AUTHOR=Kumari Ritu , Yadav Ragini , Kumar Deepak , Chaube Radha , Nath Gopal 

TITLE=Evaluation of bacteriophage therapy of Aeromonas hydrophila infection in a freshwater fish, Pangasius buchanani

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aquaculture

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aquaculture/articles/10.3389/faquc.2023.1201466

DOI=10.3389/faquc.2023.1201466

ISSN=2813-5334

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The present study aimed to optimize the doses and schedule of specific bacteriophage cocktails in freshwater fish infections as prophylactic and therapeutic measures.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>The three most active phages against <italic>Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila</italic>) (φAHBHU12, φAHBHU16, and φAHBHU19) were characterized phenotypically and genotypically. Intramuscular and water immersion routes were used to calculate the absolute lethal dose of <italic>A. hydrophila</italic> in <italic>Pangasius buchanani</italic>. Phage therapy was given simultaneously and after 6, 12, and 24 h of bacterial challenge through intramuscular and water immersion routes.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The prophylactic and early phage administration could save the fish. Furthermore, the dose of intramuscular 1.0 × 10<sup>4</sup> plaque-forming unit (PFU)/fish and water immersion 1.0 × 10<sup>6</sup> PFU mL<sup>–1</sup> of the phage cocktail was optimal.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>The efficacy of bacteriophage therapy as preventive or curative measures practical when administered simultaneously or early hours of <italic>A. hydrophila</italic> infection in aquaculture systems. Phage-based approaches may be used as an alternative to antibiotics in aquaculture to reduce antibiotic use as a part of the “One Health” approach.</p></sec>