WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2013 15 Breakthrough in Search for Cause of Early Mortality Syndrome The causative agent of early mortality syndrome (EMS), also known as acute heptaopancreatic necrosis syndrome (APHS), has been identified. A pathogenic strain of the common brackishwater bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the putative disease-causing agent. A team led by Donald Lightner at the University of Arizona made this determination after they were able to fulfill Koch’s postulates by infecting healthy shrimp with isolates of the pathogenic Vibrio. It appears that certain strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus become infected by a bacteriophage that produces a toxin. The bacteria is consumed by shrimp and colonizes the gastrointestinal tract, where it produces the toxin. The clinical signs of EMS/ AHPNS — tissue destruction and dysfunction of the hepatopancreas — are caused by the toxin. EMS/AHPNS affects whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), usually within 30 days of stocking, causing mortality of 70-100 percent, indicating the high virulence of the pathogen. EMS/AHPNS was first observed in 2009 in China and since then has caused significant disruption of shrimp farming sectors in China, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries in the region. There is no risk to human health. The effort to study the disease, identify its pathology and respond to the outbreak was supported by a coalition of partners including the University of Arizona, FAO, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Bank, the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam, CP Foods, the Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, Grobest Inc. and the Uni-President Feed Company. Research continues to develop diagnostic tests for rapid detection of the pathogen. EDITORS NOTE: This report was derived from press releases issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Global Aquaculture Alliance. Student Awards at Aquaculture 2013 Student Travel Awards • WAS – James C. Hill, Vaun C. Cummins, Tyler E. Frankel • USAS – Ichsan A. Fauzi, Maria G. Mendoza-Rodriguez, Akwasi Ampofo-Yeboah • Joint USAS/FCS – Tyler E. Frankel USAS – Oral and Poster Presentation Awards • Best Presentation – Courtnay Janiak • Second Place Best Presentation – Andrew McElwain • Best Poster – Donovan Patterson • Second Place Best Poster – Cassandra Kelly Other Student Awards • Yellow Book Award – Phillip Henderson, Jacob Bledsoe • USAS Minority Student Travel Award – Maria Rosa • Sea Grant College Best Student Paper Award – Laura Heflin LEFT TO RIGHT: Carlin Fenn and her advisor Dr. Brian Small collecting samples for her work with shovelnose sturgeon. Undergraduates Kristen Dieterle and Ariel E. Gallo displaying their research organism while collecting data on pond culture of paddlefish. Miguel Mies with advisor Paulo Sumida in the aquarium room for their research on giant clams. Celene Navarro tending to her research within a wetlab.
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