Progress 05/15/02 to 02/28/06
Outputs
During the project period, the USMSFP focused research on four major objectives: Stock Improvement, Disease Control, Sustainable Culture Technologies, and Product Quality and Markets. In addition, the USMSFP assisted industry directly under some of these objectives by providing broodstock, postlarvae, education and training, and disease diagnostics. The primary focus of the Stock Improvement objective was to begin to evolve the breeding program to include new genetic lines to address emerging issues, expand the gene pool, and improve the efficiency of selective breeding and performance evaluation efforts. Pedigree tracking and analysis of genetic diversity supported this work in a timely manner, while genomics research emphasized continued development of the linkage map for L. vannamei. Of particular note was the completion of the Nucleus Breeding Center at the Oceanic Institute. This facility will greatly expand the capabilities of the program by providing increased
hatchery and maturation space and ability to run different lines concurrently. Much emphasis was also placed on consolidating 15 years of pedigree and performance information of the program into a computerized database. This will provide a powerful tool for future efforts as the program matures and transitions from between to within family selection techniques. Disease research continued to improve the precision of diagnostic methods and tools, and to discern the mechanisms and compile models on the epidemiology and transmission of TSV, WSSV, and others. NHP, caused by a rickettisia-like bacterium, received particular attention due to industry concern. The USMSFP also continued to work with the Texas Shrimp Farmers Association and the INAD monitor to work with FDA on approval of oxytetracycline for use in shrimp aquaculture in the US. Research on sustainable culture technologies continued to focus on the development of superintensive production systems and methods to improve biomass
loading and cost-effectiveness. Researchers incorporated the use of a bioeconomic model to guide their research. Technical feasibility had been achieved. Work also continued to determine the physiological effects of low-salinity culture and methods to improve production in earthen ponds. Marketing efforts were included over this project period to address falling shrimp prices. Efforts were primarily targeted to determine the usefulness of direct marketing to help develop new and more profitable markets for US-farmed shrimp. The USMSFP also continued to distribute TSV-R selected stocks as potential broodstock and Kona-line animals to US broodstock suppliers, growout operations, and research partners and collaborators. The USMSFP continued its Shrimp Pathology Short Course at UAZ, and averaged over 400 disease diagnostic cases yearly for Consortium members and industry. A revamped industry newsletter, Industry Briefs, was reinstated as was a new website providing meaningful,
time-dependent content, a news filter to incorporate the latest local and global articles that detail market trends and prices, and a searchable database.
Impacts
Research on genetic improvement of shrimp stocks; gene markers; disease diagnostics and control; low salinity culture; and high-density, low-water use production systems will result in the development of biologically, environmentally, and economically sustainable shrimp farming. The resulting technologies, products and services will make U.S. shrimp farmers competitive in the world marketplace, and ensure the safety and wholesomeness of the seafood supply for U.S. consumers.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 03/01/04 to 02/28/05
Outputs
Efforts to further elucidate the genetic basis and mechanisms of TSV resistance revealed the salinity influenced expression of TSV-resistance in certain families from the Low Salinity line. This indicates a genetic basis for disease resistance, which can be used to find alternatives to combating disease in shrimp other than selective breeding alone. An additional 40 polymorphic microsatellites were identified for the linkage map. Development of a linkage map is needed to carry out marker-assisted selection, which will greatly reduce the time and expense associated with implementing breeding programs. A genetic marker kit (Shrimp Test 12) was developed for pedigree tracking and genetic diversity analysis. This kit will greatly facilitate the ability of commercial breeding programs to test parentage in mixed stocks, track pedigrees, estimate homozygosity, and carry out marker-assisted selection. Real-time PCR showed no replication of TSV in mammalian cells culture
tested, and no cytopathic effect. This work refuted other published work indicating TSV was a zoonotic agent. Two new bacterial diseases were discovered and described, Spiroplasma vannamei n. sp. and micrococci in L. vannamei and P. monodon. The identification of new diseases is important to help prevent and control diseases and treat the disease. Preliminary work on sequencing indicated there are likely multiple strains of the NHP bacterium, and that the gryB gene is a likely candidate to show strain differences among geographic isolates. The identification of different strains of NHP is important for development of ways to diagnose and treat disease. A proprietary dietary ingredient was found to provide considerable protection against challenge by WSSV. This may result in a very effective means to combat this disease on farms. Substituting mixed salts (NaK, Ca, Mg) for sea salt at low concentrations of total dissolved solids (200 mg/L) in culture water improves survival of shrimp,
but high levels of Na appear toxic. This work helps to better understand and develop remedies for low salinity culture of L. vannamei. Squid muscle was found to be a better attractant for shrimp than whole squid and squid viscera. This provides further insight into compounds needed to further develop all vegetable-based feeds for shrimp. The USMSFP processed and reported over 400 disease diagnostic cases for Consortium members, and the domestic and international shrimp aquaculture industry. This work helps protect farmed and native shrimp species from diseases both domestically and abroad. Quarterly issues of Industry Briefs, the Consortium newsletter, were produced and distributed. This publication is a key venue to update the domestic industry on recent research advances, issues, and events associated with shrimp farming.
Impacts
Research on genetic improvement of shrimp stocks; gene markers; disease diagnostics and control; low salinity culture; and high-density, low-water use production systems will result in the development of biologically, environmentally, and economically sustainable shrimp farming. The resulting technologies, products and services will make U.S. shrimp farmers competitive in the world marketplace, and ensure the safety and wholesomeness of the seafood supply for U.S. consumers.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 05/15/02 to 02/28/03
Outputs
Testing guidelines were coordinated with the Texas Farmers Association and Center for Veterinary Medicine at FDA to conduct the definitive trial for potential approval of oxytetracycline for treatment of necrotizing hepatopancreatitis. If the data from the trial is accepted, this drug will be the first antibiotic approved for use with shrimp by the FDA. Progress was achieved to define the ratio of essential ions and sources of inexpensive material to condition pond water for low salinity culture. Defining the environmental requirement for low salinity culture of L. vannamei will improve survival and growth rates in these systems and could add new dimension and growth to the domestic industry. Another 17 students were graduated from the Shrimp Pathology Short Course at the University of Arizona. This yields to date (1989-2002) a total 422 individuals from the USMSFP, U.S. industry, academia, and government and foreign countries that have graduated. These people take on
leading roles in the conduct of the domestic and foreign shrimp industry. The USMSFP launched its website, www.usmsfp.org. The site provides access to a database of over 1,000 Consortium abstracts and publications, a robust archive of industry-related articles, an industry event schedule, reciprocal links to other industry websites, and a detailed profile of the program. This adds to the USMSFP's commitment to information dissemination to the domestic shrimp industry.
Impacts
Research on genetic improvement of shrimp stocks; gene markers; disease diagnostics and control; low salinity culture; and high-density, low-water use production systems will result in the development of biologically, environmentally, and economically sustainable shrimp farming. The resulting technologies, products and services will make U.S. shrimp farmers competitive in the world marketplace, and ensure the safety and wholesomeness of the seafood supply for U.S. consumers.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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