Solving parasite-related problems in cultured crustacea

Abstract

Trends emphasizing intensive crustacean culture methods, expansion of culture systems into different geographic areas, culture of different crustaceans, and transfer and introduction of crustaceans all promote an increase in diseases. Whereas modern techniques for detecting, diagnosing, and controlling viral disease are considered by some institutions as the primary or only research necessary for future development, considerable additional information on other diseases must be accumulated for continued and increased success in aquaculture. Examples given above indicate that the information involves taxonomy, life histories, host specificity, host responses and their causes, environmental influences on associations, drug treatments, acceptance by regulatory agencies of chemicals for disease management, human infections, and cost-benefit analyses. Many new infectious agents are continually being encountered. Some of these, including secondary invaders, can be controlled by manipulation of water quality or crustacean stock. Other agents cannot, and biological information can be used to control or understand these infections. Much of that information can be acquired by continual moderate support of small, long-term research programs conducting detailed studies on local symbionts.