Introduction.
One of the most devastating pathogens in shrimp farming is Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a major causative agent of White Feces Syndrome (WFS). The reliance on antibiotics for disease control in aquaculture has raised concerns about antimicrobial resistance, environmental contamination, and consumer safety. Consequently, there is growing interest in alternative strategies to enhance the innate immune system of cultured shrimp (Pooljun, C. et al., 2025). Immunostimulants, particularly β-glucans derived from fungal sources, are widely recognised for improving disease resistance in aquatic animals (Uengwetwanit, T. et al., 2025).
This study evaluates the effects of dietary supplementation with Aspergillus niger-derived β-glucan (MycoFence��, Citribel) on growth performance, immune parameters, and disease resistance in Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. The effect of dietary supplementation with MycoFence�� at three incorporation levels (0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%) was compared to a diet with incorporation of 2 commercial yeast benchmarks and to a control diet on: (1) growth performance and survival during a 30-day feeding trial; (2) key immune parameters including total hemocyte count, phagocytosis, phenoloxidase activity, superoxide dismutase activity; (3) hepatopancreatic bacterial load; and (4) resistance to experimental challenges with V. parahaemolyticus causing WFS.
Results
1500 Pacific white shrimp were fed with 6 different diets for 30 days before and 1 week after the Vibrio challenge. Different diet groups were monitored for mortality and samples were taken for immune response parameters after 30 days of feeding. Mortality after the WFS challenge was reduced by the 0,15% and 0,2% MycoFence�� incorporation and not by the yeast beta glucan (Figure 1). Mortality in the control group began on Day 2 and continued throughout the observation period, resulting in a final survival rate of 40,00%. All MycoFence��-supplemented groups demonstrated improved survival compared to the control, with clear dose-dependent effects (Figure 1).
Growth performance, hematology markers and absolute quanitification of bacteria in different groups will be discussed. These findings demonstrate the potential of A. niger β-glucan as a highly effective immunostimulant for shrimp and highlight non-yeast β-glucans as a promising alternative to conventional sources. The superior performance reinforces the potential of A. niger β-glucan as a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy to enhance disease resistance and reduce disease outbreaks in shrimp aquaculture.
Figure 1
Figure 1. Survival rate (%) of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) fed diets supplemented with different inclusion levels of MycoFence�� as compared to 2 different yeast bench marks (YBM) at 7 Days of WFS challenge. Data are presented as mean (n = 3).
References
Uengwetwanit, T., Ngamniyom, A., Wongpanya, R., et al. (2025). Dietary supplementation of Aspergillus niger-derived β-glucan enhances growth performance, immune response and disease resistance in Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Scientific Reports. 15, 1–15.
Pooljun, C., Daorueang, S., Wongtawan, T., et al. (2025). Effect of dietary β-glucan on immune-related gene expression and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Veterinary World. 18 (1), 1–12.