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Since the 1980s, modern shrimp aquaculture has been seriously affected by shrimp diseases worldwide. Shrimp aquaculture cooperates with scientists in the lab to develop biosecurity strategies and biotechnology products, such as specific-pathogen-free shrimp, vaccines and probiotics, to tackle the risk of shrimp disease. Securing shrimp health needs to manage the breeding environment, particularly water quality and water ecologies. Shrimp and water travel between the lab and the field for monitoring, experimentation and disease prevention. This article proposes the notion of hydro-social life to analyse how biosecurity strategies and biotechnology products are developed in the lab and deployed in the field by visiting private, governmental and university laboratories in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, Hô' Chí Minh City, and Taiwan. I argue that scientists innovate biotechnology products to improve biosecurity strategies by reconfiguring hydro-social lives, like managing shrimp health and water quality. The development and deployment of biosecurity from the lab to the field are influenced by capitalist forms of life and social relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baculovirus penaei (BP), the causative agent of tetrahedral baculovirosis, causes the death of penaeid genera at the larval and post‐larval stages. BP has been reported in the Western Pacific, South‐East Atlantic, and the State of Hawaii, but never in Asia. The clinical features of BP infection are non‐specific, and diagnosis relies on histological and molecular methods. In the present study, we report the first identification of BP infection in a shrimp farm in Northern Taiwan in 2022. Histopathologically, several tetrahedral eosinophilic intranuclear occlusion bodies were observed in or budding out of the nuclei of the degenerative hepatopancreatic cells. In situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction confirmed tetrahedral baculovirosis infection caused by BP. Sequence alignment of the TW BP‐1 with the USA BP strain reported in 1995 revealed 94.81% identity in the partial gene. The possibility of the emergence of USA‐like BP in Taiwan highlights the importance of further epidemiological investigations on the prevalence and impact of BP in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) are emerging and reemerging pathogens in shrimps. In the present study, a novel genotype of HPV concurrently infected with EHP in Penaeus vannamei in Taiwan leading to severe atrophy and damage of hepatopancreas were confirmed by histopathology, in situ hybridization, and PCR. The novel genotype of HPV exhibited 66%–69.5% sequence identities with all known HPVs and carried unique amino acid deletions and insertions in the VP gene. According to phylogenetic analysis, the Taiwan HPV isolates were classified as the genotype IV. The present study not only provided the histopathological and molecular proof of HPV and EHP co‐infection in Taiwan, but also revealed the importance of investigating the geographical expansion of novel HPV genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is the pathogen behind white spot disease (WSD) in shrimp and many other crustaceans. It is a highly contagious virus capable of causing total mortality in 3–10 days of outbreak in normal culture conditions. Since the first report of occurrence in China and Taiwan between 1991 and 1992, WSD outbreak caused tremendous losses at farm level throughout the world. Most of the published reviews on WSSV emphasize advanced genetic studies and biosecurity measures in terms of disease management. Recently, some new technologies such as greenhouse, polyculture, biofloc and minimal water exchange have been proposed for WSD management, which is the trigger for this review. However, further research is needed on those new technologies enhancing their efficient application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study recorded the population of the goby fish (Perciformes: Gobiidae), Eutaeniichthys cf. gilli Jordan & Snyder, 1901, from the tunnel burrowed by the mud shrimp Austinogebia edulis Ngo-Ho and Chan, 1992 in a mudflat in Shengang and Wangong of Changhua County, western Taiwan. This finding is not only a new record of the genus in Taiwan, it is also the first record of this species in a mudflat near an industrial park. In total, 56 individuals of E. cf. gilli were collected from June 2016 to September 2018. Morphological traits of males and females were measured. The resin casting method trapped bodies of E. cf. gilli that were present in the tunnel burrow and proved that the fish inhabits burrows of the mud shrimp A. edulis. In addition, a species of snapping shrimp was also found in the same tunnel. Symbiotic interaction may occur between E. cf. gilli, A. eduli and the snapping shrimp. The China Coastal Current (CCC) runs along the coastlines of Japan, Korea, China, and reaches western Taiwan during the northeast monsoon period. The CCC, therefore, might play an important role in the biogeographic