The invertebrate immune system must rely on non-self-recognition
molecules to ensure efficient defense responses against
infectious pathogens that continuously threaten their survival.
In the last three decades, the country’s shrimp aquaculture industry
has been in quest to improve feed meal in the hope to
enhance the shrimp immune system. It is in this light, that C.
longa crude powder extract was evaluated as feed additive by
THC, and expression of two AMPs, crustin and lysozyme against
bacterial infection.
THC can be considered an indicator of shrimp health status
(Perazzolo et al 2002; Sritunyalucksana et al 2005) because
hemocytes contain several proteins that are involved in the
defense responses of the crustacean system (Johansson et al
2000). The mean THC of prawns fed with only commercial
feeds (D0) remained constant from Day 0 to 7. Meanwhile, the
mean THC of prawns fed with TF for seven days (D7) gradually
increased from Day 0 to 1 and there was a considerable
increase from Day 1 to 7 (Figure 1). This finding corroborates
the recent study of Lawhavinit et al (2011) where ethanol turmeric
extract was found to increase THC count in Litopenaeus
vannamei (Boone, 1931).