Evaluating The Efficacy Of Dietary Supplements In Mitigating White Faeces Syndrome In Shrimp Aquaculture

Abstract

White Faeces Syndrome is a relatively new disease in shrimp farming that leads to low feed consumption, poor growth, damaged gut, and high mortality. This study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of supplement in improving shrimp health and their ability to withstand this disease. Five experimental diets were fed to the juvenile shrimp; the basal diet and four test diets supplemented with probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenic and immunostimulants. Growth rate, haematological and biochemical indices, gut microbial population, histopathological examination, and survival rate were determined after forty-five days feeding trial and pathogen challenge. The outcomes in this area revealed that supplementing the diet enhanced growth, and immunological indices. Immunostimulant group had higher count of haemocytes, fewer pathogenic bacteria and normal histology of the gut. This group also had the highest survival rate and the lowest disease rate when exposed to the pathogen. These results indicate that functional feed additives especially immunostimulants are a sustainable and efficient approach to control White Faeces Syndrome and enhance shrimp production and health in aquaculture.