AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE www.arccjournals.com / indianjournals.com Indian J. Anim. Res., 47 (6) : 479-485, 2013 SURVEY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF DISEASES IN GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN (MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII DE MAN) IN HARYANA Vijayanti Jakhar*, R.C. Sihag and S.K. Gahlawat 1 Department of Zoology Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar- 125004, India Received: 29-10-2012 Accepted: 19-06-2013 ABSTRACT Recently, an increasing number of shrimp farms have raised concern over prawn health because of their economic impact on farm operations. This study was aimed to investigate diseases in giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man) in Haryana. The freshwater prawns (M. rosenbergii) being cultured in all the fish farms surveyed (2006 to 2009) were found to be infected with diseases. The diseases in prawns appeared in the months of September–November. The range of level of infestation was variable at the three fish farms. Due to diseases the prawns are at risk of mortality especially, shell disease. The bacteria were subjected to a number of important biological tests and identified with the help of Computer Programme, PIBWin. The confirmation of these bacteria was done with the help of growth of pure culture of these isolates on the selective media. Seven bacterial types were isolated and identified from the diseased prawn. The pathogenicity of these bacteria was tested through in vitro and in vivo tests. Key words: Diseases, Freshwater prawn. *Corresponding author’s e-mail: vijayanti.jakhar@yahoo.co.in 1 Department of Biotechnology, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa- 125055 (Haryana) India. INTRODUCTION Giant Freshwater Prawn or Scampi a native prawn of Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Kampuchea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Philippines. Production of M. rosenbergii is also reported from Israel, Japan, Hawaii, Mauritius, Taiwan, and some countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (New, 1990). It plays an important role in the aquaculture and fisheries industry as important organism. Freshwater aquaculture is the largest contributor to aquaculture production. The fisheries sector (capture fisheries and culture fisheries) contributes significantly to the Indian agricultural economy (Ayyappan, 2004). Shrimp immunology and disease prevention has become a prime area of research. According to Lightner (1992), the need to reduce the lethal and weakening effects of pathogens is stimulating a renewed interest in the defense mechanisms and the immune system of crustaceans. Bacterial infections and diseases are very common in intensive fish culture and probably are of the biggest cause of fish health problems (Manavasta, 1985). It is necessary to prevent or control the spread of these infectious diseases for the future aquaculture practices. Destruction of infected broodstock, use of antibiotics and probiotics (Gatesoupe, 1999); immunostimulant chemical control, and close shrimp cycle can be used to prevent shrimp disease outbreak. Good sanitary practices should be implemented as important practice to prevent diseases (Avault, 1997), as well as an early diagnostic evaluation of shrimp (healthy or infected). Disease outbreaks are the major constraint to this venture thereby affecting both economic development and socio-economic status of the local people in many countries of Asia-Pacific region (FAO, 2003). Keeping in view of above fact, a survey was conducted from July 2006 to December, 2009 to study fresh water prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii ) diseases in Haryana. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of material and characterization of disease: The live/moribund/ diseased prawns were collected from fish farms viz. Sultan Fish Farm, Mahender Fish Farm and Charanjeet Fish Farm