Introduction:

The spread of shrimp diseases worldwide during the last two decades increased the study of factors that modify the immune system.

Aim.

To review the main factors that modify the immune system of penaeid shrimp.

Development:

The factors that affect the immune system of shrimps are classified into abiotic and biotic. Among the abiotic factors are temperature, salinity, the pH, and the presence of nitrogenated compounds in the culture environment. Among the biotic factors are the characterization of external and internal microbiotas of animals, the analysis of bioactive compounds found in the habitats, and the development of sustainable culture methods, such a as the utilization of probiotics and the biofloc technology. The immune system is particularly susceptible to environmental changes. The microbiota and bioactive components can be important tools to enhance the immune system; however, little is known about how this could be used in practice.

Conclusions:

The utilization of probiotics and the biofloc technology can be very useful to enhance the response of the immune system in practice, and to produce sustainable culture, even when the mechanism activated to produce this effect is unknown.