Research progress on acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in Vietnam

The work by conducted in Vietnam the ShrimpVet Laboratory on early mortality syndrome/acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (EMS/AHPND) of penaeid shrimp is summarized, and includes evaluation of diagnostic methods (histology, bacteriology, polymerase chain reaction), challenge studies to evaluate the efficacy of various products in controlling AHPND in shrimp (e.g. probiotics, acidifiers, immunostimulants, bacteriophages, quorum quenching, feed additives, toxin absorbents, essential oils, herbal extracts), and approaches to field practices (e.g. better selection of PL and PCR tests for PL, nursery phase, polyculture, using “mature” water from fish ponds for stocking and water exchange, sludge removal, water discharge with central drainage, using probiotics to remove excessive organic matter, more water exchange and more reservoir area, avoiding eutrophication and excessive algal bloom, better natural food bloom before stocking, using gut probiotics, including organic acids in feed, and using herbs such as garlic and turmeric). To reduce the risk of AHPND in shrimp farming, a very holistic approach is needed that includes: biosecurity, PL quality, good farming practices, a more diversified microflora in both the shrimp gut and shrimp pond, sustainable farming practices and better environmental management. In short, shrimp farming should be considered as a value chain in which every part of the chain is equally important.