Abstract:In order to evaluate the acute toxicity and stress of nitrite on L. vannamei in low salinity, the acute toxicity of nitrite on L. vannamei, changes in antioxidant indicators of shrimps during n itrite (4, 8 mg/L) exposure and recovery periods, and the survival rate, molting rate, and feeding time of shrimps 24 h after recovery were measured at a salinity of 1 . Results showed that the 24, 48, 72, and 96 h LC50 of nitrite on L. vannamei were 15.96, 9.97, 7.54, and 5.25 mg/L, respectively, with a safe concentration ( SC ) of 0.53 mg/L. After exposure to different concentrations of nitrite, the activity of SOD in the hemolymph of shrimp increased, and was significantly higher than that at 0 h (P < 0.05) , the activity in the hepatopancreas of shrimps treated with 8 mg/L nitrite for 3 and 6 h was significantly higher than that in the 4 mg/L group (P < 0.05). The GSH-PX activity in hemolymph and hepatopancreas increased, and the activity in the 8 mg/L group was significantly higher than that in the 4 mg/L group at 6 h (P < 0.05). The CAT activity in the hemolymph decreased and was significantly lower in the 4 mg/L group at 6 and 24 h than that at 0 h (P < 0.05), the activity in the hepatopancreas fluctuated and was significantly higher at 24 h than at 0 h (P < 0.05) , and the activity was significantly higher at 24 h after shrimp treated with 8 mg/L nitrite than that in the 4 mg/L group (P < 0.05). After shrimps were transferred to normal culture water for 24 h (F24), the MDA content in the hepatopancreas was still significantly higher than that at 0 h (P < 0.05), and the content in the 8 mg/L group was significantly higher than that in the 4 mg/L group (P < 0.05); shrimps in 4 and 8 mg/L groups (F24) showed a decrease in survival rate, a significant increase in molting rate (P < 0.05) and a significant extension in feeding time (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. The survival rate in the 8 mg/L group (F24) was significantly lower than that in the 4 mg/L group (F24) (P < 0.05), while the feeding time was significantly greater than that in the 4 mg/L group (F24) ( P < 0.05). These findings suggest that in low-salinity aquaculture water, nitrite toxicity is strong, which has a significant impact on the antioxidant function of shrimps. Under low salinity conditions, to ensure healthy aquaculture, the concentration of nitrite should be controlled within 0.53 mg/L.