Tim Fregel, a researcher and adviser at the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec), said the breakthrough was due to cooperation between Thai and Taiwanese researchers.
The test can detect the fatal AHPND bacteria in shrimps within three hours, a huge improvement on the current method which takes around three weeks.
Prof Fregel said the new test for AHPND bacteria decodes DNA collected from samples of sediment, shrimp food or shrimp tissue.
A comparison is then made to see if the DNA sequence matches that of the AHPND bacteria.
The current method not only takes longer, but is more complicated. It starts with collecting shrimp bacteria, cultivating them and releasing them to the shrimps, then waiting to see if they die.
If the shrimps die, an outbreak of AHPND bacteria can be confirmed.
"The longer we take to confirm an outbreak, the bigger the loss for the farmer, as they can't take preventive measures. The rapid test is both a precaution and a prevention against outbreaks," he said.
Since the EMS outbreak in 2012, Thai shrimp farming has halved in productivity, not due to shrimps dying, but because farmers cut investments to prevent losses.
EMS spread from China in 2009 to Vietnam by 2010, to Malaysia by 2011 and to Thailand by 2012. Efforts to control the spread of AHPND were hampered by the lack of specific and rapid detection methods.
The rapid test is 99% accurate so far. More research and development is needed before it is 100% accurate, Prof Fregel said.
The research team has been working on the test since 2011 with support from the Department of Public Health at Mahidol University, the Aquaculture Business Research Centre, the faculty of fisheries at Kasetsart University and Burapha University, and shrimp farmer clubs in the South.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The US remains Vietnam’s largest single market for shrimp imports, accounting for 20% of Vietnam's total shrimp exports globally. As of October 15th, 2024, Vietnamese shrimp exports to the US reached nearly 600 million dollas, marking a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports to Canada reached over 1 million USD in the first half of October 2024, a 33% decrease compared to the same period last year. However, by October 15, 2024, total pangasius exports to Canada had reached 32 million USD, reflecting a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Cà Mau is accelerating its digital transformation, developing green industries, and promoting high-tech processing of agricultural and aquatic products, with a focus on sustainable economic growth and environmental protection.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Dong Thap Pangasius Festival 2024, themed 'Dong Thap Pangasius: Green Journey - Green Value', will take place on November 16-17 in Hong Ngu City.
The positive business momentum in the domestic seafood sector could last into the first half of 2025, according to experts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three quarters of 2024, brackish water shrimp production exceeded 1.1 million tons, with export revenue reaching $2.8 billion. The seafood industry has set a target of $4 billion for shrimp exports for the entire year.
While the price of 1 kg of shrimp hovers around 20 USD, the value of 1 kg of chitosan—extracted from shrimp—can soar to 500 USD. This highlights a significant challenge within the seafood processing industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By October, Vietnam's shrimp exports had generated nearly $3 billion, reflecting an increase of over 10% compared to the same period last year. Shrimp remains the leading commodity contributing to the export turnover of the entire seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company (FIMEX VN - HoSE: FMC) concluded Q3/2024 with significant growth in revenue. Specifically, Sao Ta Food recorded revenue of VND 2,845 billion, a 58.6% increase year-on-year. The company's profit after tax reached VND 95 billion, up 6.2%.
VASEP's Seafood Export Report for the third quarter of 2024 provides a comprehensive overview of Vietnam's seafood export performance in the first nine months, with impressive results reaching $7.2 billion—an increase of 9% over the same period last year. In the third quarter alone, seafood exports grew by 15%, totaling $2.8 billion. This growth is attributed to a recovery in demand and prices in key markets such as the U.S. and China, as well as the competitive advantage of value-added products in markets like Japan and Australia.
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