Disease outbreaks remain one of the biggest challenges limiting the productivity shrimp cultivation. Beyond Indonesia, shrimp producing countries such as Ecuador, India, Vietnam, and China continue to face significant economic losses caused by infectious diseases.
In Indonesia, shrimp farmers remain vigilant against both long-standing and emerging diseases, including Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), White Feces Disease (WFD), White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV), and Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND/EMS). Fortunately, the risk of severe production losses can be significantly reduced through effective monitoring and early disease detection.
The Limitations of Visual Inspection: Why Observation Alone is Not Enough
Visual observation is often the first step in routine health monitoring. Farmers typically inspect shrimp directly or use a feeding tray to identify signs of disease. Common clinical symptoms include:
- EHP: Slow growth and uneven shrimp sizes.
- WFD: White fecal strings floating on the pond surface or accumulating in feeding trays.
- WSSV: Distinct white spots on the shrimp shell, often followed by rapid mass mortality.
- IMNV: The tail muscles turn milky white before gradually becoming reddish as tissue necrosis progresses.
- AHPND: Sudden, large-scale mortality during the early culture period, typically before DoC 30-40.
Although visual inspection is simple and widely practiced, it has a major limitation. By the time visible symptoms appear, the infection has often reached an advanced stage. Relying solely on physical signs frequently delays intervention, reducing the chances of preventing widespread losses.
