The immune response of the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its susceptibility to Vibrio infection in relation with the moult cycle

Abstract

The white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (8.0–14.4 g) was examined for haemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, respiratory burst (release of superoxide anion), phagocytic activity, and clearance efficiency to the pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus in relation with moult cycle (postmoult, A, B; intermoult, C; premoult, D 0/D 1D 2/D 3). Granular cells were the highest at C and D 0/D 1stage, and the lowest at A stage. Hyaline cells and THC (total haemocyte count) were higher at C stage, but lower at postmoult stages. Phenoloxidase activity was the highest at C stage, and the lowest at A stage. Respiratory burst was lower at A stage. Phagocytic activity of shrimps against V. alginolyticus decreased significantly at postmoult and premoult stages. Additionally, the clearance efficiency of shrimps to V. alginolyticus was significantly lower for shrimps at A stage than those at C stage. In another experiment, L. vannamei at different moult stages were injected with tryptic soy broth (TSB)-grown V. alginolyticus (1×10 5cfu shrimp −1) and then held in 34% seawater. After 10 h, the mortality of V. alginolyticus-injected shrimps was significantly higher for shrimps at postmoult stage than those at intermoult stage. Over 48–120 h, the mortality of V. alginolyticus-injected shrimps was 50.0%, 33.3% and 40.0% at postmoult, intermoult and premoult stage, respectively. It is concluded that L. vannamei showed a decrease in resistance at A stage through a reduction of its haemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, respiratory burst, phagocytic activity and clearance efficiency against V. alginolyticus.