The aquaculture of Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is a significant economic activity in Mexico. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in shrimp health by contributing to digestion, metabolism, and immunity. Furthermore, gut microbiota composition is influenced by factors such as diet and environment. However, limited studies have been conducted on how aquaculture practices affect the composition and function of microbiota compared to wild-type specimens. Analyzing these differences is essential for improving shrimp health and optimizing aquaculture practices, but it also highlights the integral role of industry experts in shaping the future of the shrimp aquaculture.
The gut microbiota of Pacific whiteleg shrimp from both Aquaculture and Wild-Type groups (Fig. 1A) was characterized using taxonomic and ecological approaches. The Wild-Type group exhibited 161 bacterial genera, while the Aquaculture Group presented 186 genera. Both groups showed the presence of Vibrio in all samples, with similar relative abundances (Wild-Type: 28.16%, Aquaculture: 27.66%). Additionally, the Aquaculture group had a lower relative abundance of Photobacterium but a higher abundance of Candidatus Bacilloplasma (Fig. 1B), suggesting a different abundance dynamic of taxa influenced by the environment.
The Shannon index showed that the Aquaculture Group had higher diversity, indicating a greater variety and more homogeneous distribution of species. The observed ASVs median also indicated higher taxonomic richness in the Aquaculture group (Fig. 1C). Beta diversity showed that both groups were significantly different in bacterial composition (p=0.002) (Fig 1D).
Our analysis revealed that the Aquaculture group showed greater microbial diversity and taxonomic richness, highlighting distinct microbial behaviors compared to the wild-type group. Exploring the dynamics of microbiota that promote beneficial changes in shrimp health can enhance One Health approaches, holding the potential to generate significant improvements in shrimp farming and offering hope for the future of the industry.