EMSCAREEMSCAREAcute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS)

EMS is caused by a bacterial agent Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which is transmitted orally, colonizes the shrimp gastrointestinal tract and produces a toxin that causes tissue destruction and dysfunction of the shrimp digestive organ known as the hepatopancreas. Typical mortality in the affected ponds was 70% to 80%, and all ages and sizes of shrimp were affected.

EMS affects Penaeus monodon and P. vannamei.

The disease has two phases: acute and terminal. The acute phase begins with the deterioration of the hepatopancreas. Vital cells die and are sloughed off, and the hepatopancreas shrinks to half its normal size. As the disease progresses to the terminal phase, the hepatopancreas turns pale—yellow to white—with black spots and streaks. When removed, it does not squash or smear like a healthy hepatopancreas. The terminal phase is characterized with massive amounts of Vibrio harveyi and V. alginolyticus.

There are no molecular tests for EMS, limiting diagnosis to histopathology.

Several studies confirmed that the disease repeatedly regressed at lower pH (around 7) and manifested at higher pH (8.5 to 8.8).

Recent research in Malaysia has shown that high pH levels trigger EMS outbreaks in shrimp ponds. EMSCARE lowers the pH in the gut of shrimp and prevents Vibrio parahaemolyticus from replicating and spreading.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a curved, rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium found in brackish[1] saltwater, which, when ingested, causes gastrointestinal illness in humans. V. parahaemolyticus is oxidase positive, facultatively aerobic, and does not form spores. Like other members of the genus Vibrio, this species is motile, with a single, polar flagellum.

CITATIONS:Citric acid and acetic acid were evaluated for their effects on the growth and survival of Vibrio parahaemolyticus artificially inoculated into fresh shrimp. Fresh shrimp samples were dipped in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) containing (~10 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/ml) (7 log CFU/g) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and left for 30 min. at room temperature (25°C) to allow attachment. Initial counts of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shrimp samples immediately after dipping in TSB broth were 10.91 log CFU/g. Inoculated shrimp samples (25°C) were dipped in citric acid 5% and 10% and acetic acid 4% and 8% for 5, 15, 30, 60 minutes and 24 hours.

Initial counts of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shrimp samples decreased following treatment with citric acid 5% and 10% for 5 min. by 5.68 log CFU/g (52.06%) and 7.91 log CFU/g (72.5%), respectively and following treatment with acetic acid 4% for 5 min. by 6.61 log CFU/g (60.59%). Growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shrimp samples was completely inhibited after being dipped in acetic acid 8% for 5 min., acetic acid 4% for 15 min and citric acid 10% for 30 min. When compared to several other mild preservation procedures, treatment with citric and acetic acids is inexpensive and uncomplicated method. Results of the present study are envisaged to be useful for commercial applications for effective decontamination of shrimp(http://idosi.org/wjdfs/wjdfs7%281%29/4.pdf)

Enterococcus faecium was found along the shrimp digestive system in the group fed the diet including this probiotic strain. The total number of Vibrio spp. found in the hepatopancreas and intestine of shrimp fed E faecium was lower than control group.(http://www.biomin.net/es/centro-de-conocimiento/articulos/articles-details/article/evaluation-of-vibrio-control-with-a-multi-species-probiotic-in-shrimp-aquaculture/)

The growth of all resistant strains (n=16) including V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 were inhibited by cloves at a concentration of 39.062 μg/ml and was able to kill all resistant strains with a MBC90 at 78.125 μg/ml compared to the others. The time–kill curves demonstrated that the bactericidal endpoint for resistant strain was reached after 30 min of incubation at a antimicrobials concentration of 8 × MIC.(http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vkingpub.com%2Fjournal%2Fjlm%2FDownload.aspx%3FID%3D1958&ei=SdaqUpHnDcj_rQfj8oHgCw&usg=AFQjCNFVNiM_99Qf8PxEzMP1ZOvJVEFMdw)

EMS CARE Contains1. Organic acids 2. Acid Secreting Microbes3. Enterococcus faecium4. Herbs like Clove, Eclipta alba, Swertia Chirraita,Turmeric and Silymarin.5. Vitamins C and E6. Toxin degrading microbes

PREVENTIVE: 2-5 g/Kg feed once in 15 days.Curative: 500 g/Acre first day 250 g/Acre 3rd Day in pond water medium