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The ornamental fish microbiome: Associations with health, disease resistance, and sustainable aquaculture
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Roxana Fallahi *   , Mohammad Reza Faezi , Golandam Aleali , Fereshteh Alealizadeh |
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Abstract: (3 Views) |
The ornamental fish microbiome is an emerging area of aquaculture research with potentially important implications for fish health, disease prevention, animal welfare, and the sustainability of production and husbandry systems. Microbial communities associated with the intestine, skin, gills, and surrounding aquatic environment interact with the host and with one another, potentially influencing nutrient metabolism, mucosal barrier integrity, immune response regulation, and susceptibility to pathogens. These interactions are particularly important in ornamental fish, as high stocking densities, transportation, handling, dietary changes, and fluctuations in water quality can affect the physiological and microbial balance of the system.
This article examines the composition and functions of the ornamental fish microbiome, the factors influencing its development, the potential mechanisms linking the microbiome to health and disease resistance, and the applications of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, paraprobiotics, and other microbiome-based interventions. The roles of microbial communities in aquarium water and on aquarium surfaces, environmental stressors, and exposure to antimicrobial agents are also considered. Recent evidence indicates that host species, habitat, diet, and rearing conditions are important determinants of microbiome structure, with substantial differences observed among species and even between wild and farmed fish. Advances in sequencing technologies, metagenomics, and multi-omics approaches offer opportunities for more precise health monitoring and the development of preventive strategies. However, microbial diversity alone is not a definitive or universally applicable indicator of health, and an observed association between microbiome alterations and disease does not necessarily establish a causal relationship. Achieving reliable practical applications requires the development of species-specific reference profiles, standardization of sampling and analytical methods, longitudinal studies, controlled pathogen-challenge trials, and rigorous biosafety assessments. Overall, integrating microbiome research with established principles of husbandry, biosecurity, appropriate nutrition, and water quality management can contribute to improved ornamental fish health and the development of preventive and environmentally responsible aquaculture practices.
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| Keywords: Ornamental fish, Microbiome, Gut microbiota, Mucosal immunity, Disease resistance, Probiotics, dysbiosis, Aquarium microbiology, Sustainable aquaculture |
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Full-Text [PDF 568 kb]
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
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Fallahi R, Faezi M R, Aleali G, Alealizadeh F. The ornamental fish microbiome: Associations with health, disease resistance, and sustainable aquaculture. , Ornamental Aquatics. 2026; 13 (3) :41-51 URL: http://ornamentalaquatics.ir/article-1-439-en.html
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