Microbiota of Vibrio sp in the hepatopancreas of cultured white pacific shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Objective. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of vibrios in the hepatopancreas of cultured shrimp. Materials and methods. Vibrios from the hepatopancreas of fifteen samples of five specimens each, of apparently healthy Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) were isolated, identified and quantified. Results. The vibrio density ranged from 430 to 2,400 MPN g(-1) (r(s) MPN cm(-1)=-0.114; r(s) MPN g(-1) = 0.211). Thirty isolations were obtained, most of which belonged to the species V. cholerae (n = 11) and V. parahaemolyticus (n = 7). Conclusions. The outcomes of the present study suggest that, even in the absence of symptoms of vibriosis, the microbiota of the hepatopancreas of cultured shrimp may include sucrose positive and negative vibrios.