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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Study of microsporidiosis in mysis III and post larva stages of Penaeus monodon
Lakshmi Prasanna Latha B and Reddy D.C
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 152-158
Received on: 24/10/2025
Revised on: 27/11/2025
Accepted on: 23/12/2025
Published on: 01/01/2026
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Lakshmi Prasanna Latha B and Reddy D.C( 2026).
Study of microsporidiosis in mysis III and post larva stages of Penaeus monodon
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 1), 152-158.
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Abstract
Microsporidiosis is a significant protozoan disease affecting the larval and post-larval stages of Penaeus monodon, contributing to substantial economic losses in shrimp hatcheries. The present study investigates the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and environmental associations of microsporidian infections in mysis III and post-larval stages of P. monodon collected from Gudur, and Nizampatnam regions of Andhra Pradesh. Through lens-hand inspection, direct microscopy, and squash preparations, microsporidians were identified in the gut, hepatopancreas, muscle, and uropod, often accompanied by ciliates co-infections (Epistylis, Vorticella) and fungal attachments. Infected larvae exhibited distinct clinical signs, including white gut, white fecal threads, hepatopancreatic discoloration, reduced motility, growth retardation, and reverse swimming behavior. Environmental parameters demonstrated seasonal variability, with higher infection prevalence recorded during the summer months: 40.9% in mysis III (110 examined; 45 infected) and 36% in post-larvae (100 examined; 36 infected). Winter prevalence was moderately lower at 31.6% and 35%, respectively. Elevated water temperature, increased salinity, and reduced dissolved oxygen coincided with higher disease incidence, underscoring the role of abiotic stress in pathogen proliferation. The findings emphasize that microsporidians act as commensals, opportunistic pathogens, or severe parasites depending on infection intensity and host condition. The study reinforces the critical need for routine hatchery monitoring, improved diagnostic capability, and better-trained technicians to ensure optimal larval health. Maintaining stable physico-chemical parameters, regulating stocking densities, and adopting bio-secure feeding practices remain essential strategies to mitigate microsporidian outbreaks. This work contributes to the growing understanding of protozoan infections in penaeid aquaculture and highlights the necessity for integrated health management in shrimp hatcheries as well as pond culture farmers.
Keywords
Penaeus monodon, Protozoan parasites, Ciliates, Clinical symptoms, Physical parameters.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
