Aquaculture plays a crucial role in meeting the global demand for protein. However, the sustainability and productivity of this sector are constantly threatened by parasitic infections. Among them, Argulus, commonly known as fish lice, is one of the most problematic ectoparasites affecting freshwater and ornamental fish worldwide. Argulus is a genus of crustacean parasites that attach to the skin, fins, and gills of fish, feeding on their blood and tissue fluids, causing Argulosis. In countries with intensive aquaculture practices, such as India, Bangladesh, and China, outbreaks of Argulus have been reported as one of the top reasons for reduced fish yields, particularly in carp culture.

Current Control Strategies:

Chemical Control

A series of chemicals with a problematic toxicity profile are well known in aquaculture, as they suffer from ectoparasitic infections. Organophosphates (e.g., trichlorfon, malathion, dichlorvos), lufenuron, emamectin benzoate, deltamethrin, sodium permanganate, formalin, diflubenzuron, etc., are commonly used chemicals for the control of Argulus infestation in fishes.

Mechanical Control

In addition to chemicals, physical methods such as shaking infested fish in nets to mechanically detach lice, along with egg removal through drying or substrate manipulation (e.g., bamboo-egg boards), help to reduce infestation pressure.

Biological Control

Biological control strategies utilize natural predator–prey relationships to manage ectoparasites like Argulus. In tropical aquaculture, fish such as Gambusia have been noted to feed on free-swimming Argulus larvae, while other small fish actively remove parasites from the skin of larger hosts.

Limitations of Current Control Strategies:

1. Synthetic chemicals have been used to control this ectoparasite. However, they will have an impact on physiological changes, fish growth, and the balance of aquatic ecosystems because they can leave residues that can enter environmental components. The active ingredients are very difficult to decompose in nature, and resistance can occur in target parasites. In addition, it can cause residue accumulation in the body of the fish.
2. Mechanical approaches are labor-intensive and not always sustainable.
3. Though biological control methods are eco-friendly and reduce the reliance on chemicals, they come with several limitations. One major challenge is the seasonal effectiveness of cleaner species—fish like wrasse are less active during colder months, reducing their efficiency in parasite removal.

 

These limitations highlight the growing interest in exploring eco-friendly, sustainable, and effective natural alternatives to control this parasite.

Plant-Based Alternative to Control Argulosis:

Alternatives for controlling argulosis in fish farming can use medicinal ingredients derived from herbal plants. Pharmacologically, these herbs have therapeutic effects as antibacterials, antiparasitics, and immunostimulants. Numerous applications of medicinal plants as alternative medicine for treating Argulosis in fish have been carried out. The ability of plants to control this disease is due to the presence of natural products in the form of chemical compounds in organic form, so they are safe to use and do not pose a risk that is harmful to fish, to humans who consume them or to the environment and do not cause resistance to parasites.

Dehook is a natural solution for relieving Argulus infestation in aquatic animals, offering a safe and eco-friendly alternative to chemical treatments. Know more about Dehook at Vinayak Ingredients (India) Private Limited.

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Aquaculture is a rapidly growing industry, but one of the biggest challenges faced by fish farmers is stress in fish. Stress can negatively affect growth, immunity, reproduction, and overall health, which leads to economic losses. Various environmental, physiological, and management factors contribute to stress in fish, including poor water quality due to low oxygen levels, ammonia, and nitrate accumulation, handling and transportation, high stocking density, temperature fluctuations, and disease outbreaks. Stress in fish has significant economic consequences in aquaculture, affecting production efficiency, profitability, and sustainability. The shrimp industry has experienced cumulative losses of around $10 billion since 1990 due to diseases, with stress factors playing a significant role.

Impact of Stress on Fish

The stress response in fish is primarily regulated by the production of two major hormones: corticosteroids (mainly cortisol) and catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine). Primary responses contribute to the secondary stress response, affecting various physiological functions related to fish adaptation. Long-term stress results in a tertiary response that adversely affects the fish’s growth, behavior, swimming ability, feeding, and immunity.

Signs of Stress Observed in Fish

• Sluggishness
• Lack of feeding activity
• Slow growth
• Molting difficulties
• Hyperactivity
• Death

Stress Management

If the stressor is chronic, the immune response shows suppressive effects, and hence the chances of an infection may be enhanced in fish. Therefore, immune stimulants, along with feed nutrients and additives that reduce stress, are common commercial fish health management solutions to address disease concerns. Antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, and disinfectants are all commonly used for managing fish infections. However, adverse consequences include the rise of microorganisms resistant to antibiotics, antibiotic residues in fish products, chemical genotoxicity and cytotoxicity, and overall environmental contamination. Thus, there is a need for alternatives for adopting sustainable aquaculture farming.

