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The impact on coastal ecosystems of suspended solids, organic matter, and bacteria in shrimp farm effluents is presented. Sites around Bahía de Kino were selected for comparative evaluation. Effluent entering Bahia Kino (1) enters Laguna La Cruz (2). A control site (3) was outside the influence of effluents. Water quality samples were collected every two weeks during the shrimp culture period. Our data show that the material load in shrimp farm effluents changes biogeochemical processes and aquatic health of the coastal ecosystem. Specifically, the suspended solids, particulate organic matter, chlorophyll a, viable heterotrophic bacteria, and Vibrio-like bacteria in the bay and lagoon were two- to three-fold higher than the control site. This can be mitigated by improvements in the management of aquaculture systems.

Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS) is a disease produced by gram-negative bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus), which has caused declines in worldwide production of a white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei). In this work, we propose the implementation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized with Rumex hymenosepalus (Rh) extract as an alternative on V. parahaemolyticus control. AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). AgNP mean sizes by DLS were 80.82±1.16 nm and sizes between 2 and 10 nm by TEM, with a zeta potential of −47.72±1.05 mV. This study evaluated AgNPs and Rh antimicrobial capacity on V. parahaemolyticus at different concentrations; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) found was 25 μg/mL for AgNPs and 220 μg/mL for Rh. Additionally, were carried out time-kill curves and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation for 1 and 4 MIC. Both concentrations (MIC) were tested for toxicity on Artemia nauplii from Artemia franciscana (A. franciscana), because nauplii were used as biocarriers for AgNPs and Rh extract on L. vannamei. Once the shrimp were treated, they were challenged with Vibrio infection and it was found that those who were treated with both agents showed greater survival than the control. V. parahaemolyticus and postlarval samples were taken from the bioassay and fixed and prepared for TEM and SEM in order to search NPs in internal structure of bacteria and the hepatopancreatic area of shrimps; AgNPs were detected in both cases. AgNPs and Rh extract show antibacterial properties on the infected shrimp with V. parahaemolyticus. The action mechanisms are interaction with the bacterial membrane and ROS generation; these effects are produced by both agents.

The bacterial diversity of a phototrophic biofilm used as nutrient‐recycler into a shrimp aquaculture system and as direct food‐source for shrimp was studied by next‐generation sequencing, considering the 16S rDNA and metagenomics sequence classification using exact alignments. Biofilm was promoted by the modification of cabon:nitrogen ratio and by the addition of the diatom Navicula sp. as promoter. Results revealed a wide diversity of bacteria thriving into the biofilm; most of the bacteria detected in the biofilm belonged to the Proteobacteria (47%), Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia (11%), Bacteriodetes (8%), Planctomycetes (5%) Phylum. Species involved in the decomposition of organic matter, nitrogenous‐ and sulfurous metabolites were detected; moreover, filamentous species known as biomass‐bulking enhancers and producers of adhesin‐like compounds were also detected. Surprising results were also obtained by detecting both, strictly anaerobic and aerobic bacteria involved into the metabolism of nitrogenous compounds. Other species not belonging to the marine environment were also detected, but their role is unclear. Finally, the detection of most of these species may constitute a first case report for a phototrophic biofilm. The results suggest an important role of bacteria in this type of biofilm and a complex microbial‐interaction network.

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This work aimed to evaluate the link between the occurrence/abundance of Vibrio populations and bacterial composition in shrimp's intestine (Litopenaeus vannamei) during post-larval ontogenetic development and in its culture water, and the correlation of these with environmental parameters. The total and metabolically active populations of Vibrio in the digestive tract of shrimp during its post-larval development were analysed using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and reverse transcription qPCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene sequence. A lab-scale shrimp bioassay was performed for 80 days in a recirculating aquarium under strictly controlled conditions. The results indicate that the Vibrio population from shrimp's gut is associated with its developmental stage and the environment. Multivariate analyses revealed that the presence of Vibrio spp. drove the studied system, but their metabolically active performance was related to earlier developmental stages in an aqueous environment. Also, the samples taken from water of culture units to compare the influence of the aquatic environment on the intestinal microbial community during shrimp's ontogenetic development showed significant differences. Finally, our results revealed that Vibrio is an important member of shrimp's gut microbiota; however, its metabolic activity seems to be highly regulated, possibly by the host and by the rest of the microbiota. Shrimp aquaculture plays an important role in the world's economy. In the western hemisphere, Mexico is the sixth-largest producer of shrimp by aquaculture and, specifically, 37% of this production is provided by the State of Sonora, where the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei is one of the most exported species around the world for human consumption due to its edible protein and nutrients 1,2. In the last decade, the high demand from the aquaculture market, the quickly growing rate of shrimp production, and intensive farming practices have made these shrimp susceptible to disease and mortality, causing spoiled cultures and irreparable economic losses for the aquaculture industry 2-4. One of the principal factors threatening shrimp production is related to biotic factors, which encompass virus and bacterial infections, and abiotic factors which are mostly linked to intensive farming practices, triggering the accumulation of carbonaceous, nitrogenous, and phosphorous species in farming ponds 1,3. Shrimp diseases caused by opportunistic bacteria such as bacteria and viruses are the major problems that can lead to considerable losses in the shrimp farm industry. The main shrimp diseases are caused by bacterial pathogens mainly from Vibrio species such as V. harveyi, V. alginolyticus, V. campbellii, and V. parahaemolyticus, causing necrosis, slow growth, anorexia, and mortality during the post-larval development 5. In this regard V. parahaemolyticus strains constitute the etiological agent of the most relevant bacterial disease recorded in shrimp to this day, which has severely disrupted the shrimp industry containing a unique...

Hsp70 proteins are widely found through several species, and they are considered among the most conservative proteins in nature, in both their sequence and function. They play an important role in the response mechanism to several different kinds of stress such as temperature and pathogens among others. In some species, the variations in the sequence of the Hsp70 gene result in intra-specific differential expression, and therefore in differences in thermo-tolerance of individuals as well as other productive characteristics. The study of the potential impact of the Hsp70 gene polymorphisms represents a field of study that could greatly help the mollusk farming industry.

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