Red disease

Red disease, or red discoloration, is one of the common problems in shrimp farming. The hepatopancreas of normal decapod crustaceans contain a variety of carotenoid pigments, with most of the total-body content of beta-carotene being stored in the hepatopancreas. Atrophy and necrosis of the hepatopancreas result in release of stored beta-carotene and other carotenoids into the hemolymph. Distribution and deposition of hepatopancreatic carotenoids by the hemolymph into the tissues explains the red-tissue discoloration that characterizes this disease.

Red disease may be a generalized syndrome with more than one cause, resulting from a necrosis of the hepatopancrease and release of its content of carotenoid pigments into the hemolymph. This disease has not been as much of a problem in hatcheries as it has usually been found in the grow-out ponds.