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Why Bacteriophages?
With emergence of highly virulent pathogens in animal health and aquaculture, there is need for highly effective therapeutic product which can reduce usage of sanitisers and antimicrobials. Continuous use of sanitisers and antimicrobials lead to damage of microbiome (the normal non-pathogenic beneficial bacteria) in aquaculture pond ecosystem and shrimp gut. Recent explosion of scientific research has brought to light the importance of maintaining good and unfluctuating microbiome in shrimp and fish health and aquaculture success.
Under this condition Bacteriophages against virulent pathogens in aquaculture will be highly helpful in maintaining the natural ecosystem of the pond while killing the aquaculture pathogens. This strong argument inspired Salem Microbes to initiate Bacteriophage research as early as 2018 and has invested in infrastructure, technology, and technical competence in bacteriophages-based solution development for Aquaculture, Poultry and Food safety.
Salem Microbes possessing 23 years of probiotic tradition has always travelled with Bacteriophages hand in hand from screening to production operations. In the current day scenario, we are ‘embracing the foe as a friend’ to control pathogens of aquaculture. So, we are just jumping sides and exploiting their potential.
Today, we assure that we are in the forefront of bacteriophage research, specialising in isolation, characterisation, and formulation of Phage cocktail within a short turnaround time. Our Research & Development ensures quick screening in case of a sudden disease outbreak to make custom formulation of Bacteriophages from our expansive library of Bacteriophages maintained on-campus.
Phages and Probiotics , a Synergistic combination
Probiotics have played an undeniable role in the environmental management of the shrimp pond and are going to continue to sustain the shrimp ecosystem microbiome, the only catch here is use of quality probiotic inputs which farm owners and technical experts should be aware of.
Probiotics reduce the chances of infection by Competitive Exclusion, but once the critical levels of Vibrio species dominate the environment, it become nearly impossible for probiotic bacteria to exclude Vibrio species. Such critical condition demands quick and sure shot treatment, which is non residual in nature and non-GMO and which does not affect the (microbiome). Here comes the concept of Phage Therapy which is highly specific and quick acting in nature specifically targeting the aquaculture pathogens.
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SALIENT FEATURES |
Probiotics Application only |
Bacteriophage Application only |
Both Bacteriophages & Probiotics applied condition |
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Mode of action |
Competitive exclusion of pathogens by exhausting nutrients for the pathogens. |
Works on identified targeted pathogens by killing them by lysis. |
Phages Eradicates Identified pathogens. There by nutrients are available for probiotic microbes. |
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How it manages pathogens ? |
Dominates Pathogens but when conditions are conducive for pathogens, they cause disease |
Eradicates pathogens thereby reduces frequency of disease. |
Probiotics have a conductive environment to multiply fast & full |
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Long acting |
Self-limiting |
Phages keeps check on fresh entrants |
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Residual formation |
No Residues |
No Residues |
Phages leaves un-identified Natural Probiotic flora to thrive better |
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How they really work ? |
Bacteriocin & Enzymatic action |
Cell Lysis of Pathogenic bacteria. |
Phages prevents horizontal transmission of toxin bearing plasmids. |
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Source |
Non-GMO, Nature isolates |
Non-GMO, Nature isolates |
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Traceability and proprietary nature |
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Identified & Genotyping done |
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Is Product Upgradation possible ? |
Continuous Improvement in Performance based on the new strains introduced. |
Continuous update of Phages for New Identified Pathogens makes it a safe therapeutic product with broad spectrum of action. |
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Limitations |
Fights with unknown pathogens |
For Greater Benefit – It’s recommended to use Probiotics after this to dominate the environment and maintain positive balance for maximum results. |
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Virulent pathogens with Toxins continue to exist, multiply and cause infections. |
Virulent pathogens with toxins are destroyed, thus halting their propagation. |
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How a Bacteriophage product become relevant to a condition?
A Good Bacteriophage consortia should contains identified lytic phages, specific against pathogens selected from the target environment. Phage cocktails against Pathogens should be continuously upgraded to maintain the pathogen spectrum, specificity and infectivity.
