LOS BANOS, Laguna”•The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and University of Sto. Tomas have developed a technology to detect shrimp disease, which is better compared to detection methods available in the market, according to the expert researcher of the technology.
“We developed a technology to detect acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or early mortality syndrome,” Dr. Mary Beth Maningas, project leader of the study that developed the tech, said.
Maningas, of the University of Santo Tomas, led the DOST-PCAARRD Pathobiology and Molecular Detection of Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND)-Causing Bacteria in the Philippines Project.
She announced the tech during the council’s regular media conference for its researches in collaboration with other institutions held at DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center here.
AHPND has caused major economic loss in cultured shrimp production in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, and the Philippines.
In the country, the disease is detected in Bataan, Bulacan, Cebu, Bohol, Sarangani, and General Santos City.
About 30 newsmen attended the science research media conference.
“AHPND is caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a pervasive bacterium that thrives in marine waters. To detect the disease, we developed a diagnostic kit and heat block using loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP),” Maningas told the attending journalists.
“The technology addresses the need of Filipino shrimp farmers for diagnostic testing kit that provides results instantly,” she said.
“It is easy to set up, use, and is also cost cost-efficient as it only costs P300 per test. The available detection methods in the market are expensive, have low accuracy, and are difficult to use,” the doctor added.
LAMP is more advantageous in terms of cost, field applicability, visual detection, and ease of operation, she added.