Frequency of bacterial and viral pathogens in farmed fish from an aquaculture laboratory in Piura, Peru

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of pathogens in farmed fish in Peru, based on the analysis of samples from an aquaculture laboratory during the period 2020-2023. Data were taken related to the sample date, species, development stage, origin, seasonality (spring, summer, winter, autumn), type of pathogen (bacteria, virus), type of pathogen according to its sanitary condition (mandatory notification, emerging, national productive importance, not listed, according to SANIPES). In total, 93 reports were collected that included 822 samples analysed, of which 9.6% (79/822) showed a positive result for a pathogen by PCR, with one sample containing two pathogens. Data showed that 58.8% (47/80) corresponded to bacteria and 41.3% (33/80) to viruses, 41.3% (33/80) correspon ded to TiLV, 26.3% (21/80) to Flavobacterium psychrophilum, 18.8% (15/80) to Aeromonas hydrophila and 13.8% (11/80) to Yersinia ruckeri. TiLV and A. hydrophila were more common in tilapia, while F. psychrophilum and Y. ruckeri were more common in trout. The department with the highest number of positive samples was San Martín (39.2%; 31/79), and the season was spring with 40.5% (32/79).