How does a Phage works?
Bacteriophages are Viruses of bacteria which enter the bacteria, use the bacterial source of energy, hijack the bacteria, multiply inside the bacteria and kill them by lysis. When they kill the bacteria, each virus which enter the bacteria multiplies and releases 10 to 100 mature ready-to-attack bacteriophages which are capable of infecting and destroying next set of target pathogenic bacteria.
V PHAGES Consortia
V PHAGES Cocktails for Hatchery and Growout are quite different in their Formulation, Specificity and Purpose. V PHAGES HATCHERY satisfy the need for targeting pathogens specific and prevalent in Hatchery water source, live feeds and also its environment. V PHAGES GROWOUT targets the common pathogens esp Vibrios which are the main cause for bringing down the productivity of a shrimp pond by causing Vibriosis leading to White gut, White faecal disease, off feed, Running Mortality Syndrome and crop loss.
"V PHAGES " cocktails target Vibrio species as,
When TO USE IN SHRIMP HATCHERIES?
When TO USE IN SHRIMP GROWOUT PONDS
Comparing with Other Therapies
V PHAGES are Natural isolates screened and selected for their strong and fast action against their challenged targets. They do not disturb the Probiotics and other non-pathogenic natural microbiome which are otherwise destroyed by other treatment approaches as Sanitisers, Disinfectants and any products of anti-microbial action. These Phages does not leave any residues on the shrimp or environment as they are Natural. All bacteriophages in V PHAGES cocktail are Genotypically characterized to ensure proprietary formulation and traceability, which makes them special.
Conclusion
Though Bacteriophage research and applications are known for many years very few products have seen the light of the day. Even these products become irrelevant when they are not supported by a strong expertise in the field and research infrastructure. Salem Microbes has established these capabilities and commits to be in the forefront of giving the Best to its farmers to make their Shrimps Healthy, Productive and Profitable.
Running mortality syndrome (RMS) is named by shrimp farmers for continuous low-level mortalities during the culture period, resulting in low survival and productions. The syndrome is widely prevalent in the vannamei farms since 2011 in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The affected shrimp show patches of whitish musculature in the junctions of 2nd and 4th abdominal segments as a clinical sign with continuous low-level mortalities. This condition results a small percent shrimp mortality in the affected pond on daily basis. As the mortality continues on daily basis till the rest of the culture period, it is called as “Running Mortality Syndrome (RMS)”. Usually the RMS started after 35–40 days of culture (DOC) with low mortalities and as the culture progressed, the mortality rate also increased and the problem becoming acute at around 90 DOC and the farmers were forced to prematurely harvest the crops.
Shrimp from RMS affected ponds tested negative for all the major OIE listed and other pathogens such as White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV), Monodon Baculovirus (MBV), Hepatopancreatic Parvo Virus (HPV), Infectious Myonecrosis (IMNV), Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV), Yellow Head Virus (YHV), and Penaeus vannamei Noda Virus (PvNV).
Causes:
Bacteriological examination of haemolymph and hepatopancreas samples of RMS affected shrimp indicated predominance of Vibrio spp., such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio azureus.
Symptoms:
In early stages of this condition, Litopenaeus vannamei, show certain gross symptoms. These include:
Management:
Running Mortality Syndrome is depicted be pond management associated syndrome rather than infectious in nature and thus can be overcome through best management practices.
In the beginning days, farmers managed this disease by regularly removing the dead shrimp from the pond. Reducing the stocking density by partial harvesting reduced the mortality. Reduced feed quantity or suspending feed for few days reduce the mortality.
The culture practices like stocking bigger post larvae, Avoid over stocking, nursery management, Regularly monitor water quality, health of animals, strict feed management and partial harvest will reduce the incidence of RMS.
Treatment:
During the onset of Running Mortality, very few dead pieces were found in the pond, a very much advised of V Phages Growout to control Vibrio sp. in the pond. It helps to drastically reduce the Running Mortality Syndrome. It is always advised to apply Bacteriophages as a preventive strategy to avoid RMS conditions caused by Vibriosis.