September 23, 2019

Yeast derivatives from Lallemand offers new potential for shrimp farming

Lallemand Animal Nutrition has revealed at the Asian-Pacific Aquaculture Conference in Chennai, India, innovative metagenomics and performance results on the impact of the shrimp gut microbiota during white feces syndrome (WFS) challenges, the company announced this month.

These results showed new potential benefits of yeast derivatives for shrimp farming, according to Lallemand.

WFS remains a widespread concern for the shrimp farming sector and causes severe economic losses across Asia. A trial was conducted in partnership with Dr. Loc Tran from Shrimp Vet Laboratory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on juvenile shrimp challenged with WFS.

Eric Leclercq, Lallemand's aquaculture technical support and R&D manager, explained: "We have already shown very interesting benefits to shrimp defenses when using our innovative multi-strain yeast fraction solution. With Dr. Tran, we wanted to explore the mode of action of this natural solution in the context of WFS. We looked at the yeast derivative's effects on shrimp performance and gut histopathological damages, and also on gut microbiota thanks to the latest techniques in metagenomics studies."

The study showed benefits of the yeast derivative in preserving or improving performance despite challenging conditions; lowering the severity of a WFS outbreak, with less tissue damage in the gastrointestinal tract; and the reshaping of the gut microbiota by WFS which is mitigated by a yeast product.

In particular, the relative abundance of Vibrio sp. is decreased, which seems to reduce the severity and impact of the disease, Lallemand added.

Leclercq concluded: "The shift in intestinal microbiota documented here suggests a role of the commensal microbiota in the pathogenesis of the WFS. The study hints towards the potential of reinforcing the intestinal microbiota equilibrium against Vibrio sp.-induced disruption that could mediate WFS."

- Lallemand