The correlation between ectoparasite infestation and the total plate count of Vibrio sp. in pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in ponds

Ectoparasite infestation and Vibrio sp. bacterial infection are a major factor causing the death of pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), which can cause an increased mortality rate up to 100% only three days after infection, especially in hatcheries. Ectoparasites that are often found in shrimp culture include Zoothamnium sp., Epistylis sp. and Vorticella sp. Meanwhile, the vibrio bacteria that are often found in the same setting are Vibrio alginolitycus, Vibrio harveyii, Vibrio parahaemoliticus and Vibrio fulvinicus. The aim of this research was to analyze the correlation between ectoparasite infestation and the total plate count of Vibrio sp. in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) during a culture of up to 90 days in ponds. The method used in the research study was an experimental design with a sampling time spaced out over 0, 30, 60 and 90 days. The results showed that the ectoparasites found to be infecting the white shrimp were Zoothamnium sp. and Vorticella sp. with the lowest number of ectoparasites being 4 individuals found on the 90^th day. The highest number was 63 parasites on the 60^th day. The lowest Vibrio sp. total plate count was 2.9 x 10⁴ CFU/g and the highest was 5.55 x 10⁴ CFU/g.