Advances in Shrimp Nutrition

Stephen G. Newman Ph.D.

President
Aqua-In-Tech Inc.
 Introduction
Basic Nutritional Requirements
Feed additives
Glucans
Bacterial Cell Wall
Nucleotides
Fucoidan
Others
Conclusion
 Basic Nutritional Requirements

Protein levels are species and rearing environment

dependent
P. monodon, P. stylirostrus higher protein
P. vannamei-lower protein-plant derived OK
Similar Vitamin and Mineral Requirements
Closed versus open system culture.
Most ponds provide nutrients to smaller shrimp
 Beta 1,3 1,6 glucans
Structure very important for activity
Continuous feeding unwise practice
Non-specific immunity
Short term
Weakened by stress and high levels of
pathogens
Saccharomyces cereviseae
Glucan Structure
Glucan testing
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
3 levels incorporated into feed
Post larval P. vannamei
Fed for several weeks prior to exposure to WSSV
bacterial suspension
Mortalities followed for 7-10 days and tabulated
Glucan Effective Against WSSV
% Survival Against WSSV

80 70.6
70
60
50
45.5
40
30 23.1
20
10
0
100 50 0
Betagard (grams/MT)
 Bacterial Cell Walls

From both common groups of bacteria

Gram Positive-Peptidoglycan
Gram Negative-Lipopolysaccharide
Peptidoglycan
Peptidoglycan
Itami et al. 1998
P. japonicus fed 0.2 mg of PG per kg/bw/day
95 days
1. 7 days on and 7 off
2. Daily
3. 2 days on and five off
N=20
Continuous water borne challenge
Peptidoglycan

Bifidobacterium (PG) WSSV trials

120 100
90
Percent Survival

100 85
80
60
30
40
20
0
1 2 3 Control
Lipopolysaccharide
Lipopolysaccharide
Lipopolysaccharide
Itami et al. Late 1980s Kuruma prawns
8 to 11 adults (20 grams each)
1% suspension of dead bacterial material
1-immersion for one hour
2-Sprayed for 10 secs
3-Injected
30 days later injected with virulent strain of vibrio
Statistically significant protective effect
 Lipopolysaccharide
100
78.9
80
60
31.3 36.8
40 28.6
20
0
1 2 3 Control

Comparative survival of kuruma prawns exposed to virulent

vibrio species 30 days post exposure to a dead vibrio suspension
(after Itami et al.)
Nucleotides
Basic building blocks of DNA and RNA
Needed for all metabolic function
Present in food
External source of bases and precursors is
beneficial
Study feeding PLs at different levels done in Isreal
with P. vannamei
Nucleotides
Stimulates Intestinal flora
Increases number of immunocompetent cells
Increases antibody titers
Modulates glandular activity
No residues
Potentiates activity of antibiotics, vaccines and
other compounds
Nucleotides
4
3.41
3.5 3.085
Weight (gram s) 3
2.5
Start
2
1.4115 End
1.5
1
0.1305 0.1335 0.128
0.5
0
Control 2 kg/MT 5 kg/MT
Fucoidan
Fucoidan
Fucoidan
Sulfated polysaccharides with high affinity
enveloped viruses

Deeply embedded in algal cell walls

Activity against HIV, Herpes viruses and

WSSV
 Fucoidan
Takashi et al. 1998
Fed two dosages 60 and 100 mg/kg/bw/day
Fed for 15 days
Waterborne Challenge
Substantial Protective benefit
Determined to be due to the sulfate group
Used a 70% pure product-$1300/kg
Cruder products may be effective as well
Fucoidan

Percent Survival Fucoidan

100
80
60
40 80 82
20 0
0
1 2 Control
Others
Wide variety of compounds being examined
with possible beneficial effects including
Levamisole, mushroom extracts such as
VitaStim, lactoferrins, various herbal extracts,
MOS, etc.

Most IMPORTANT
HUSBANDRY, SPF animals to start with,
Good water quality management
Conclusions

Variety of feed additives that have been shown

under controlled conditions to impact survival
Field trial results are less clear cut though they do
suggest a benefit exists
Combination of approaches might be the best
Important that animals have optimal nutrition,
minimal stress and good pathogen control