Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) has become a persistent and economically devastating pathogen in shrimp aquaculture, especially in Asia. The inconsistency between field outcomes and laboratory trials has posed major challenges for the effective evaluation of disease control strategies.
In response, ShrimpVet Laboratory has developed and refined a series of standardized EHP challenge models designed to address this critical gap. This presentation outlines the design, optimization, and validation of three laboratory-scale EHP challenge protocols, grounded in real-world epidemiological observations and disease expression patterns from the Mekong Delta region. These include: (1) a cohabitation challenge model using spore-shedding donor shrimp to mimic chronic infections; (2) a per os challenge model using homogenized feces collected from EHP-injected shrimp, with a known density of spores, to ensure standardized oral exposure; and (3) a combination model, integrating EHP challenge with the induction of White Feces Syndrome (WFS) to better mimic complex, multifactorial field scenarios commonly observed in commercial shrimp production.
Quantification of infection intensity is performed through molecular diagnostics (qPCR), with evaluation of model reproducibility, host response, and sensitivity to treatment efficacy. These models have since been applied to screen a wide range of novel functional feed additives, probiotics, and microbial solutions under standardized yet field-relevant conditions.
By reproducing realistic infection dynamics, ShrimpVet’s platform enables precise benchmarking of candidate technologies prior to field deployment. The standardization of EHP challenge models represents a critical advancement for the shrimp health sector, offering a robust and scalable platform for validating next-generation disease management tools. This work supports both innovation and resilience in sustainable shrimp farming systems.
Keywords: EHP, White Feces Syndrome, shrimp disease, challenge model, disease control, functional feed validation, laboratory standardization, pathogen screening, Vietnam.