A phytobiotic-based functional additive to reduce the impact of EHP-WFS in shrimp

Shrimp farming faces significant challenges due to frequent disease outbreaks that undermine profitability. One particularly severe shrimp disease is white faeces syndrome (WFS), a gastrointestinal disorder commonly reported in Asia. WFS is characterised by a white discolouration in the shrimp gut and the appearance of floating white faecal strings in pond water. Studies indicate that the co-infection of pathogenic Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) and Vibrio spp. is necessary to induce WFS in shrimp (Aranguren Caro et al., 2021). EHP acts as a primary pathogen, intensifying the impact of opportunistic bacteria such as Vibrio spp., resulting in WFS. Shrimp infected by WFS exhibit retarded growth, significant size variation, elevated feed conversion ratios, and, in severe cases, increased mortality. These issues collectively heighten production costs and pose substantial economic risks for shrimp farmers.