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Shrimp farming is a significant contributor to the GDP of several growing Asian countries. However, the emergence of Enterocytozoon hepatopanaei (EHP) infection has had a negative impact on the Indian shrimp market, leading to increased mortality and growth retardation among shrimp populations. In order to address this issue, a study was conducted to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of neem aqueous extract (NAE) in treating EHP infection in shrimp. This study employed various approaches, including toxicity testing in zebrafish larvae to determine safe and suitable doses of NAE, as well as long-term exposure trials on adult shrimp. The results of the study indicated that NAE exposure improved the antioxidant defence system by boosting SOD, CAT and NO levels and immunological response of infected shrimp, effectively reducing oxidative stress and enhancing the activity of prophenoloxidase (PPO). Furthermore, histological evaluations demonstrated a decrease in EHP spore development in the shrimp hepatopancreas, while staining analyses revealed the presence of spores in shrimp faeces. Furthermore, the potential bioactive compounds in the extract were observed using GC-MS analysis. These findings highlight the potential of NAE as a natural and effective treatment option for EHP infection in shrimp, which holds significant implications for the aquaculture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poultry industry plays a significant role in boosting the economy of several countries, particularly developing countries, and acts as a good, cheap, and affordable source of animal protein. A stress-free environment is the main target in poultry production. There are several stressors, such as cold stress, heat stress, high stocking density, and diseases that can affect birds and cause several deleterious changes. Stress reduces feed intake and growth, as well as impairs immune response and function, resulting in high disease susceptibility. These effects are correlated with higher corticosteroid levels that modulate several immune pathways such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and Toll-like receptor signaling along with induction of excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thus oxidative stress. Several approaches have been considered to boost bird immunity to overcome stress-associated effects. Of these, dietary supplementation of certain nutrients and management modifications, such as light management, are commonly considered. Dietary supplementations improve bird immunity by improving the development of lymphoid tissues and triggering beneficial immune modulators and responses. Since nano-minerals have higher bioavailability compared to inorganic or organic forms, they are highly recommended to be included in the bird's diet during stress. Additionally, light management is considered a cheap and safe approach to control stress. Changing light from continuous to intermittent and using monochromatic light instead of the normal light improve bird performance and health. Such changes in light management are associated with a reduction of ROS production and increased antioxidant production. In this review, we discuss the impact of stress on the immune system of birds and the transcriptome of oxidative stress and immune-related genes, in addition, how nano-minerals supplementations and light system modulate or mitigate stress-associated effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]