Evaluation of spp. as Potent Probiotics with Reduction in AHPND-Related Mortality and Facilitating Growth Performance of Pacific White Shrimp () Farms.

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is a serious bacterial disease affecting shrimp aquaculture worldwide. In this study, natural microbes were used in disease prevention and control. Probiotics derived from spp. were isolated from the stomachs of AHPND-surviving Pacific white shrimp (22 isolates) and mangrove forest soil near the shrimp farms (10 isolates). spp. were genetically identified and characterized based on the availability of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-related genes. The phenotypic characterization of all spp. was determined based on their capability to inhibit AHPND-causing strains of (VP). The results showed that spp. without AMP-related genes were incapable of inhibiting VP in vitro, while other spp. harboring at least two AMP-related genes exhibited diverse inhibition activities. Interestingly, K3 [ ( and )], isolated from shrimp, exerted remarkable inhibition against VP (80% survival) in Pacific white shrimp and maintained a reduction in shrimp mortality within different ranges of salinity (75-95% survival). Moreover, with different strains of VP, (K3) showed outstanding protection, and the survival rate of shrimp remained stable among the tested groups (80-95% survival). Thus, (K3) was further used to determine its efficiency in shrimp farms in different locations of Vietnam. Lower disease occurrences (2 ponds out of 30 ponds) and greater production efficiency were noticeable in the (K3)-treated farms. Taking the results of this study together, the heat-shock isolation and genotypic-phenotypic characterization of spp. enable the selection of probiotics that control AHPND in Pacific white shrimp. Consequently, greater disease prevention and growth performance were affirmed to be beneficial in the use of these probiotics in shrimp cultivation, which will sustain shrimp aquaculture and be environmentally friendly.