A novel report of fungal pathogen Aspergillus awamori causing black gill infection on Litopenaeus vannamei (pacific white shrimp)

Litopenaeus vannamei (pacific white shrimp) is the most cultured shrimp species which is also susceptible to microbial diseases like other shrimps. In the present study, the fungi, Aspergillus awamoriKM434331 caused black gill disease to pacific white shrimp. It was first reported from L. vannamei in shrimp grow out pond located at Vellapallam, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. A. awamoriKM434331 was isolated from affected gill of shrimp. Further, its morphological, cultural and phylogenetic characteristics were identified. The histopathological depiction is inflammatory response of L. vannamei against A. awamoriKM434331 are haemocytic infiltration, encapsulation, melanization and collagen-like fibre deposition in the gill. In addition to that, Aspergillus awamoriKM434331 cause dysfunction of gills that leads to chronic mortality in the grow-out pond of shrimps.