Microbial management for bacterial pathogen control in invertebrate aquaculture hatcheries

Abstract

In aquaculture production systems, the hatchery phase is the most challenging as larvae are prone to infections and disease from microbial agents causing mass mortalities. A holistic microbial management regime concept is developed with the hatchery managed as a set of compartments: (1) the water column (planktonic); (2) surfaces (biofilm); (3) the larvae themselves; and (4) feeds (live and formulated). Emphasis on the use of the microbial community as a whole to maintain larvae in high health with various prophylactic strategies is discussed. A range of treatment strategies are considered, including antibiotics, bacteriophage therapy, quorum sensing inhibition and microbial predation. Developing innovations and future trends in microbial management and biocontrol are outlined.