A 75-day 2 9 3 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two levels of dietary protein (32 and 40%) and two different carbon sources (rice flour-R and molasses-M), and without carbohydrate (control-C) in black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon juveniles (3.37 AE 0.04 g) at 100 nos. m À3 in 100 L fibre reinforced plastic tanks. Biofloc volume and total suspended solid were higher in molasses added groups (32 + M and 40 + M) followed by rice flour (32 + R and 40 + R) and controls (32C and 40C). Molasses and rice flour addition significantly reduced (P < 0.01) the total ammonia-N compared to controls. The highest Vibrio, Bacillus and Lactobacillus counts were recorded in 40 + M, 32 + M and 32 + R respectively. Among the treatments, significantly higher (P < 0.01) final body weight was recorded in 40 + R (8.5 AE 0.3 g), 40 + M (7.8 AE 0.3 g) and 32 + R (7.5 AE 0.4 g) compared to control groups, 32C (6.1 AE 0.3 g), 40C (6.4 AE 0.3 g) and molasses added group, 32 + M (5.7 AE 0.4 g). Rice flour supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.01) the total haemocyte count (910 6 cells mL À1 ) in 32 + R (45.7 AE 3.7) and 40 + R (44.3 AE 3.1) compared to controls, 32C (27.3 AE 3.4) and 40C (25.8 AE 0.9). Similarly, higher superoxide dismutase, catalase, serum protein and glucose were recorded in the rice flour added groups, 40 + R followed by 32 + R. Among the treatments, the highest level of prophenoloxidase (OD 490 nm, 0.3 AE 0.0) and survival after challenge with Vibrio harveyi (55.6%) was observed in 32 + R. The study elucidates that rice flour addition produces optimum level of biofloc with better growth and immune responses compared to molasses and control. Furthermore, rice flour addition at 32% protein level could replace 40% protein feed.

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A probable vertical mode of piscine nodavirus transmission is reported in the present investigation based on a case of nodavirus associated larval mortalities in hatchery produced Asian sea bass. Polyclonal rabbit anti-SJNNV antibodies (SGWak97) detected the viral antigens in the tissue sections from the eggs and the larvae at different time intervals from À 1 to 42 days post hatch (dph). Immunopositive ovarian connective tissue associated with the oocytes along with the progressive localization of the viral antigens in the brain, spinal cord, liver, stomach and dermal musculature during the larval development indicates a probable vertical transmission of nodavirus in the Asian sea bass. The surviving larger larvae, from the batch suffering mass mortalities, produced very intense immunofluorescent positivity in the liver, stomach and dermal musculature. Results of this investigation demonstrating a possibility of vertical transmission of the nodavirus emphasize the need for screening of eggs and larvae for evolving suitable preventive and prophylactic health management strategies. D

Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei has been introduced recently for culture practice in India. Though SPF stocks are imported for larval production and thereafter culture practice, these are prone to infection with the existing viruses in the environment. Here we report mortality of L.vannamei in several farms in India with minimum biosecurity. The shrimp were harvested early within 50-72 days of culture due to the onset of disease and consequent mortality. As per the analysis carried out, the shrimp were infected with two virus, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV). About 80 % of the samples collected had either or both of the viruses. A majority of these samples (60 %) had dual infection with WSSV and IHHNV. Infection of shrimp with WSSV and IHHNV could be detected both by PCR and histopathology. Some of the samples had either exclusively WSSV infection or IHHNV infection and were also harvested before the completion of the required culture period. All the samples analyzed were negative for taura syndrome virus, yellow head virus and infectious myonecrosis virus. While it is difficult to point out the exact etiological agent as the cause of mortality, strict biosecurity measures are advisable for the continuity of L. vannamei culture in India.

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