Analysis of total hemocytes counting and capacity of hemolymph coagulation of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei(BOONE, 1931) in ponds with occurrence of myonecrosis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the total hemocytes counting (THC) and the coagulation time of the hemolimph in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. The animals were analyzed from a farm located in Aracati-CE, Brazil. Fifteen shrimps considered no symptomatic for myonecrosis, and fifteen shrimps considered symptomatic, of each weight groups (5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 g) had been sampled. The total hemocytes counting (THC) and the coagulation time of hemolymph had some different results according to the statistic test ANOVA (α < 0.05), among the different weight groups, as also for symptomatic and no symptomatic ones. The results found for no symptomatic shrimps, with generally higher THC and lower coagulation time values, suggest a better condition of these animals, despite the presence of infectious agents in the culture environment. In contrast, the symptomatic shrimps group had a worse performance in immunologic analysis, reporting a weaker condition of this group and lower reaction capacity of the immune system.