Gills and swimming leg histopathologies in pacific white shrimp (Lithopenaeus vannamei) from ponds exposed to the immunogenic membrane proteins of Zoothamnium penaei

Parasites are one of the causes of decreased commodity selling value in shrimp. Acute levels of parasite infestation can result in mass mortality and economic loss. Parasite penetration causes considerable damage by crushing the tissue consistency, causing irritation. The purpose of this study was to observe the tissue abnormality level caused by the ectoparasites that occurred in the gills and swimming leg tissue of vannamei shrimp. The samples were taken from brakish water ponds in Lamongan, East Java. The treatments used were samples without any treatment (control) and those exposed to the immunogenic protein membrane of Zoothamniumpenaei (immunostimulant) at 3 and 5 mg/l. The shrimp were reared for 7 days, and then tested to identify the histopathological damages in Balai Karantina Ikan Kelas I, Juanda, Surabaya. The results showed that the control sample presented with enlarged gill tissue nucleus of a basophilic color compared to the normal cells. This happened because there was an infection of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). The shrimp's swimming legs also showed some tissue damage, such as necrosis, inflammation, and basophilic mass. The 3 mg/1 doze of immunostimulant showed some necrosis damage on the gills and swimming legs, while the 5 mg/1 doze showed tissue degeneration and necrosis in the gills, as well as basophilic mass damages in the swimming legs.