EMS IN SHRIMP AQUACULTURE
The real impact of Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS)
As most knowledgeable aquaculturists know all too well, disease is a natural component of aquaculture. Few of those involved in the shrimp farming industry are not familiar with this disease. The disease has been well characterized and it has been suggested that the early damage to the shrimp is a result of some form of hepatotoxic material. However the absence of disease is unnatural and there are no agricultural practices that do not at the very least suffer on occasion from the impact of disease. While it should be the goal of all science based aquaculture to prevent diseases to the maximum extent possible, the unfortunate truth is that this ideal is not achievable nor perhaps even ultimately desirable.
| Current Shrimp Diseases in SE Asia |
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Strategies to prevent EMS: EMS PREVENTION PAPER HERE.
A strain of a common marine bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the cause of EMS (Early Mortality Syndrome). Early on researchers thought that perhaps the ability to produce disease was related to the presence of a virus that infects the bacterium (called a bacteriophage). Subsequent research failed to corroborate this and the currently we believe that small extrachromosomal circular pieces of DNA (called plasmids) are responsible for toxin production. Want more information? Go to this presentation. Ecuador 2014
What can be done? Please find relevant articles here.
A strain of a common marine bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the cause of EMS (Early Mortality Syndrome). Early on researchers thought that perhaps the ability to produce disease was related to the presence of a virus that infects the bacterium (called a bacteriophage). Subsequent research failed to corroborate this and the currently we believe that small extrachromosomal circular pieces of DNA (called plasmids) are responsible for toxin production. Want more information? Go to this presentation. Ecuador 2014
What can be done? Please find relevant articles here.