Luminous Vibrio and the greenwater culture of the tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon with tilapia

Abstract

Luminous vibriosis is a devastating infection of penaeid shrimp larvae and juveniles causing heavy mortalities. To counter the bacterial pathogen, Vibrio harveyi, shrimp farmers in the Philippines modified their growout culture method of the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, juveniles and developed the greenwater culture technique. This culture method involves the use of pond water of all-male, saline-tolerant Oreochromis hornorum as rearing water for the culture of shrimp juveniles in ponds. Such a modified culture of P. monodon juveniles was found effective in preventing the onset of luminous vibriosis. Basic studies revealed that antiluminous Vibrio factors are inherent in the bacterial, fungal, and microalgal flora of the tilapia water, dermal mucus, and gut that singly or collectively inhibit the growth of V. harveyi, in vitro. The skin mucus studies of other brackishwater fish species showed that the siganids, Siganus guttatus, and red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis mossambicus), as well as sea bass, Lates calcarifer, are promising alternative fish species for this novel shrimp culture method. A review of pond-simulated studies in tanks and ponds, similarly, confirmed these findings and the impact of the greenwater culture technique on water quality, including its economic benefits to the farmer. The greenwater culture of shrimp can sustain the successful production of shrimp juveniles by inhibition of the luminous Vibrio. This culture method is also currently used in the growout culture of the white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.