distribution of E. cf. gilli in the western Pacific Ocean. Since E. cf. gilli is listed in the Red List as an endangered species of Japan for many years, Taiwan waters may provide a refuge for this fish species warranting a broader investigation. Since Taiwan is some distance away from the previously recorded locations in Japan, Korea, the Yellow Sea, and the Bohai Sea, a phylogenic analysis is warranted for population and species differentiation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrimps are the most widely and increasingly cultured crustaceans in land-based ponds in Taiwan. However, few studies have investigated the phthalate contamination of and insecticide residues in shrimp. In this study, we applied a validated method to analyze the phthalate and 18 insecticides residues in shrimp. A total of 46 samples of whiteleg, grass, or giant river shrimp were collected from aquafarms and production areas in Taiwan. We detected 0.02–0.70 mg/kg of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in three shrimps; 0.02–0.03 mg/kg of chlorpyrifos in three shrimps, and 0.03 mg/kg of trichlorfon in one shrimp, indicating that 6.52% and 8.70% of the samples contained phthalate and insecticide residues, respectively. Furthermore, the assessed risk was negligible and indicated no immediate health risk associated with shrimp consumption. Continual monitoring of the residues in shrimps is critical for further assessment of possible effects on human health. • Five phthalates and 18 organophosphorus insecticide residues were detected in 42 shrimp samples by using LC-MS/MS and GC–MS/MS. • Overall, 6.52% (3/46) and 8.70% (4/46) of samples contained DEHP residues at 0.45–0.70 mg/kg and organophosphorus insecticide (chlorpyrifos and trichlorfon) residues at 0.02–0.03 mg/kg. • For Taiwanese men and women, the EDI is <0.1% of the TDI for DEHP residues and ADI for OCP residues. • Collectively, there is no immediate health risk associated with shrimp consumption in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of antibiotic residues in seafood and their effect on public health constitute a matter of concern for consumers worldwide. Antibiotic residues can have adverse effects on both humans and animals, especially residues of banned veterinary drugs. In this study, we applied a validated method to analyze veterinary drug residues in shrimp, including the levels of banned chloramphenicol, malachite green, leucomalachite green, and four nitrofuran metabolites as well as thiamphenicol, florfenicol, and five quinolones, which have no recommended maximum residual levels in shrimp tissues in Taiwan. We collected 53 samples of whiteleg, grass, or giant river shrimp from Taiwanese aquafarms and production areas from July 2016 to December 2017. We found 0.31 ng/g of a chloramphenicol in one grass shrimp, 5.62 ng/g of enrofloxacin in one whiteleg shrimp, 1.52 ng/g of flumequine in one whiteleg shrimp, and 1.01 ng/g of flumequine in one giant river shrimp, indicating that 7.55% of the samples contained veterinary drug residues. We evaluated the health risk by deriving the estimated daily intake (EDI). The quinolone residue EDI was below 1.0% of the acceptable daily intake recommended by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. The risk was thus discovered to be negligible, indicating no immediate health risk associated with shrimp consumption. The present findings can serve as a reference regarding food safety and in monitoring of the veterinary drug residues present in aquatic organisms. Continual monitoring of residues in shrimp is critical for further assessment of possible effects on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Harmful effects of water pollutants are myriad. Sulfide from water bodies affects the aquatic animals. Intestine barrier function serves as the front-line of animals defense. Our previous study confirmed the toxic effect of sulfide on intestine immune response of Litopenaeus vannamei , but the underlying mechanisms remained elusive. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the transcriptomic and microbiota responses of the L. vannamei intestine subjected to acute sulfide exposure. Sulfide decreased bacterial richness and altered the intestine microbiota composition. Specifically, sulfide increased the abundances of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, but decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria. At the genus level, sulfide increased typical cellulolytic characteristics bacteria, such as Formosa , Sphingomonas , and Demequina. RNA-seq analysis identified differential expression of 1799 genes (701 up-regulated and 1098 down-regulated) were grouped into 267 pathways. The most enriched pathway 'amoebiasis' was related to the intestine mucus homeostasis. A number of immune-related genes associated with antimicrobial, antioxidant, pathogen attachment and recognition, and apoptosis processes in contrasting accessions; they were correlated with the abundance of intestine bacterial at the phylum level. This study provides an insight into the mechanisms associated with