Disease pressure remains one of the major challenges in modern shrimp aquaculture. Bacterial and viral pathogens can reduce survival, impair feed efficiency, and increase production risk.

Among the most important threats are acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), associated with pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). Both are recognized as serious constraints in penaeid shrimp farming (Escobedo-Bonilla et al., 2008; Tran et al., 2013; Han et al., 2015).

Nutritional strategies that support feed utilization and production resilience are therefore relevant in shrimp farming, especially under conditions of pathogen exposure.

Why Enzyme Supplementation Matters in Shrimp Nutrition

VemoZyme^® AquaPro is an enzyme-based feed additive developed to support nutrient utilization in aquaculture feeds.

Exogenous enzymes are widely studied in aquaculture nutrition for their role in improving nutrient availability and feed utilization, particularly in diets containing complex feed ingredients (Castillo & Gatlin, 2015). Improved nutrient utilization may be especially important during stress conditions, when disease pressure can affect feeding behavior, metabolism, and overall production performance.

The effect of VemoZyme^® AquaPro was evaluated in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) under controlled tank conditions at the Shrimp Research Center in Ecuador.

Trial Overview: Testing VemoZyme® AquaPro in Pacific White Shrimp

The five-week study used Pacific white shrimp with an initial mean body weight of 2.2 g. Shrimp were stocked at 120 animals per 1,000 L tank, with five replicates per treatment.

A commercial medium-high tier shrimp feed was used. VemoZyme^® AquaPro was applied at 0.3 kg/MT by post-pelleting top-coating, with a commercial binder. No feed reformulation was performed.

After the performance phase, shrimp were subjected to a dual pathogen challenge involving IHPND-associated Vibrio parahaemolyticus and WSSV. The evaluated parameters included final body weight, feed conversion ratio, survival rate, hemocyte count, and phenoloxidase activity.

Research Evidence: Improved Feed Efficiency and Survival Under Pathogen Challenge

Supplementation with VemoZyme^® AquaPro maintained final body weight while improving feed efficiency and survival under pathogen challenge.

Final body weight was similar between treatments, with 10.85 g in the control group and 10.76 g in the VemoZyme^® AquaPro group. This indicates that enzyme inclusion did not impair growth performance under the conditions of the trial.

Feed conversion ratio improved from 1.67 in the control group to 1.56 in the VemoZyme^® AquaPro group. This corresponds to a 6.6% improvement in feed efficiency.

Survival increased from 74% in the control group to 83% in the VemoZyme^® AquaPro group. This 9% increase in survival is highly relevant for shrimp production systems where disease pressure can strongly influence biological and economic outcomes.

These findings are derived from an in vivo controlled tank trial conducted in Pacific white shrimp under a dual pathogen challenge.

How VemoZyme® AquaPro Supports Nutrient Utilization and Immune Balance

Shrimp rely mainly on innate immune mechanisms. Hemocytes are central to cellular defense, while the prophenoloxidase/phenoloxidase system contributes to immune reactions such as melanization and pathogen response (Jiravanichpaisal et al., 2006; Amparyup et al., 2013).

In this study, immune parameters showed no differences at baseline. This suggests that VemoZyme^® AquaPro did not induce chronic immune activation before pathogen exposure.

After challenge with IHPND-associated Vibrio parahaemolyticus and WSSV, shrimp receiving the enzyme showed a more regulated immune response. This was characterized by moderated hemocyte counts and balanced phenoloxidase activity.

This response pattern suggests improved immune efficiency rather than immune suppression. Under disease pressure, this type of regulation may help reduce unnecessary energy expenditure while maintaining effective defense mechanisms.

The improved feed conversion ratio observed under challenge also suggests enhanced nutrient utilization during stress conditions. This is consistent with the broader role of exogenous enzymes in aquaculture nutrition, as reviewed by Castillo and Gatlin (2015).

What These Results Mean for Commercial Shrimp Producers

Pathogen pressure can reduce survival, increase feed conversion ratio, and affect profitability in shrimp farming. Nutritional tools that help maintain growth while supporting feed efficiency and survival are therefore relevant for commercial production systems.

In this controlled in vivo trial, VemoZyme^® AquaPro supported feed efficiency and survival in Pacific white shrimp exposed to a dual pathogen challenge. The product was applied by post-pelleting top-coating at 0.3 kg/MT, without feed reformulation.

The results indicate practical relevance for shrimp production environments where bacterial and viral disease pressure may compromise performance. The findings also suggest that supporting nutrient utilization may contribute to production resilience during health challenges.

Conclusion

VemoZyme^® AquaPro maintained growth performance while improving feed efficiency and survival in Pacific white shrimp under a controlled dual pathogen challenge with IHPND-associated Vibrio parahaemolyticus and WSSV.

The study also indicates that the enzyme-based feed additive did not trigger baseline immune activation. After pathogen exposure, shrimp receiving VemoZyme^® AquaPro showed a more regulated immune response, reflected by moderated hemocyte counts and balanced phenoloxidase activity.

Overall, VemoZyme^® AquaPro represents a science-based nutritional strategy for supporting feed efficiency, survival, and immune regulation in shrimp farming, particularly under conditions of elevated pathogen pressure.

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