The deterioration signs of water quality in the Hau River are apparent. The present study analyzed the surface water quality of the Hau River using multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA). Eleven water quality parameters were analyzed at 19 different sites in An Giang and Can Tho Provinces for 12 months from January to December 2019. The findings show high levels of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Soluble Solids (TSS), and total coliform, all year round. The PCA revealed that all the water quality parameters influenced the water quality of the Hau River, hence the relevance for water sample scrutiny. The dendrogram of similarity between sampling sites showed a maximum similarity of 95.6%. The Accumulation Factor (AF) trend showed that the concentrations/values of TSS, BOD, and phosphate (PO4³⁻) in the downstream were 1.29, 1.53, and 1.52 times, respectively, greater than the upstream levels. Despite most of the parameters analyzed supporting aquaculture production, caution is needed in the regulation of pollution point sources to undertake sustainable aquaculture production.

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) has recently emerged as a serious disease of cultured shrimp. A total of 19 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from shrimp samples were characterized based on morphological characteristics, biochemical tests, sequencing analysis, and their ability to antagonize Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which causes AHPND in whiteleg shrimp. Results from the agar well diffusion method indicated that 3 out of 19 isolated LAB strains showed the highest antagonizing ability against AHPND V. parahaemolyticus strain with an inhibition zone diameter ranging from 18 to 20 mm. Experiments where shrimps were given feed supplemented with these LAB strains and challenged with AHPND strain showed high survival rates (approximately 80.0%), which were not significantly different as compared to those recorded in the negative control treatment (86.6%), but significantly different to those recorded in the positive control treatment (40.6%) after 16 days of the experiment. However, the histological images of shrimp hepatopancreas indicated that the infection rate significantly reduced from 60.0% to 11.1% in shrimps fed with LAB-supplemented feeds and challenged with AHPND V. parahaemolyticus strain as compared to those in the positive control treatment. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the identification of LAB strain. These results can be applied in further experiments to investigate the ability of L. plantarum in preventing AHPND in intensively cultured whiteleg shrimp.

This study aimed to determine the optimal live feed regime (i.e., initial feeding moment, density, and frequency) for maximum growth and survival of pangasius catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) early life history stages. The first experiment assessed the optimal initial feeding moment (30, 36, 42, and 48 h post hatching, hph). The second experiment assessed feeding density (3, 5, 8 and 11 individuals per mL, ind/mL) at the optimal initial feeding moment (30 hph) which was the best result from the first experiment. The third experiment assessed optimal feeding frequency (1, 2, 4, and 6 times per day) at the optimal initial feeding moment (30 hph) and density (8 ind/mL) which was drawn upon from the second experiment. All experiments were conducted in 20 L containers containing 20 hph P. hypophthalmus larvae at a density of 10 ind/L and fed rotifers (Brachionus angularis) for 3 days and then water fleas (Moina macrocopa) for 7 days. The first experiment demonstrated that larvae initially fed at 30 hph exhibited a significantly higher survival rate (24%) than larvae initially fed at 36, 42, and 48 hph (19%, 16%, and 16%), respectively. The second experiment demonstrated that larvae fed at 8 and 11 ind/mL densities exhibited significantly higher survival rates (32% and 32%) than larvae fed at 3 and 5 ind/mL densities (13% and 23%), respectively. The third experiment demonstrated that the highest survival rate (66%) was obtained when larvae were fed 6 times per day. These results provide valuable insights regarding the optimal live feed regime for better growth and survival of P. hypophthalmus larvae, which are commercially important and numerously cultured throughout the Mekong Delta region.

The study is aimed to develop a relevant synbiotic to promote growth performance of the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. For this, four common natural fiber extracts from Arcera banana, Siamese banana, yellow sweet potato, and white sweet potato were screened for supporting the growth of Lactobacillus sp. which was isolated from whiteleg shrimp intestines with probiotic activity, prebiotic score, and ability to induce bacterial enzyme activities of protease, leu-aminopeptidase, and a-amylase. Results showed that Lactobacillus sp. was able to utilize all extracts from banana and sweet potato as the sole carbon sources. At 24 hours of culture, the growth of Lactobacillus sp. was highest after adding the extract from white sweet potato as the sole carbon source. Considering pathogenic bacteria, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, white sweet potato extract had the highest prebiotic score with a mean of 0.25 as compared with those of V. harveyi with a mean of 0.16. White sweet potato extract induced the highest activities of protease. These results indicated that white sweet potato extract was more suitable for combining with Lactobacillus sp. as a synbiotic for shrimp culture.

The aim of this study is to characterize the sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) isolates from the sediments of extensive shrimp ponds for recommending the use of this group for water quality management in aquaculture. Sediment samples were collected from 12 extensive shrimp ponds located in Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau provinces. To screen the potential sulfur oxidizing bacteria, medium was amended with sodium thiosulfate, and the sulfate ion production ability and sulfur oxidase enzyme activity of the isolates were measured spectrophotometrically. Results showed that 30 isolates grew on the thiosulfate agar medium. Among these, only five isolates reduced the pH of the growth medium and showed high sulfur oxidase activity and production of sulfate ion when isolates were inoculated with thiosulfate as a substrate. Physiological and biochemical tests indicated that five selected isolates were Gram negative, short rod, non-motile, non-spore forming, negative for oxidase reaction, and positive for catalase reaction. The isolates SOBTB1.1 and SOBTB6.2 showed the significantly higher sulfur oxidase activity and production of sulfate ion compared to other isolates. SOBTB6.2 isolate produced sulfate ion and exhibited higher sulfur oxidase activity at pH4-5, followed by pH6-7. It is, therefore, suggested that the SOBTB 1.1 and SOBTB6.2 could be promising sulfur oxidizers for further research and uses in aquaculture.

Nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm phân lập và sàng lọc một số chủng xạ khuẩn từ bùn đáy ao nuôi tôm có khả năng phân hủy hữu cơ và kháng Vibrio parahaemolyticus trong điều kiện in vitro. Tổng cộng 40 mẫu bùn được thu từ ao nuôi tôm ở Trà Vinh, Bạc Liêu và Cà Mau. Kết quả phân lập được 161 chủng có khả năng phát triển trên môi trường Starch Casein Agar (SCA), trong đó 54 chủng có đặc điểm nhận dạng giống với giống Streptomyces với các đặc điểm hình thái như tế bào gram dương, dương tính với catalase, âm tính với oxidase và có khả năng hình thành bào tử. Trong số 54 chủng, 12 chủng thể hiện hoạt tính kháng Vibrio parahaemolyticus với đường kính vòng vô trùng dao động 2,3-32,8 mm, trong đó 04 chủng CM1.1, CM2.4, DH3.4 và TV1.4 thể hiện hoạt tính kháng cao nhất. Bên cạnh đó, chủng DH3.4 được coi là tiềm năng với khả năng sinh hoạt tính enzyme α-amylase, protease và cellulase tương đối cao. Do đó, các chủng này có thể được sử dụng cho các nghiên cứu in vitro and in vivo ứng dụng trong nuôi trồng thủy sản.