Appendage deformity syndrome--a nutritional disease of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Culture of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii as an alternative to penaeid shrimp has recently increased in coastal areas of southern India in order to avoid numerous problems, particularly with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). However, M. rosenbergii culture is now threatened by a new disease, appendage deformity syndrome (ADS), that also results in high mortality. Analysis of ADS prawns for viruses such as WSSV, monodon baculovirus (MBV) and infectious hypodermal and hematopoeitic necrosis virus (IHHNV) gave negative results. ADS prawns were also negative for bacterial pathogens and affected animals did not respond to antibiotic therapy. A study of potential nutritional deficiency revealed that carotenoid supplementation in the diet led to a significant decrease in ADS prawns.