Quantification of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) in Penaeid Shrimps from Southeast Asia and Latin America Using TaqMan Probe-Based Quantitative PCR

Abstract

We developed a qPCR assay based on the <i>β</i>-tubulin gene sequence for the shrimp microsporidian parasite <i>Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei</i> (EHP). This assay reacted with the hepatopancreas (HP) of EHP-infected shrimps, and the highest copy numbers were found in HP and feces samples from Southeast Asian countries (10⁶-10⁸ copies mg^-1), while HP samples from Latin America, <i>Artemia</i>, and EHP-contaminated water showed lower amounts (10¹-10³ copies mg^-1 or mL^-1 of water). No false positive was found with the normal shrimp genome, live feeds, or other parasitic diseases. This tool will facilitate the management of EHP infection in shrimp farms.