Use of an essential oil blend formulation (EOBF) as an effective disinfectant against pathogenic luminescent Vibrio bacteria

Abstract

Vibrio, mainly Vibrio harveyi, V. campbellii, V. parahaemolyticus and V. splendidus, especially in their luminescent form are considered highly pathogenic to shrimp larvae. An effort was made to minimize the luminescent Vibrio load using an essential oil blend formulation (EOBF) consisting of Eucalyptus oil, jasmine oil, and gardenia oil in equal proportions. An eighteen-day small hatcheryscale trial was initiated, starting from the nauplii stage. The shrimp were distributed into three groups and four replicates each: a negative control, positive control with four replicates, and an EOBF treatment group. The shrimp at the mysis stage were challenged using a sublethal dose of 10 3 CFU/mL luminescent Vibrio harveyi. The obtained results indicated that the presence of harmful Vibrio in tank water, was almost one log lower in the EOBF group than in the positive control. The presence of pathogenic luminescent Vibrio in the positive control was 45%, whereas it was 19% in the treatment group. In addition, the EOBF-treated had better performance, and productivity. The results of this trial suggest that EOBF can reduce pathogenic Vibrio in hatchery environments and can increase productivity.