Modulation of stress response and productive performance of Litopenaeus vannamei through diet

Abstract

The high tolerance of Litopenaeus vannamei to a wide range of salinity (1–50 psu) makes this species an excellent candidate for culture under low salinity, decreasing shrimp epidemics and water pollution in some coastal areas. However, salinity levels outside the optimal range could impose several physiological constraints that would in turn affect growth and survival, particularly in the presence of additional stressors (e.g. high densities, handling practices, and hypoxia). Despite shrimp susceptibility to individual stressors has been widely addressed, information regarding response to chronic and acute stressors combined and its relation to diet is scarce. Thus, the aim of our study was to determine the effect of diet on the susceptibility to chronic (low salinity) and acute (hypoxia and escape response) stressors in terms of culture performance and physiological indicators. We evaluated overall performance during culture of L. vannamei at low salinity (6 psu), fed with an experimental diet with low protein and high carbohydrate content (26% protein and 6% fish meal plus probiotic mixture) and compared to a commercial formula with high protein and low carbohydrate content (40% crude protein and 20% fish meal without probiotic mixture). At the end of the rearing experiment, shrimp were exposed to two types of acute stress, hypoxia and escape. Biochemical (hemocyanin, total proteins, glucose, and lactate) and bioenergetic (adenylic energy charge and arginine phosphate levels) variables were measured to assess chronic stress response (salinity) and acute stress response (hypoxia or escape). The experimental diet resulted in higher muscle energy status that was not affected by low salinity, although lipid levels were lower under this condition. This diet partially counteracted the low performance at low salinity and promoted greater protein efficiency. Hypoxia induced strong hyperglycemic and lactate increase as response, whereas escape response was characterized by a depletion of arginine phosphate levels, with a stronger decrease in shrimp fed experimental diet, due to the high initial level of this reserve. Some data (glucose levels in hemolymph and lipids in hepatopancreas) suggest that shrimp under chronic stress conditions (low salinity and high densities) present a low ability to respond to subsequent acute stressors such as hypoxia or escape. This work indicates that diet can increase the energy status of shrimp, enabling them to overcome potential multifactorial stressors, which are common in farming systems.

Metabolic and immune status of Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei concerning farming conditions

“…The purpose was to assess if a chronic stressful condition inherent to farming conditions of this study (temperature, stocking density, or WSSV infection) will affect subsequent acute stress, as commonly observed for other stress situations. Regarding the response to such acute stressors, glucose and lactate increased, whereas glycogen levels in hepatopancreas decreased, confirming previous studies analyzing the effect of handling (Aparicio-Simón et al 2010, Robles-Romo et al 2016 or hypoxia (Martínez-Antonio et al 2019). However, the magnitude and statistical significance of the responses depended on the conditions of each farm and season of the year.…”

Effects of dietary nucleotides on growth, survival and metabolic response in whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei against ammonia stress condition

“…It has been documented earlier that the glucose level increases when the animal is under stress (Iwama, Afonso, & Vijayan, 2006). An elevated in levels of glucose in shrimp haemolymph is a well-known stress response under situations including repeated handling (Mercier et al, 2006), transit duration during transboundary shipment (Remany et al, 2017), heavy metal (Lorenzon, Francese, & Ferrero, 2000;Machele, Khan, Sarojini, & Nagabhushanam, 1989), exposure to formalin (Hall & van Ham, 1998), pathogenic infections such as white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) (Yoganandhan, Thirupathi, & Hameed, 2003) and also subjected to environmental stressors such as ambient ammonia (Mugnier et al, 2008), variation in temperature (Ocampo, Patino, & Ramirez, 2003) and hypoxia (Martínez-Antonio, Racotta, Ruvalcaba-Márquez, & Magallón-Barajas, 2019;Racotta, Palacios, & Mendez, 2002). For crustacean, glycogen is the main reserve of carbohydrates.…”

Intensification of Penaeid Shrimp Culture: An Applied Review of Advances in Production Systems, Nutrition and Breeding

“…The nutrient requirements of L. vannamei have only been assessed in a few commercially relevant rearing systems differing in stocking density, salinity, and other water conditions [126][127][128][129][130]. The effects that different rearing conditions have on dietary requirements for many nutrients known to be required by L. vannamei, including fatty acids, some amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, have not been reported.…”