EFFECT OF AQUA-DRUGS AND CHEMICALS ON SHRIMP HEALTH AND PRODUCTION IN COASTAL AQUACULTURE OF BANGLADESH  

The present study was carried out for a period of one year from July 2013 to June 2014 to evaluate the impacts of aqua-drugs and chemicals on shrimp health and production through clinical, histological and overall field observations. Data were collected through personal contact, market survey and focus group discussion with shrimp farmers, farmers associations and aqua-drug sellers. Seven categories of aqua-drugs were found to be used by the farmers, whereas, 34 pharmaceutical companies supplied aqua-drugs and chemicals. Widely used chemicals were zeolite, zeolite plus, acme's zeolite, geotox, aqua boost, aquamin, megavit aqua, cevit vet, aqua savor, timsen, emsen, rotenone, bleaching powder, oxytetracycline, renamycine, renamox, bactitab, eco-solution and potassium permanganate. Probiotics were also used in coastal aquaculture such as eco-marine, mutagen, pH fixer, super ps and zymetine to improve water and soil quality, to increase production and to control harmful bacteria. It was observed that oxolinic acid, renamycin, oxytetracycline, lime, salt, formalin, malachite green, basudin and eco-solution had an average recovery of 50-55% and 25-30% on bacterial and fungal diseases of shrimp. Histopathology of muscle and hepatopancreas of shrimp were almost normal in control ponds, whereas, in drugs treated ponds the above mentioned organs had some pathological changes like necrosis, pyknotic cells, inclusion bodies, hemorrhage and vacuums. Shrimp production was 2100 kg/acre and 80-120 kg/acre in aqua-drug treated and non-treated ponds and ghers respectively.