molecular and microbiota response and processes involved in adaptation strategies towards sulfide stress. Highlights • Transcriptomic and microbiome responses of the Litopenaeus vannamei intestine exposed to sulfide stress was studied. • Sulfide decreased bacterial richness and altered the intestine microbiota composition. • 701 up-regulated and 1098 down-regulated genes differentially expressed in response to sulfide exposure. • The most enriched pathway "amoebiasis" was related to the intestine mucus homeostasis. • We speculated a potential mechanism of intestine barrier function in the contrasting accessions towards sulfide exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme events (typhoons, floods, and mudflows) can influence the abundance and community structure of aquatic organisms. In this study, we compare freshwater decapod abundance and community structure in main channel and tributary sites in a subtropical area of Taiwan before and after the typhoon Tembin. The results indicate that the physical conditions, decapod abundance and the Shannon diversity index were significantly different between the main channel and tributary sites, but were not significantly affected by the typhoon. The decapod community structure also showed significant differences spatially, but not temporally. The results of this study suggest that decapod communities are highly resilient to the acute effects of typhoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempts were made to identify species in commercial frozen shrimp meat samples collected in Taiwan. First, approximately 20 fresh specimens of each of the 10 common commercial shrimp species were identified by morphological methods. A 401 to 407-bp fragment of the cytochrome b gene was amplified from the shrimp meat by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primer pair UCYTB151F/270R. By comparing the gene sequences and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) maps obtained using the endonucleases Alu I, Ssp I and Hae III, the 10 species of shrimp could be successfully differentiated. The PCR-RFLP method was proved applicable for the species identification of 10 marketed shrimp samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrimp allergy is a critical public health concern worldwide, and is also the most frequent cause of food allergy in Taiwan. Tropomyosin is recognized as the major shrimp allergen. However, information of tropomyosin content in Taiwanese shrimp is unknown. Therefore, it is an urgent need to develop a reliable analytical approach to detect tropomyosin. An absolute quantification method of proteins (AQUA) method was developed to detect tropomyosin in seven Taiwanese shrimps in this study. Both signature peptide, ALSNAEGEVAALNR, and its isotope-labeled peptide were used as standards and internal standards. The determination coefficient (R2) of the calibration curve is 0.9989, and the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.072 ng/μl and 0.219 ng/μl, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision of this analytical method are 2.30–12.80% and 2.93–11.97%, respectively. Recovery was measured as 85.53–101.87% by adding signature peptide with 0.5, 1.0, 7.5 ng/μl into the blank matrix. The method showed no cross-reactivity with squid, tilapia and chicken. Also, the current validated method was successfully applied to shrimps and processed foods. The levels of tropomyosin in seven Taiwanese shrimps ranged from 555.50 to 973.93 μg/g. The present study demonstrated this analytical approach may be an useful technique to analyze tropomyosin in foods. • ALSNAEGEVAALNR was used as the signature peptide for analysis. • The characteristic fragmentation transition of m/z 708 > 157 were used for tropomyosin quantification. • The LOD and LOQ of this analytical method were 0.072 ng/μl and 0.219 ng/μl, respectively. • Levels of tropomyosin in Taiwanese shrimps were showed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, benthic decapods were sampled approximately for every three months between September 2000 and June 2002 in a heavily used subtropical lagoon and its vicinity waters in southwestern Taiwan. Seventeen shrimp species (dominated by Metapenaeus ensis and Penaeus semisulcatus) and 19 crab species (dominated by Thalamita crenata) were recorded within the lagoon, whereas a combined total of 32 shrimp species (mainly Metapenaeopsis barbata and M. palmensis) and 50 crab species (dominated by Portunus hastatoides) were recorded at 10, 20, 30, and 40-m depths outside the inlet–outlet of the lagoon. The decapod community in the lagoon varied little temporally, and was significantly different from those in the nearby waters. The results of this study document a decapod fauna in a lagoon subjected to decades of aquaculture activities and revealed that these activities benefited a distinct decapod assemblage, yet may have prevented the potential use of the lagoon by other species as a nursery or refuge. Aquaculture activities have since been prevented and dredging of the benthic sediments in the lagoon has been underway; thus the