Understanding the role of stress factors in disease incidence in shrimp aquaculture: A mini review

Authors

1 Shrimp Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bushehr, Iran

2 Persian Gulf Mollusks Research Station, Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Ecology Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bandar-Lengeh, Iran

3 Shrimp Nursery Cum Farming Consultant at K.K. AQUA Consulting, India

4 Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

10.22092/ijfs.2026.136201

Abstract

Stress in shrimp, triggered by environmental and management factors, increases susceptibility to pathogens and disease outbreaks, posing a major challenge to aquaculture. This review examines the interrelationship between stress and disease in shrimp farming, emphasizing stress management as a vital component of disease prevention. Shrimp in open farms encounter numerous stressors, including temperature and pH fluctuations, salinity changes, organic and suspended solids accumulation, overcrowding, hypoxia, and increased hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogenous compounds. Heavy metals, algal blooms, bacterial overload, pesticides, poor nutrition, feed issues, molting problems, and parasites also jeopardize shrimp health and productivity. This review outlines a comprehensive framework to manage stress and disease by keeping stressors within tolerable limits and by implementing appropriate mitigation strategies where feasible. It advocates for proactive stress control through suitable management practices and the application of appropriate technologies during shrimp rearing to sustain health and optimize productivity. Key strategies include maintaining water quality, optimizing stocking density, and closely monitoring environmental and biological stress indicators. By emphasizing regular health monitoring and early disease detection, this approach can preemptively address potential outbreaks, reducing their impacts on shrimp stocks and farm economics. This review provides an in-depth analysis of stress-disease dynamics in shrimp aquaculture, guiding farmers to create resilient, disease-resistant, and sustainable farming operations.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 5
September 2026
Pages 917-936

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics