Effects of black soldier fly larval meal on the growth performance, survival, immune responses, and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of black soldier fly larval (BSFL) meal as a fish meal (FM) replacement on the growth performance, survival, immune responses, and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection in Pacific white shrimp fed a low FM diet. Four experimental diets were formulated: control (with 12% FM), 2, 5, and 10% BSFL meal. In Experiment 1, shrimp postlarvae were divided into four groups, corresponding to the four diets; they were fed four times daily for 45 days. In Experiment 2, the surviving shrimp from Experiment 1 were challenged with V. parahaemolyticus by immersion at a concentration of 10(5 )CFU/mL and were fed with the same diets for another 7 days to evaluate the disease resistance. Results demonstrated that the 5 and 10% BSFL meal-fed shrimp had significantly increased body weight, decreased hepatopancreatic and intestinal Vibrio spp. count, and improved immune parameters. The survival rates of all BSFL meal groups after the bacterial challenge were at least 60%, which were significantly higher than the control (50%). In short, 5-10% BSFL meal can partially replace FM in the shrimp feed without compromising health conditions and disease resistance.