Deadly Shrimp Diseases: Effectiveness of probiotics and disinfection

Shrimp farmers worldwide face relentless battles against a myriad of shrimp diseases that devastate their crops and cost the industry billions of dollars annually. To mitigate their losses, farmers use probiotics and disinfectants to improve the health of shrimp and to minimize if not eliminate disease-causing organisms.

But just how effective are they? A study, led by SEAFDEC/AQD Scientist Dr. Leobert de la Peña, demonstrated the efficacy of probiotics and a disinfectant against two of the deadliest shrimp diseases: acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) and luminescent vibriosis.

Probiotics—beneficial microbes—were tested by introducing them in both shrimp feed and in their rearing water. With these probiotics, containing Bacillus bacteria, survival rates of adult whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) significantly improved during disease outbreaks.

For example, in one run, probiotics boosted the survival of whiteleg shrimp against AHPND from 6.7 % with no probiotics, up to 90.0 %. For luminescent vibriosis, survival improved from 73.3 % with no treatment, up to 96.7 % with the probiotics.

However, it was also noted that in the absence of disease, the probiotics did not make a significant difference in the growth and survival of the shrimp.

Dr. de la Peña’s team also tested a commercial disinfectant that contained a surfactant, organic acid oxidizing agent, inorganic buffer, and hypochlorous acid.

At high concentrations, the disinfectant proved excellent at killing harmful bacteria on tanks and equipment. However, the high concentrations (above 2500 ppm) were also lethal to shrimp.

Dr. de la Peña, who also serves as Research Division head at SEAFDEC/AQD, emphasizes that these methods are most effective when tailored to specific farm conditions. The tested probiotics work best with proper timing and consistent application, while the disinfectant should be reserved for cleaning tanks and tools rather than used directly on shrimp.

This study, published in 2024 in the journal Research in Veterinary Science, was conducted by Dr. de la Peña along with Germin Moquera, Dr. Edgar Amar, Jose Louis Castellano, Nikko Alvin Cabillon, Joey Arboleda, Joseph Keith Paulo Nava, Rodolfo Zamora Jr., and Dr. Peter De Schryver.

A copy of the published article, “In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the efficacies of commercial probiotics and disinfectant against acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease and luminescent vibriosis in Litopenaeus vannamei,” may be requested through this link: https://repository.seafdec.org.ph/handle/10862/6523