La biosécurité à l'Ifremer LEAD, station de Saint-Vincent

Penaeus stylirostris shrimp imported from Hawaii for a genetic program and kept at the Saint-Vincent research facility had progressively developed a high sensitivity to IHHNV, the etiological agent of the Infectious, Hypodermic, and Hematopoietic Necrosis. Fears were that the virus could not only be transferred to their offspring, but also that the New Caledonian strain of Penaeus stylirostris, so far considered as resistant, could become sensitive by an off balance of its hosts/pathogen equilibrium. In October 2008, a joint decision between Uprac (shimp owner), Davar (New Caledonian Animal Health Authority) and Ifremer (scientific partner) was taken to terminate all pure breed and hybrid Hawaiian populations remaining in the ponds, and to implement an intensive fallowing protocol, and controlled restocking. IHHNV was also suspected to trouble experiments carried out in the research facility (mortalities, deformities, slow growth), thus affecting research programs. Difficulties pointed out by IHHNV have triggered since 2008 some awareness on biosecurity issues at some level of the New Caledonian shrimp industry. At the St-Vincent research station, it led to a risk assessment and implementation of biosecurity procedures (fallowing, propagation, grow out and use of screened animals) which minimizes the risk of expression of IHHNV. The use of a brand new hatchery building on site also helped in resetting routine hygiene procedures during production and in controlling incoming and outgoing items (shrimp, water, feed, personnel, equipment, pests and wastes). IHHNV has not been detected on analysed samples since then nor have any symptoms been found during experimental or broodstock growout. Keeping this control alive is considered as a useful tool to lower the risk of potential health threats, to get a better understanding in case of an outbreak, and to increase the reliability of experimental results.