New technology detects early mortality syndrome in shrimp

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) has developed a technology to detect acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or early mortality syndrome in shrimp.

The technology is an output of a project funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).

AHPND is caused by vibrio parahaemolyticus, a pervasive bacterium that thrives in marine waters. This disease causes lethargy, an empty stomach, a pale hepatopancreas or digestive gland and an empty midgut. The disease has caused major economic losses in cultured shrimp production in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico and the Philippines.

In the Philippines, the disease has been detected in Bataan, Bulacan, Cebu, Bohol, Sarangani and General Santos. In one site in Bataan, 73% of farms were found positive with AHPND.

The technology addresses the need of Filipino shrimp farmers for a diagnostic testing kit that can provide results instantly as outsourced diagnostics are not time-efficient. Moreover, available test products are expensive, have low accuracy, and are difficult to use.

To detect AHPND, a prototype diagnostic kit and heat block using loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was produced and tested. The special polymerase allows amplification within an hour at one temperature. The technology is easy to set up, use, and is also not expensive at 1300 per set.

Compared with a wide array of detection methods in the market, LAMP is more advantageous in terms of cost, field applicability, visual detection, and ease of operation.