Enhanced immune defences in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) post-exposure to a vibrio vaccine.

This study was conducted to determine if exposure of shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, to a commercial anti-vibrio vaccine caused changes in antibacterial and cellular (phagocytosis) defences. Shrimp post-larvae were administered either Vibromax™ vaccine or a blank preparation. Whole body homogenates were prepared before (day 0), during (day 10) and after (day 20) vaccination and incubated with a selection of pathogenic vibrios.

A novel bacterial disease of the European shore crab, Carcinus maenas molecular pathology and epidemiology.

Several rickettsia-like diseases have been reported in arthropods (insects and crustaceans), some of which result in significant losses of economically important species such as shrimp and crabs. This study reports on the molecular pathology of a recently emerged disease of the European shore crab, Carcinus maenas, termed milky disease - named as a result of the unusual milky appearance of the haemolymph (blood). This disease was more prevalent (>26 %) during summer months when the water temperature in a pilot crab farm was approximately 19 degrees C.