PROTOCOL FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ACUTE HEPATOPANCREATIC NECROSIS DISEASE (AHPND) IN SHRIMP

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I. CAUSATIVE AGENTS AND DISEASE-TRIGGERING CONDITIONS

  • Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND), also known as Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), is a major disease in shrimp aquaculture.

  • The syndrome is closely associated with poor pond management, with Vibrio parahaemolyticus being the primary pathogenic agent (Figure 1).

 

Vibrio parahaemolyticus cấy trên đĩa Chrom Agar

AHPND progresses in two main stages:

• Stage 1 (Shrimp < 30 days old):
Mortality at this stage may stem from poor-quality postlarvae already infected at the hatchery, inadequate pond preparation, or transmission from intermediate hosts.
(Figures 2 & 3: Black tiger shrimp and whiteleg shrimp with early-stage hepatopancreatic disease)

• Stage 2 (Shrimp 31–60 days old):
Mortality during this period results mainly from poor pond management—overfeeding, accumulation of organic waste, and deteriorating pond-bottom conditions—leading to elevated harmful Vibrio density.

 


II. CLINICAL SIGNS

Clinical signs of hepatopancreatic disease can be categorized according to the progression stage:

• Stage 1:

Shrimp show no increase in feed intake; water tests reveal rising levels of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (>5×10² CFU/mL).
(Figure 4: Elevated Vibrio parahaemolyticus density)

 


• Stage 2:

Shrimp reduce feed intake by 10–15%, with signs of reduced gut content, hepatopancreas swelling, and yellow discoloration.
(Figure 5: Shrimp with swollen hepatopancreas)

 


• Stage 3:

Feed intake drops by 15–20%; hepatopancreas begins to shrink; shrimp show empty gut and sporadic mortality.
(Figure 6: Shrimp with shrunken hepatopancreas and empty gut)

 


• Stage 4:

Feed reduction may reach 50%; hepatopancreas is severely shrunken and pale; many shrimp are empty-gutted, resulting in significantly higher mortality in feeding trays.
(Figure 7: Shrimp showing sharp decline in tray sampling)

 


III. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT MEASURES

a) Disease prevention solutions

1. Use high-quality, disease-free postlarvae and ensure proper pond preparation.

2. Regularly monitor shrimp health: Through feeding trays, cast nets, and routine water-quality assessments, including Vibrio quantification using CHROMagar plates.

3. Improve pond-water quality:

  • Routine broad-spectrum disinfection: Apply AQUA CIDE once per week.

  • 48 hours after disinfection, apply PROCA 2x to stabilize the microbiome and suppress pathogenic Vibrio.

  • Add organic waste–degrading probiotics (VB-EM super) twice per week to reduce toxic gases and organic load.

 

Cải thiện môi trường nước ao nuôi

4. Strengthen shrimp immunity

  • Supplement herbal garlic extract GATONIC PLUS + digestive enzyme VIBOZYME PLUS to boost natural immunity.

  • Enhance digestion and hepatopancreas function using BACITAL + LIVERMIN PLUS.

  • During sudden weather changes (heavy rain, intense sunlight), apply 1 L YUCCA-S PLUS / 1,000–1,500 m³ to reduce stress and stabilize water quality.

b) Treatment Measures

Case 1: Elevated Vibrio parahaemolyticus density (>5×10² CFU/mL) and early clinical signs

  • Apply VB-ANTIDOX to reduce turbidity and heavy metals and improve the effectiveness of disinfection.

  • Perform targeted disinfection using WIN 500 new. After 2 days, apply PROCA 2x to suppress pathogenic Vibrio.

  • Reduce feed by 30–50% and mix VB-RIDO 01 + GATONIC PLUS into the feed.

 

Trường hợp mật độ vi khuẩn Vibrio parahaemolyticus cấy trên đĩa Chrom Agar cao tôm bắt đầu có dấu hiệu nhiễm bệnh

Case 2: Shrimp showing swollen or yellow hepatopancreas

  • Withhold feed and apply YUCCA-S PLUS to reduce stress before disinfecting with WIN 500 new.

  • Treat infected shrimp by mixing VB-RIDO 01 + ZX 2000 + VIBOZYME PLUS into the feed.

 

Trường hợp tôm bị vàng gan sưng gan

 

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