Premium
Biochemical changes and tissue distribution of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei ( EHP ) in naturally and experimentally EHP ‐infected whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931), in India
Author(s) -
Santhoshkumar S,
Sivakumar S,
Vimal S,
Abdul Majeed S,
Taju G,
Haribabu P,
Uma A,
Sahul Hameed A S
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of fish diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-2761
pISSN - 0140-7775
DOI - 10.1111/jfd.12530
Subject(s) - shrimp , litopenaeus , biology , penaeidae , hepatopancreas , hemolymph , alanine transaminase , aspartate transaminase , veterinary medicine , andrology , fishery , decapoda , alkaline phosphatase , crustacean , ecology , endocrinology , biochemistry , enzyme , medicine
Stunted growth in pond‐reared Litopenaeus vannamei was observed in different farms located in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, India. No mortality was associated with stunted growth. PCR assay on these samples revealed the presence of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei ( EHP ) in stunted shrimp. Tissue distribution of EHP in naturally and experimentally infected shrimp was studied by PCR and histology. Histological examination revealed the presence of EHP in hepatopancreas and gut, but not in other organs. The PCR assay revealed the presence of EHP in all the organs tested in both naturally and experimentally infected shrimp. Healthy shrimp were challenged with E. hepatopenaei by intramuscular injection and oral route, and no mortality was observed in both routes after 30 days post‐challenge. Different developmental stages of the microsporidian parasite were observed in the hepatopancreatic epithelial cells. Biochemical parameters such as total protein, albumin, aspartate transaminase ( AST ), alanine transaminase ( ALT ) and alkaline phosphatase were measured in the haemolymph of naturally and experimentally EHP ‐infected shrimp. All biochemical parameters mentioned were found to be significantly higher in EHP ‐infected shrimp when compared to normal shrimp. This is the first report relating AST and ALT levels to EHP infection in naturally and experimentally infected shrimp.