Anesthetic potential of different essential oils for two shrimp species, Farfantepenaeus paulensis and Litopenaeus vannamei (Decapoda, Crustacea)

The use of anesthetics in aquaculture ensures better animal welfare and survival during transport and the production cycle. The present study evaluated the anesthetic efficacy of essential oils (EOs) of Lippia alba (EOLA) and Ocimum gratissimum (EOOG) for pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis, and EOs of Origanum majorana (EOO) and Cymbopogon citratus (EOC) for white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. shrimp were exposed to (i) 500, 750 or 1000 mu L L-1 of EOLA or (ii) 50, 100, 150 or 250 mu L L-1 of EOOG, and L. vannamei were exposed to (iii) 150, 300 or 500 mu L L-1 of EOC or (iv) 400 or 800 mu L L-1 of EOO. The induction times were concentration dependent, with a decrease in induction time with the increase of the EOs concentration, but for EOLA, this pattern was observed only for anesthesia. Induction times for sedation and anesthesia were significantly shorter for shrimp exposed to EOC and EOO. The highest concentration of EOOG (250 mu L L-1) resulted in 30% mortality. The recovery time was significantly longer for shrimp exposed to 800 mu L L-1 of EOO compared to the other EOs. Overall, the action of EOs significantly differed between the two shrimp species. In conclusion, the tested EOs effectively anesthetized F. paulensis and L. vannamei.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the anesthetic efficacy of essential oils for two shrimp species, with induction times decreasing with concentration increase, and some mortality observed at the highest concentration of EOOG. Shrimp exposed to EOC and EOO had significantly shorter induction times, while those exposed to EOO had significantly longer recovery times. Overall, the action of essential oils differed significantly between the two shrimp species.