results of present study will provide a valuable and rare baseline data set to be used for future studies to determine how decapod communities shift in response to habitat change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An abandoned pentachlorophenol plant and nearby area in southern Taiwan was heavily contaminated by dioxins, impurities formed in the PCP production process. The investigation showed that the average serum PCDD/Fs of residents living nearby area (62.5pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid) was higher than those living in the non-polluted area (22.5 and 18.2pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid) (P <0.05). In biota samples, average PCDD/F of milkfish in sea reservoir (28.3pg WHO-TEQ/g) was higher than those in the nearby fish farm (0.15pg WHO-TEQ/g), and Tilapia and shrimp showed the similar trend. The average daily PCDD/Fs intake of 38% participants was higher than 4pg WHO-TEQ/kg/day suggested by the world health organization. Serum PCDD/F was positively associated with average daily intake (ADI) after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status. In addition, a prospective cohort study is suggested to determine the long-term health effects on the people living near factory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Fish is an important dietary animal protein in Taiwan. Fish production has increased from 20 000 tonnes (t) in 1938 to over 300 000 t today. The change in feed inputs from trash fish to formulated feeds enabled industrial production of fish food. Nutrition studies for shrimp began in the 1970s and continue today. Stable ascorbic acid derivatives have allowed industrial production of shrimp feeds and the development of the extensive production systems in Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are two hazardous pollutants that threaten shrimp farming. The intestine is an important organ for digestion and immunity. We separately exposed Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to 500 μg/L Cd or 500 μg/L Pb seawater for 7 days, and 45 shrimp from each group were used to evaluate the changes of intestinal histopathological, oxidative stress, and microbiota composition. After Cd and Pb exposure, shrimp intestine appeared significant mucosal damage and oxidative stress, and the microbiota variation were induced. Specifically, the abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were induced, that of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were deduced. The abundances of putative beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Weissella, Demequina, Formosa and Ruegeria) and potentially pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio and Photobacterium) were fluctuated. Furthermore, the nutrient metabolic function of intestinal microbes was significantly altered. We concluded that Cd and Pb exposure had negative effects on the intestinal health of shrimp., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ammonia and thermal stress frequently have harmful effects on aquatic animals. The intestine is an important barrier allowing the body to defend against stress. In this study, we investigated the intestinal microbiota and transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of Litopenaeus vannamei subjected to individual and combined ammonia and thermal stress. The results showed that obvious variation in the intestinal microbiota was observed after stress exposure, with increased levels of Firmicutes and decreased levels of Bacteroidetes and Planctomycetes. Several genera of putatively beneficial bacteria (Demequina, Weissella and Bacteroides) were abundant, while Formosa, Kriegella, Ruegeria, Rhodopirellula and Lutimonas were decreased; pathogenic bacteria of the genus Vibrio were increased under individual stress but decreased under combined stress. The intestinal transcriptome revealed several immune-related differentially expressed genes associated with the peritrophic membrane and antimicrobial processes in contrasting accessions. Haemolymph metabolomic analysis showed that stress exposure disturbed the metabolic processes of the shrimp, especially amino acid metabolism. This study provides insight into the underlying mechanisms associated with the intestinal microbiota, immunity and metabolism of L.vannamei in response to ammonia and thermal stress; ten stress-related metabolite markers were identified, including L-lactic acid, gulonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, l-lysine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, methylmalonic acid, trans-cinnamate, N-acetylserotonin, adenine, and dihydrouracil., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

A multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Anatum strain reported in Taiwan was isolated in the United States from patients and from seafood imported from Asia. Isolates harbored 11 resistance determinants, including quinolone and inducible cephalosporin resistance genes. Most patients had traveled to Asia. These findings underscore the need for global One Health resistance surveillance.