Free amino acids mix made of poultry keratin improves survival of whiteleg shrimp post larvae (Litopenaeus vannamei) challenged with acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease and white spot syndrome virus

With their low molecular weight and high level of assimilation, mixes of free amino acids (MFAA) obtained from the extensive hydrolysis of poultry keratin are potential interesting candidates for aquaculture feeds. Two trials, I and II, were conducted to evaluate the effects of MFAA on whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei post larvae (PL). Both trials included a growth phase and experimental challenges. In these two trials, PL were fed four diets (control; control+1% MFAA; control+5% MFAA; control+10% MFAA) respectively for 28 days (trial I) and 21 days (trial II) for growth phases. Following this growth phases, animals were either experimentally infected with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV group) or Vibrio parahaemolyticus, with a toxin gene-bearing plasmid responsible for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND group), or mock infected (non-infected control) considering four diets treatments (control; control+1% MFAA; control+5% MFAA; control+10% MFAA) during 28 days for trials I and II. In these two trials, survival and biomass reached higher rates in WSSV infection groups, for PL fed with MFAA. For AHPND infection group in trial II, survival and biomass were also higher for PL fed with MFAA. Those results show the potential of MFAA to enhance shrimp PL performance and their application as shrimp feeding ingredients with functional benefits on animal survival in case of immune challenge.