Shrimp aquaculture, a rapidly expanding sector of global seafood production, faces critical challenges related to disease outbreaks, antibiotic overuse, and environmental sustainability. Postbiotics—non-viable microbial cells, metabolites, and cell components conferring health benefits—have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional antimicrobials and probiotics. Unlike probiotics, postbiotics offer enhanced stability during feed processing and storage and pose no risk of horizontal gene transfer or uncontrolled microbial proliferation in the aquatic environment.
Two recent studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary postbiotics in improving shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei ) resilience under Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) challenges, including exposure to salinity stress. In both trials, shrimp were fed a basal diet supplemented with postbiotics and assessed following pathogen exposure under controlled experimental conditions.
Postbiotic-fed groups showed significantly higher survival rates and improved outcomes under both EMS and WSSV challenge models. In the EMS trial, reduced mortality and better intestinal and hepatopancreatic condition were observed. Under WSSV and salinity challenge, shrimp exhibited enhanced resistance and lower stress-induced susceptibility. Histological analysis also indicated improved gut integrity, supporting overall robustness under environmental and infectious stressors.
These findings support the integration of postbiotics as a viable functional feed additive in shrimp aquaculture, contributing to disease prevention and production efficiency. As regulatory frameworks evolve and consumer demand for antibiotic-free aquaculture intensifies, postbiotics offer a sustainable solution aligned with industry trends. Future work should focus on optimizing postbiotic formulations and elucidating molecular mechanisms underlying their beneficial effects in shrimp and other aquaculture species.