The shrimp nephrocomplex serves as a major portal of pathogen entry and is involved in the molting process
Gaëtan M. A. De Gryse, Thuong Van Khuong, Benedicte Descamps, Wim Van Den Broeck, Christian Vanhove, Pieter Cornillie, Patrick Sorgeloos, Peter Bossier, Hans Nauwynck
Abstract
Significance The ever-growing human population faces problems providing sufficient animal proteins. For shellfish, wild catch is supplemented by aquaculture to meet this increasing global demand. However, aquaculture faces serious problems with infectious diseases. One of the main problems for oriented disease control is lack of information on pathogen entry in the host. The present study fully describes the anatomy of the shrimp’s excretory organ, the antennal gland, identifying the organ as a major portal candidate. Additional findings show that pathogens may indeed enter through this organ naturally, infecting shrimp. We also demonstrate involvement in molting. These insights into the molting process and pathogen entry open doors in fundamental biology and the potential development of disease control measures.