Vibrio infections represent a serious problem for aquaculture, affecting species such as turbot, salmon, seabass, and shrimp. Antibiotic resistance, climate change, and restrictions on conventional treatments increase the risk of vibriosis, making a natural, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative necessary.
AZTI has developed a biotechnological technology based on bacteriophages specific to Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio anguillarum. This tool can be applied in water, feed, and farming environments.
This biotechnological solution can be used as an alternative to antibiotics, or as a complementary tool to conventional hygiene and biosecurity measures, without altering beneficial microbiota in fish or the environment.
In vivo effectiveness tests have shown that the use of phages as a treatment is not harmful to animals and, depending on the conditions of use, reduces and delays mortality caused by infection with Vibrio harveyi.
Although further testing is required to optimise application methods and conditions, these results consolidate AZTI’s position as a reference organisation in the development of biotechnological tools for the biocontrol of animal pathogens and bacteria responsible for zoonotic infections, from a One Health perspective.
Sectors: Food and Health, Food sector
Research lines: Biotechnology, Blue Economy, Efficient, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, Food Quality and Safety, One health
Research sublines: Blue biotechnology, Food biotechnology, Minimising food safety risks