Hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis (HPM) is an emerging shrimp disease caused by a microsporidian parasite Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). The EHP is an intracellular parasite of penaeid shrimp that has caused substantial economic losses to shrimp producers throughout Asia. The disease was first seen in farmed Penaeus monodon in Thailand and later appeared in farmed P. vannamei in Thailand and elsewhere in Asia. Infected populations exhibit severe growth retardation and low-level mortality. The variability in the size of affected shrimp results in reduced market value. In addition, farmers often fail to notice HPM-related signs and continue to provide feed and other inputs as usual, leading to further economic losses.
This HPM-specific strategy manual provides information relevant to its prevention and control, is a component for the development of national contingency plan. It includes information on: (i) the nature of HPM: its etiology, and susceptible species; (ii) diagnosis: a description of gross clinical signs, field and laboratory methods; (iii) treatment and prevention measures: the use of EHP-free shrimp, RNAi technology, immunostimulants, metabolic modulator, and farm management practices; (iv) epidemiology: EHP’s geographic distribution, persistence in the environment, reservoir hosts, mode of transmission, and risk factors; (v) principles of control and eradication: methods for control, containment and eradication, trade and industry considerations; and (vi) policy development and implementation: specific objectives, options and strategies for eradication and control, education, funding and compensation.