Relationships between copper and stress indicators in the Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract

Survival, clotting time, hemocyanin concentrations, total hemocyte counts, phenoloxidase activity (PO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles (11.7 g) exposed for periods of 5, 48, and 96 h to copper (Cu) concentrations equivalent to 0.008, 1, 10, and 50% of the LC 50-96 h for L. vannamei postlarvae showed that survival was similar in all treatments, but clotting time was significantly higher with the two highest Cu concentrations. Hemocyanin had lower values after 5 h with the two highest Cu concentrations, but this difference disappeared with longer times of exposure. The mean number of hemocytes varied widely but with no clear relation to Cu concentration or period of exposure. Differences in PO were related to period of exposure but not to Cu concentrations. SOD mean values did not show significant variation throughout the experiment. Apart from an increase in clotting time, the overall mean values of the stress indicators used in this study show that this particular shrimp species is relatively unaffected by a concentration of Cu equivalent to 50% of its lethal value. We speculate that this is probably due to previous acclimation to high Cu concentrations in its aquatic environment or a Cu-rich diet.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection and immunity responses in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) exposed to sublethal levels of metals

“…In L. vannamei exposed to metals, Bautista‐Covarrubias et al () reported a decrease in the proPO as an initial response (when exposed to Cd), but no observed in those exposed to Cu; indicating the metal‐specific response in this decapod. In the present study, the organisms exposed to sublethal metal concentrations apparently did not lose homeostasis, however when interacting with the pathogen, the indicators of immunological responses were affected.…”

“…A significant THC reduction has been reported in WSSV‐infected shrimp (Wang et al, ). In L. vannamei juveniles exposed to Cd, Bautista‐Covarrubias et al () reported a decrease in the THC values, although this relation was not observed when exposed to Cu (Bautista‐Covarrubias et al, ). In the present study, the severe decrease of hemocyte concentrations in the WS and WS‐MM treatments during the third day of exposure might be explained by hemocyte migration as described in the case of severely infected or damaged tissues and organs (van de Braak, Botterblom, Huisman, Rombout, & van der Knaap, ; Vafopoulou, ), increasing the effect due to a possible synergistic response by exposure to metals and WSSV, because metals may affect the dynamic of disease transmission in aquaculture species (Liao et al, ).…”

“…Frías‐Espericueta, Voltolina, Osuna‐López, and Izaguirre‐Fierro () observed a progressive decrease of the final mean weights of the Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae when exposed to the mixtures in equitoxic proportions of Cd‐Hg, Hg‐Zn and Hg‐Pb. Santos, Barbieri, Bondioli, and Batista de Melo () reported an increase of ammonia nitrogen in the shrimp L. schmitti when exposed to lead; and Bautista‐Covarrubias et al () determined higher hemolymph clotting times and differences in prophenolexidase (proPO) related to the period of exposure to copper in L. vannamei juveniles.…”

Toxic effects of ship exhaust gas closed-loop scrubber wash water

“…In our study, the Ni concentrations (EC 50 -96 h values) of for M. bahia and M. chulae were 24.09 and 40.61 μg L −1 , which further showed that wash water was extremely toxic. Bautista-Covarrubias et al (2015) explored the effect of Cu on pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei . It was found that the highest mean mortality was only 8.5 ± 0.1% after 96 h of exposure to 18,650 μg L −1 of Cu.…”