Tag biosecurity

The benefits realized by recirculating aquaculture systems – including enhanced fish growth, product quality and survival, as well as reduced treatment costs – have made the RAS approach an important production trend. 

Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), a microsporidian parasite widely found in Asia and other areas, is impacting aquaculture by severely retarding the growth of cultured shrimp. EHP infects the tubules of the hepatopancreas in shrimp, which damages the organ’s ability to gain nutrition from feed. 

Offering high sensitivity and specificity, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are the most accepted molecular method for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) detection. 

Most aquaculture farms rely on general strategies for biosecurity that implement protocols learned from others. Establishing effective biosecurity, however, can be complicated due to multiple interacting variables. 

Integrated shrimp farming is desirable due to its ability to provide food safety and traceability. Production planning is the most essential exercise in integrated systems. 

Assessing disease risk at an aquaculture facility allows the anticipation of possible outbreaks and subsequent production losses. It can also help to identify weaknesses of the production system. 

Basic components of biosecurity include knowledge of diseases, adequate detection methods and the use of “clean” shrimp stocks. 

With the global spread of viruses, biosecurity has become an essential element of every shrimp farm. Biosecurity starts with quality of farm design. 

The objective of a contingency plan is to quickly recover production through rapid initial response and effective implementation of biosecurity measures. Such plans depend on whether the detected pathogen or disease is exotic or endemic, its potential economic impacts and whether it is to be eradicated. 

The development of an effective biosecurity plan requires full understanding of facility design and operations, and knowledge of the animals’ health status and the transmission modes of pathogens in order to identify the risks and define meaningful measures. 

Microbial surveys of hatchery operations at Oceanic Institute found a strong correlation between hatchery success and cultivable bacteria levels in the water supplied to the larval-rearing systems. 

Todays' shrimp farm technologies include biosecurity protocols, stocking densities according to pond design and aeration levels, and best practices for pond preparation and feed and water management. 

Recirculating systems and health management schemes should be designed concurrently to maximize their effectiveness. 

Biosecurity in aquaculture involves actions designed to maintain the health of aquatic animals by reducing the introduction of pathogens to facilities. 

Construction of an intensive aquaculture production facility without serious attention to biosecurity nearly guarantees outbreaks of infectious disease.