Functional Feed: Natural Way to Manage Stress

Specialized plant-derived nutrition serves as an alternative strategy designed to limit or reduce the adverse effects of a disease without requiring therapeutic intervention. Many bioactive compounds identified in herbal feed additives, such as terpenoids, polyphenols, isothiocyanates, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids, can all stimulate the immune system. These strategies are known as functional feeds.

Functional feeds primarily focus on enhancing and supporting the natural immunological defenses of the animal. This approach boosts the animal’s capacity to manage biological and physiological responses to stressors while strengthening physical barriers between the animal and its environment.

Herbo C AQUA

Vitamin C is an essential component of fish feed, as most fish are not able to synthesize vitamin C due to a lack of enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase. Still, they can achieve it from external sources. Herbo C AQUA is a plant-derived natural and highly bioavailable form of vitamin C coupled with herbal bioactive compounds with anti-stress, adaptogenic, and immunomodulatory activity. It helps to regulate and alleviate stress, facilitates wound healing, and supports tissue regeneration. Additionally, Herbo C Aqua increases survivability and boosts farm profitability. 

How Does It Work?

It works by…

• Providing natural antioxidant (Vitamin C)
• Promoting nutrient utilization
• Maintaining osmoregulation
• Supporting collagen synthesis and metabolism

  Benefits – 

“Sustainable Stress Management in Aquaculture”

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Aquaculture farming is highly prone to diseases, affecting productivity and profitability of the farmer. The major challenge in aquaculture is the parasitic infestations, which can highly impact fish health and farm economics. Among various parasites, Argulus sp., or fish lice, is one of the most concerning challenges for fish farmers worldwide. This ecto-parasite attaches itself to fish, feeding on their blood and bodily fluids, causing Argulosis.

Understanding Argulus Infestation

Argulus is a crustacean ectoparasite, commonly known as the “fish louse.” In fisheries, high infestations can cause a rapid loss of performance and even death. Even moderate infestations can reduce production and distress the fish, impacting the economic viability of fisheries. 

Life cycle of Argulus –

The reproduction and development of Argulus are dependent on the specific season. Egg-laying usually begins when temperatures exceed room temperature and stops during winter. More population growth is observed in summer than throughout the year. Parasite numbers decline with the winter, although all developmental stages (particularly the egg strings) can survive.

How do Argulus affect the fish?

Argulus can cause considerable damage to fish through their attachment and feeding behavior. They feed on fish by inserting a long spine-like structure called the stylet into the skin, which eventually breaks down tissues through the secretion of enzymes. The repeated damage to the skin, combined with the activity of the serrated parasite mouth, can cause substantial damage and irritation.

Signs of infestation –

Argulus can be found attached to the skin, gills, and mouth of fish during heavy infestations. The symptoms of infestation include

Spot Haemorrhages –

• Anaemia
• Fin and Scale loss

Increased Mucus Production –

• Lethargy
• Erratic Swimming
• Reduced Feeding
• Flashing or Rubbing

Synthetic chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, formalin, alpha-cypermethrin, deltamethrin, emamectin benzoate, trichlorofon, and diflubenzuron were used against Argulus. But the prolonged use of these chemicals can lead to chemical residues in fish, the development of resistance in parasites, and environmental pollution. Plant-derived phytochemicals offer a natural alternative for controlling Argulosis.

DEHOOK, an ectoparasite reliever, contains a combination of plant-derived bioactive components that have a strong antiparasitic effect. It inhibits Argulus by impacting molting and cell proliferation. DEHOOK also helps to reduce infestation and enhance host immunity, avoiding all the unintended negative impacts on the environment.

Benefits –

• Effectively manages Argulus infestation

• Prevents weight loss and mortality

• Reducing dependency on synthetic chemicals

Combat Argulus infestation naturally without compromising fish health or farm productivity. DEHOOK offers a powerful, plant-derived solution that effectively controls Argulus, boosts fish immunity, and reduces stress.

Fight Argulus and Boost Fish Health with DEHOOK! 

