EMS/AHPNS: Infectious Disease Caused By Bacteria

Asia’s shrimp-farming industry has been heavily affected by early mortality syndrome or acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome. Studies by the University of Ari-zona Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory identified the causative agent for AHPNS as a unique strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus that can produce toxins responsible for the primary pathology in affected shrimp. Infected live shrimp and fresh shrimp tissues can transmit the dis-ease to “clean” shrimp, but the agent is inactivated by freezing and thawing. Affected shrimp pose no human health concerns.