Shrimp immunity and disease control

The sustainability and development of shrimp aquaculture are largely at stake as significant ecological and pathological problems are increasing in the vast majority of the shrimp producing countries. Prevention and control of diseases are now the priority for the durability of this industry. Within the past decade, intensification of the shrimp production, based on progress in zootechnology, has increased but with little corresponding increase in scientific knowledge of shrimp physiology. Within this field, shrimp immunology is a key element in establishing strategies for the control of diseases in shrimp aquaculture. Research needs to be directed towards the development of assays to evaluate and monitor the immune state of shrimp. The establishment of regular immune checkups will permit the detection of shrimp immunodeficiencies but also to help monitor and improve environment quality. For this, immune effectors must be first identified and characterised. In the end, however, the assumption may be made that the sustainability of aquaculture will depend on the selection of disease-resistant shrimp, i.e. to develop research in immunology and genetics at the same time. The development of strategies for prophylaxis and control of shrimp diseases could be aided by the establishment of a collaborative network to contribute to progress in basic knowledge of penaeid immunity. However, to improve efficiency, it appears essential also to open this network to complementary research areas related to shrimp pathology, physiology, genetics and environment. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.