AHPHN/EMS

Thailand

Dr. Timothy Flegel on AHPHN/EMS

Professor T.W. Flegel of Mahidol University in Thailand has developed a PCR method for detecting the bacteria that causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND/EMS) in shrimp. In a recent magazine article Professor Flegel said: “Outbreaks [of AHPND in Mexico] probably occurred because of illegal imports of Asian broodstock or postlarvae for use in aquaculture.”

Flege also said: “I believe that the key issue for successful shrimp culture is still the use of SPF stocks in biosecure settings and that the best biosecurity can be provided in completely closed culture systems. Farmers who are doing this do not have problems. The change to closed systems would require capital investments that perhaps may need to be facilitated by government support, but the cost would be quickly recovered by higher, more stable production. In the long term, I believe that the occurrence of AHPND and the control measures to limit its impact will lead to fundamentally change the future of shrimp culture to more closed systems.