Can peptides be orally-delivered in crustaceans? The case study of the Crustacean Hyperglycaemic Hormone in Procambarus clarkii

The oral administration of substances in crustaceans is a growing field of research, and is considered the most effective way to convey elements in their body instead injections or other invasive techniques. It presents huge potentialities, in fact the production of emulsions that preserves the substance to be conveyed until it reaches the target organ finds application in the development of new vaccines, in the convey of substances for aquaculture purposes and in the administration of stressors to contrast the spreading of invasive crustacean species. The red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii, Girard 1852) is one of the most spread invasive species worldwide, but it is also considered among the most economically important freshwater crustacean species. For these reasons it is considered as a paradigmatic species.