In New Caledonia (South Pacific) the shrimp culture industry represents
the second largest export industry with an annual production of
2200 metric tons and 167 million postlarvae in 2005 (Etablissement
de Régulation des Prix Agricoles, ERPA, 2008) and is based upon the Pacific
blue shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris. However, this production has
dramatically dropped to 1200 metric tons and 123 million juveniles
per year since 2009. In grow-out ponds this decline is mainly due to
two seasonal vibrioses responsible for recurring mortality outbreaks.
The first, named ‘Syndrome 93’,mainly occurs during the southernwinter
(from mid-May to mid-September) and is caused by Vibrio
penaeicida (Goarant et al., 1999). The second vibriosis, due to Vibrio
nigripulchritudo, occurs during the warm season (from mid-November
to mid-April) and is called ‘Summer Syndrome