White Gut Disease in Shrimp: Causes & Prevention

Why in News?

Recently, The Andhra Pradesh Fisheries Department has issued an alert over the outbreak of White Gut Disease (WGD), also known as White Feces Disease (WFD), in shrimp farms.

What is White Gut Disease (WGD)?

• • • White Gut Disease (WGD), or White Feces Disease (WFD), is a significant health disorder affecting cultured shrimp, particularly the Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).
    • The disease is characterised by the presence of floating white faecal strings in ponds and is associated with poor gut health.
    • It is considered a multifactorial disease, resulting from a combination of pathogens, poor water quality, stress, and inadequate farm management rather than a single infectious agent.

Symptoms:

Shrimp affected by WGD exhibit several characteristic symptoms, including:

• • • Reduced feed intake and loss of appetite.
    • Stunted growth and poor weight gain.
    • Brown or damaged intestines with white faecal strings.
    • Soft or loose shells.
    • Poor survival and reduced productivity.
    • If left unmanaged, the disease can lead to significant economic losses for shrimp farmers.

Preventive Measures:

Farmers have been advised to:

• • • Maintain good pond hygiene and water quality.
    • Follow strict biosecurity measures.
    • Use certified, disease-free shrimp seed and quality feed.
    • Regularly monitor shrimp health and water parameters.
    • Report unusual symptoms to fisheries officials at the earliest.

Institutional Support:

The State Government is working in collaboration with the following institutions to monitor the disease outbreak, strengthen disease surveillance, and enhance awareness among farmers:

• • • Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
    • ICAR–Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA)
    • ICAR–National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR)
    • State Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT)
    • Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University
    • National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NASPAAD)

Shrimp Farming in India:

• • • Shrimp farming is a major pillar of India's agricultural export economy, with the Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) accounting for the bulk of production. India is one of the world's largest exporters of farmed shrimp, with Andhra Pradesh contributing the largest share of national shrimp production and exports. The sector supports the livelihoods of millions of farmers, workers, and allied industries.
    • Despite its strong export performance, the industry faces several challenges, including disease outbreaks, dependence on imported broodstock, fluctuations in global demand, tariff-related uncertainties, and stringent food safety and traceability standards imposed by major export destinations such as the United States, China, the European Union, and Japan.

Key Government Initiatives:

To promote sustainable aquaculture and enhance the global competitiveness of India's shrimp sector, the Government has launched several initiatives:

• • • Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A flagship scheme aimed at the sustainable development of the fisheries sector through support for quality shrimp production, post-harvest infrastructure, cold-chain development, value addition, branding, and capacity building.
    • Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME): A community-based initiative that integrates environmentally sustainable shrimp farming with mangrove conservation and restoration, particularly in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal.
    • SHAPHARI Certification: Introduced by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), this certification ensures that aquaculture products are antibiotic-free, traceable, and produced according to international quality standards, thereby improving market access and consumer confidence.
    • Nuclear Breeding Centres: The Government is establishing a network of breeding centres to develop indigenous, disease-resistant shrimp broodstock, reducing dependence on imported, pathogen-prone broodstock and strengthening biosecurity.

Conclusion:

The outbreak highlights the importance of aquaculture biosecurity, aquatic animal health management, and sustainable fisheries in ensuring food security, export competitiveness and the livelihoods of coastal communities. It also underscores the role of coordinated institutional efforts in preventing disease outbreaks and promoting resilient blue economy practices.