Shrimp Disease Control: Past, Present and Future

In the period from 1970-1990, the worldwide shrimp industry was dependent on post larvae (PL) from wild sources. Grow-out systems were relatively simple, water exchange rates were high and few disease agents were known. Diagnostic capability was low and antibiotics and chemical use was common. Explosive increase in global shrimp cultivation was accompanied by viral pandemics starting around 1987 and these quickly revealed the need for changes. The need transformed the shrimp farming industry. Beginning in the early 1990’s, dependence on wild PL rapidly declined and use of domesticated stocks rapidly dominated. Many significant diseases were described and diagnostic tests developed. Biosecurity measures practiced in intensive, controlled farming systems became more common, and antibiotic use decreased and became more responsible. Molecular biology is leading to a better understanding of shrimp and pathogen biology and the interaction between the two. The combined result of all of these developments has been a continuing increase in production of cultivated shrimp. In the future, it is expected that the world shrimp industry will have ready access to a variety of domesticated, genetically improved shrimp stocks free of all significant pathogens. Both laboratory and pond-side diagnostic methods/kits will be available for the most significant shrimp diseases and test standardization will be improved. Biosecurity methods will also improve Flegel, T.W., Lightner, D.V., Lo, C.F. and Owens, L. 2008. Shrimp disease control: past, present and future, pp. 355-378. In Bondad-Reantaso, M.G., Mohan, C.V., Crumlish, M. and Subasinghe, R.P. (eds.). Diseases in Asian Aquaculture VI. Fish Health Section, Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, Philippines. Corresponding author: [email protected]