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Email the author (Login required) Improvement of survival and immune response in Litopenaeus vannamei infected with White Spot Syndrome Virus and fed diets enriched with carotene
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol44-issue2-fulltext-11
Abstract
The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has the capacity to replicate quickly and is extremely virulent, producing a great negative impact in the farming of Litopenaeus vannamei, because the massive mortalities (80 to 100%) it may provoke. The immune stimulation is considered a viable alternative to diminish that impact. Under stress conditions, Dunaliella sp. is capable to produce large amounts of carotenoids, these compounds have antioxidant activity by reducing the free radicals and improving the response of the consumers to face infections. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the activity of lysozymes, agglutinins, α -2-macroglobuliln (A2M), phenoloxidase (PO), pro-phenoloxidase (PPO) in white shrimp fed diets containing 1 and 2% of carotenoids from Dunaliella sp. and infected with WSSV. The results showed that some components of the immune response as lysozymes, agglutinins, phenoloxidase and pro-phenoloxidase, and the resistance of shrimp to experimental infections with Vibrio parahemolyticus, were improved by the inclusion of the carotenoids.
