Fig. 3

Transplantation of IM leads to similar symptom of WFS. a Schematic representation of IMT procedures. Control shrimp (n = 30) were received IMT from different donors to evaluate the causative role of IM dysbiosis to WFS. The shrimp suffered from WFS after IMT were selected as WFS donors for the subsequent IMT. To determine whether WFS shrimp can regress by IMT from donors without WFS, WFS shrimp (n = 22) were received IMT from Control donors and PBS. b Incidence of recipient shrimp suffered from WFS after the first IMT and the subsequent IMT. c Histological pathology of WFS shrimp. The black arrows point towards the disease signs of WFS (dropped epithelial cell, reduced, or disappeared microvilli, thinner mid intestine). d Observation of the progressive severity of WFS after IMT. e The WFS shrimp recovered to health by IMT from control donors. f Histological pathology confirmed that the diseased shrimp regressed to health