Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a shrimp disease caused by microsporidia (Hanggono, et al., 2019). This disease was first discovered on tiger shrimp in Thailand in 2009, then it spread to India, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
EHP Symptoms
EHP is the cause of the difference and slow growth rate of shrimp. Therefore, EHP is usually indicated with significantly different shrimp sizes in the same pond. In certain cases, the back part of the shrimp infected with EHP turns white like White Feces Disease (WFD) symptom.
Read: Ways to Overcome Vannamei Shrimp Disease: White Feces Disease (WFD)
Even though the mortality rate of EHP is not as bad as other shrimp diseases such as AHPND or IMNV, farmers should not underestimate the fungal pathogenic disease. If it is left untreated, this disease still has a risk of causing death to shrimp.
EHP Prevention and Handling
To avoid loss caused by EHP, farmers can perform several mitigations. When farmers first receive shrimp fry, make sure that the fry are healthy and not infected with EHP. Then, perform biosecurity in a proper way. Farmers should also maintain the pond water to stay clean and sufficient. In addition, reducing stocking density can also be performed so as to not spread the disease. Besides biosecurity and stocking density reduction, farmers should know the proper diagnosis method so this disease can be identified accurately.
There has been no medication to cure EHP yet. However, if shrimps in the pond have already been infected with this disease, farmers can disinfect ponds from EHP spores. Apply lime (CaO) at 6 tonnes/ha, plow into the dry pond sediment until 10-12cm, and moisten it with water. Leave it for a week and the soil pH will rise to 12 for a few days. After that, the pH will fall back to normal since it absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes CaCO3.
Sources
Hanggono, B., et al. (2019). Deteksi Cepat Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) pada Udang Vaname (Penaeus vannamei) Jurnal Perekayasaan Budidaya Air Payau dan Laut, 35-40. n.d. (2019). Enterocytozon hepatopenaei (EHP) (EHP/HPM). JALA App. Retrieved February 2023. n.d. (n.d.). Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) Disease Guide. The Fish Site. Retrieved February 2023
