Preventive and Prophylactic Measures in Intensive Salmonid Fish Breeding - a Review

Aquaculture represents the fastest growing animal husbandry in many countries word-wide. Intensive fish production has increased the risk of infectious diseases all over the world. Bacterial pathogens probably cause most disease problems in aquaculture. Most infectious bacterial diseases in commercial fish species continue to be controlled by treatment with chemotherapeutic agents although they represent a potential environmental hazard and could also have negative effects on the quality of the final product. The most important problem of antibiotic treatment is the increase in resistant bacteria, the presence of their residues in aquaculture products and the resulting threat to human health. Therefore, it is most effective to prevent the introduction or onset of the disease. Beside preventing the introduction of pathogens, good water quality, reduction of environmental stressors, adequate nutrition and immunization, many substances improving the health status of fish, such as immunostimulants, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics and so on, are used in fish breeding. The present review gives an overview of preventive and prophylactic substances which can be used in salmonid fish breeding to improve the health status of fish.