Effects of zinc-supplemented diets on growth, survival, and immune responses of the Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei Boone, 1931 (Decapoda, Dendrobranchiata)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of zinc (Zn)-supplemented diets on the growth, survival, and immunological indices of juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei . Four experimental diets were prepared and offered, which were: a non-supplemented basal diet (T1), a diet supplemented with organic Zn at 10 mg/kg (T2), a diet supplemented with organic Zn at 15 mg Zn/kg (T3), and a diet supplemented with inorganic Zn at 45 mg/kg (T4). In the 30-day feeding trial, specific growth rate, weight gain, and survival were significantly higher in shrimp fed T3 diets than in those fed T1 or T2. There were no significant differences in total haemocyte counts observed among the juvenile P. vannamei treated with Zn diets. In addition, dietary Zn supplementation significantly increased phagocytic activity of juvenile P. vannamei . Overall, these results indicate that appropriate dietary Zn has beneficial effects on growth, survival, and immune responses of juvenile Pacific white shrimp.