Background: Necrotizing Hepatopancreatitis (NHP) is a bacterial disease caused by Gram-negative bacteria (Hepatobacter penaei). This rickettsia affects shrimp farmed in several countries around the world. To prevent the outbreak of this disease, shrimp farms establish sampling programs to review, from a health point of view, the cultured organisms, carrying out specific analyses with the support of quality control or pathology laboratories.

Objectives: The objective of this research is to correlate molecular analysis (PCR by isothermal isolation) and fresh analysis to detect the bacteria H. penaei (NHP) in two shrimp farms in the state of Falcón, Venezuela.

Methods: These shrimp farms (categorized as F1 and F2) are located on the western coast of Falcón state (Gulf of Venezuela) where an NHP outbreak occurred. Samples were taken from all ponds (from both farms), capturing the animals with a two-meter cast net, and immediately taking them to the laboratory to perform fresh analysis and molecular analysis.

Results: In F1 a Relative Frequency (RF) for NHP of 0.02 was obtained and a RF: 0.05 (in F2) with fresh analysis. In the case of the molecular analysis, an RF: 0.06 for NHP was obtained in F1, and an RF: 0.25 for NHP for F2. When calculating the correlation, an R: 0.5654 was obtained in F1, showing a medium relationship, and an R2: 0.3197, relating both analysis techniques by 31.97%. In F2, R: 0.3973 and R2: 0.1578 were obtained, determining little relationship between both analyses for this shrimp farm.

Conclusion: the results of the relative frequency (RF) and correlation (R and R2) between molecular and fresh analysis techniques in shrimp farms show a moderate relationship in the first farm (F1) and a weak relationship in the second farm (F2).