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Feed is the major cost contributor in aquaculture production, costing approximately 60-70% of the total cost.  Feed with high-quality ingredients undergo precise processing techniques to achieve maximum aquaculture yield.  Poor feed quality can lead to feed wastage, higher costs, and decreased animal performance. Therefore, the aqua-feed industry is continuously searching for strategies to improve feed processing techniques to ensure the quality and affordability of feed.

Pelleting is a feed processing technique that maintains feed homogeneity by agglomerating or compaction of feed particles. Pelleting involves compressing feed particles under mechanical and thermal forces to create dense, durable pellets. This compaction process reduces bulk volume, increases shelf life, and improves transportation efficiency.

Various characteristics of aquaculture pellets directly affecting feed quality and performance are

Despite advancements in pelleting technology, maintaining consistent pellet quality remains a challenge.  Water stability measures how well aqua feed pellets maintain their structure when submerged in water. This factor is particularly crucial for species like shrimp, which are slow feeders and rely on pellets remaining intact in water for extended periods. Insufficient water stability in pellets can cause rapid feed disintegration, leading to nutrient loss and reduced efficiency—ultimately impacting profitability.

To address this, aquaculture feed manufacturers often incorporate pellet binders into their formulations to avoid the disintegration of pellets. Pellet binders provide the necessary binding strength to hold feed particles together, reducing fines and dust. Binders strengthen pellets and enhance their integrity, durability, and stability. They also reduce nutrient leaching and prevent fragmentation and abrasion of pellets during handling, transportation, storage, and feeding to aqua-cultural species. Traditionally, synthetic binders like polymethyl carbamide (PMC) have been widely used to strengthen pellets. However, with growing concerns about sustainability, performance efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, Pelletovin can be considered as a viable organic alternative to PMC.

Pelletovin: Organic binder for high-grade pelleting

Pelletovin is an all-purpose, organic, thermo-reactive binder that is stable at room temperatures and therefore will mix well with other feed ingredients. Once the feed mix is exposed to moisture and heat in the conditioner, this organic feed binder binds other feed ingredients. It enhances pelleting capacity and reduces energy consumption at the feed mills.

According to field trials, Pelletovin significantly reduces dustiness and dry matter loss from feed. Pelletovin at an inclusion rate of 0.3% gives approximately 80% water stability and about 90 % pellet durability index (PDI). It shows better efficacy than synthetic binders like polymethyl carbamide (PMC).

Key Benefits of Pelletovin :

• Enhances water stability of aquatic feed.
• Strengthens pellets for better durability and integrity.
• Reduces dusting and run time.
• Lowers energy consumption and increases production rates.
• Protects essential nutrients.
• Minimizes friction in the pellet die.

Pelletovin helps to achieve optimum delivery and utilization of nutrients to the livestock supporting cost-effective and efficient aquaculture feed production.

‘Enhance pellet durability and reduce operational costs of your aquaculture with Pelletovin’

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Aquaculture has rapidly expanded in the past few decades to meet the high-quality animal protein needs of the growing human population. According to FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture projections, 2022–2032, apparent consumption of aquatic animal foods is projected to reach 21.3 kg in 2032, up from about 20.7 kg in 2022 per head of consumer. Intensive and ultra-intensive aquaculture farming systems are used to increase profitability. Even though beneficial, Intensive farming practices are responsible for numerous problems, such as poor water quality, overcrowding, high temperature, poor nutrition, and pathogenic injuries. This might lead to the generation of stress decreasing the productivity of aquaculture.

Stress and Its Impact on Aquaculture

Stress impacts aquaculture species by reducing immune response and resistance against diseases. Factors like host, physiology, pathogens, husbandry practices, environmental factors, and nutrition induce stress in aquaculture. These stressors impact aquaculture production by decreasing animal growth rates, reproductivity, and immune response, making them more susceptible to environmental pathogens.

Stressors and their impact on aquaculture

 

Due to underdeveloped immune responses, aquatic animals are highly susceptible to stress and diseases. Nutrition is critical in enhancing stress tolerance, immune function, and FCR. Immune system optimizers are prophylactic solutions that enhance the immune response of aquatic species, reducing disease outbreaks and dependency on chemicals or drugs. These nutritional supplements improve gut health, optimize immunity, and support aquaculture growth and reproduction.

