WFS

White feces syndrome (WFS) is an emerging disease that threatens the sustainability of shrimp aquaculture. However, the relationships among host physiological status, intestinal microbiota, and environmental microbial communities during WFS outbreaks remain unclear. This study investigated intestinal antioxidant capacity, intestinal microbiota, sediment microbiota, and water quality parameters in Litopenaeus vannamei affected by WFS. The results showed that WFS shrimp exhibited reduced antioxidant enzyme activities and increased MDA levels, indicating altered antioxidant responses. Intestinal microbial community structure differed significantly between healthy and WFS shrimp, with shifts in dominant taxa and predicted metabolic functions. Sediment microbial communities also showed significant compositional changes. In addition, nitrogen-related water quality parameters differed between groups. These findings suggest that WFS is associated with alterations in host antioxidant responses and microbial ecological balance. This study provides new insights into host–microbiota–environment interactions and may contribute to improved disease management strategies in shrimp aquaculture.