Growth performance, non-specific immune activity, and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus of whiteleg shrimp fed dietary Chromolaena odorata leaf flour components

Abstract

The efficacy of Chromolaena odorata leaf flour components (CO) to increase the growth performance, non-specific immune activity, and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture was evaluated. To this purpose, whiteleg shrimp post larvae were fed on diets supplemented with 0 and a 1.5 g CO/kg diet for 45 days in a pond. After feeding trials, the shrimps were identified for their growth parameters, collected, and injected with V. parahaemolyticus, then their non-specific immune activity and resistance to V. parahaemolyticus was observed for 14 days. Findings showed that CO increased the average body weight (7.71 g, 37%), weight gain (7.69 g, 40%), and specific growth rate (13.23%/day, 5.7%) as compared to the control. In addition, CO supplementation also increases shrimp’s hematologic and immune activity (total hemocyte counts [6.8 × 107 CFU/mL, 242.9%], differential hemocyte counts [27%, 142.1%], and prophenoloxidase activity [0.085%, 566.7%]). Finally, shrimp resistance to V. parahaemolyticus infection also increased after CO supplementation, with survival rates of 73.33% as compared to 23.33% for the control. It suggests that C. odorata leaf flour component supplementation at an optimal dose in the diet may be an effective strategy to increase growth and resistance to bacterial disease with reduced mortality in shrimp farms.

Keywords

• Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND)
• Chromolaena odorata
• Immune response
• Litopenaeus vannamei
• Vibrio parahaemolyticus