Numerous studies highlight the effectiveness of feed additives like probiotics, prebiotics, nucleotides, functional amino acids, and minerals of natural origin in supporting aquaculture health. One such innovative solution is NUCLEOVIN-AQUA, a phytogenic supplement designed specifically for immune system optimization in fish and shrimp.

‘NUCLEOVIN—AQUA’  contains Nucleotides, Vitamin C, and Probiotics to improve the immune function of aquatic species. This novel combination influences many essential and diverse functions in the fish and shrimp, both directly or indirectly, and improves many physiological and commercial parameters.

The nucleotide in ‘NUCLEOVIN—AQUA’ plays a major role in structural, energy-related, and regulatory functions while enhancing performance in fish and shrimp. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and helps to improve immune responses. It also contains probiotics that help to maintain intestinal equilibrium and reduce loss of nutrients.

By using ‘NUCLEOVIN—AQUA’  producers can enhance resilience and productivity, ensuring healthier and more sustainable aquaculture.

*References on request*

The global salmon farming business has been struggling since it was founded in the 1970s to control the severe economic, animal welfare, and ecological effects of sea lice infestation, which has kept salmon farming from reaching its full potential. Currently, the year has been put up as estimates for the economic impact of between USD 400 and USD 600 million (EUR 366 million to EUR 549 million). However, solving the problem can harm marine ecosystems, and lice can develop resistance to treatments.
Salmon farms constantly struggle against the onslaught of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis, Caligus rogercresseyi, etc), it is also a real challenge for parasitologists to solve this huge problem that has continued to build up over the years since the start of salmon aquaculture. While the ability to deal with sea lice outbreaks is often the most pressing concern of those involved in salmon production, there is an acknowledgment that the use of long-term integrated strategies for managing them is an important consideration to the industry’s sustainability.

Sea lice infestation

The ectoparasite attaches to the body surface of Salmon fish, the attachment is typically near the base of the fins or on the body surface.

While they feed on their host, they remain too small to cause significant harm. However, as they mature into more mobile pre-adult and adult stages, there is a shift in their attachment method to suction, making them more lethal.

They mostly feed on host mucus, skin, and underlying tissue.

 

Life cycle of sea lice

Symptoms –

 

• • Serious damage to the skin

• • Inflammation and Redness

• • Fins Erosion

• • Fatigue

• • Reduced Appetite

Prevention –

1.Functional feed:

Feed that contains ingredients that thicken the mucus layer, promote healing or repel copepods.

2.Sea lice trap:

Traps are placed around the pens which attract sea lice away from salmon using light and odorant.

3.Deep lights/feeding:

Salmon are attracted to depths without sea lice with light or feed.

4.Sea lice skirts:

A fabric that covers the top of the net prevents sea lice larvae from entering the sea pens.

Treatment –

1. Cleaner Fish:

Cleaner fish are housed in the same sea pens as salmon and eat sea lice that are on the salmon.

2. Hydrogen Peroxide:

Infected salmon are exposed to hydrogen peroxide at concentrations that kill sea lice.

3. Chemotherapeutics:  

Infected salmon are exposed to chemicals via baths or feed.

4. Mechanical:

Salmon are pumped through water jets. Sea lice are dislodged.

Norwegian Standards for Mean Sea Lice/ Fish

In Norway, strict regulations are in place to control sea lice levels in salmon farms to protect wild and farmed salmon populations. The Norwegian standards for the mean number of adult female sea lice per fish are as follows:

Threshold Levels

 

1. 1. Southern Norway:
      

       

      • • During the critical weeks of 15 to 21 (spring smolt migration), the limit is 0.2 adult female sea lice per fish.
      • • For the rest of the year, the threshold is 0.5 adult female sea lice per fish.

1. 1. Northern Norway:
      

       

      • • A uniform limit of 0.5 adult female sea lice per fish is maintained year-round

Also, in 2017, the government introduced a new category of “green permits,” which required sea-lice levels of between 0.25 and zero, and the demonstration of a new production method or equipment that would reduce sea-lice and/or escapement. Farms exceeding these limits must take immediate measures, such as delousing treatments.

Effects of the Residues between Plant‐derived Compounds and Chemical Treatments

HERE’S HOW WE ARE RECLAIMING THE BLUE…

Many studies have shown that essential oils, extracts, and isolated substances from plants might be an important and alternative oral and immersion treatment against parasites in aquaculture. These plant extracts are capable of enhancing immune responses and disease resistance of cultured fish, serving as a great phytotherapeutics against infections in aquaculture.

