EHP remains as a Big Nuisance for Asian shrimp farms in 2021
The Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is an emerging hepatopancreatic microsporidian parasite that affects cultured shrimp black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and Pacific white shrimp (P. vannamei) in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Malaysia, as well as other Southeast Asia countries. EHP can be transmitted horizontally among prawns cohabiting in rearing ponds. Heavily infected prawns may display white faeces that are packed with microsporidian spores.
Unlike the more fatal bacterial infections such as White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and EMS, EHP causes great reduction of the rate of shrimp growth, and in more advanced stages, infected shrimp have soft shells and exhibit lethargy, reduced feeding and empty midguts. This means if the disease left undetected, farmers can waste considerable sums on feeding shrimp that is no longer growing at an economical rate.