Probiotics reduce mortality and pathology in a standardised AHPND challenge model

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), also known as early mortality syndrome (EMS), causes severe losses in shrimp aquaculture through colonization of the stomach and toxin-induced destruction of the hepatopancreas by virulent Vibrio parahaemolyticus. This study evaluated the efficacy of Bacillus-based probiotics (Sanolife PRO-2 in feed at 10 g/kg and Sanolife PRO-W in rearing water at 5 mg/L) in a standardized sub-acute AHPND challenge model using specific pathogen-free postlarvae (Penaeus vannamei, ~1 g). In the positive control group, clinical signs appeared within 24 hours in 75% of shrimp, reaching 52 ± 10% cumulative mortality. Feed administration of Sanolife PRO-2 delayed the onset of mortality by 4 days, reduced the incidence of clinical signs to below 20%, and significantly lowered cumulative mortality to 17 ± 3%, outperforming both the antibiotic doxycycline control (32 ± 12%) and the water probiotic treatment (34 ± 5%). Histological examination confirmed attenuated epithelial sloughing and visible signs of hepatopancreatic regeneration in probiotic-treated shrimp.