CRUSTAXE is a synergistic combination of plant-derived semiochemicals that precisely target the planktonic copepod crustaceans by avoiding all the unintended negative effects on the ecosystem. It can be incorporated into the functional feeds as a feed additive to repel the copepods. The bioactive present in ‘CRUSTAXE’, even at very low concentrations, can interfere with the host location and disrupt copepodid settlement on salmonid fish.

HOW DOES CRUSTAXE WORK?

Benefits

– Environment friendly

– Suits consumer food safety requirement’s

– Non-medical natural solution

 – Minimize dependence on chemotherapeutics

                          – No bioaccumulation

                                                              

“A sustainable initiative to manage sea lice challenges”

Shrimp is one of the most commonly consumed seafood around the world. Considering the population growth, there is an increase in demand for shrimp-based food products and shrimp farming plays a crucial role in meeting them. According to the FAO report 2008, the world shrimp catch is about 3.4 million tonnes per year, with Asia as the most noteworthy area for shrimp farming. World production of shrimp, both captured and farmed, is about 6 million tonnes, out of which about 60% enter the world market. Traditional farming methods are improving recently and new extensive as well as semi-intensive farms are being established at a rapid pace.

DISEASE: THE THREAT TO SHRIMP FARMING SUCCESS

The disease is a major limiting factor affecting the global production of cultivated shrimp. Intensive shrimp farming is commonly associated with disease outbreaks and is responsible for production loss due to either stunted growth in shrimp or mortality. Infectious diseases have affected shrimp farming industries drastically, and the majority of diseases are of bacterial and viral origin with few important diseases of protozoa and fungi. High stocking density can be considered as a major factor aiding the easy transmission of pathogens.

Shrimp diseases such as White feces syndrome (WFS), Hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis (HPM), vibriosis, and necrotizing hepatopancreatic (EMS/AHPND) impact shrimp farming to a greater extent.

ENTEROCYTOZOON HEPATOPENAEI (EHP) AND ITS IMPACT ON SHRIMP AQUACULTURE –

The hepatopancreas is an important organ for the absorption and storage of nutrients in shrimps. Hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis (HPM) is a common shrimp disease caused by Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) which infects the hepatopancreatic cell. It is an intracellular microsporidian that replicates within the cytoplasm of the affected epithelial cells in the hepatopancreas.

Life cycle of EHP and routes of transmission

EHP in combination with other enteric pathogens and environmental stressors can lead to White Faces Syndrome (WFS), which refers to the presence of a floating white fecal string in ponds rearing shrimp. The main clinical sign of EHP is growth retardation, which results in an increased variability in size. In a more advanced stage, EHP-infected shrimp typically display soft shells, lethargy, reduced FCR, and an empty gut.

The use of synthetic antibiotics in shrimp farming is banned in some countries due to the potential for harmful effects on human health and the environment. Hence, natural products can be considered as the suitable and effective alternative. Due to the diverse and rich sources of active compounds in plants, they are highly influenced to control various pathogens. Phyto compounds can be utilized to improve immunity and prevent disease propagation during shrimp farming.

HEHPAVAX –A NATURAL AMINO ACID OPTIMIZER FOR HEALTHY HEPATOPANCREAS

HEHPAVAX is an aqua feed supplement that helps to protect hepatopancreas in shrimp by controlling EHP infection and white Feces Syndrome (WFS), and helps to prevent retarded growth in shrimp.

How HEHPAVAX works?

HEHPAVAX prevents the adhesion of the EHP spore wall to the epithelial cells of shrimp hepatopancreas. It helps to control infection by either killing spores outside the gut lumen or inhibiting polar tube extension by digesting polar tube components. It helps in the recovery of shrimp’s digestive system and improves gut health. It also helps to prevent white Feces Syndrome (WFS) in shrimps.

If the amino acid profile is poorly correlated to the requirement of the shrimp, then it leads to lower retention of synthesized protein. HEHPAVAX acts as an amino acid optimizer in shrimps that optimizes the utilization of protein depending on the optimal dietary amino acid profile of a species for protein synthesis. It improves the retention of the synthesized protein from the feed leading to higher growth rates and low protein turnover.

HEHPAVAX is a natural supplement to increase shrimp count leading to the economic growth of the farmer.

“Maximize shrimp health and improve your farm’s productivity with HEHPAVAX”uaculture with Pelletovin’

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