una Good practices in aquaculture production and pathogen detection in rainbow trout farms

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate the compliance with Good Aquaculture Practices (GAPs) in the Health Compliance Units (UPAs) during the incubation of rainbow trout eggs and to identify the presence of Aeromonas salmonicida and Aeromonas hydrophila using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Seven and three egg incubation UPAs were identified in Puebla and Veracruz, respectively. An structured questionnaire was applied to evaluate the compliance with the GAPs. Samples were collected from the trout avelin batches and were analyzed in search of A. salmonicida and A. hydrophila using the PCR technique. The results were compared with the health characteristics of the fish of each batch.

Results: The GAP-certified UPAs comply with the recommendations made by the authorities and do not show morbidity. UPAs that comply with less GAP points have health issues. A. hydrophila was detected in batches with a lower compliance with the GAPs. The presence of A. salmonicida was not identified.

Study Limitations/Implications: The lack of compliance with the GAPs can lead to infection by other trout pathogens (not taken into consideration in this study).

Findings/Conclusions: Compliance with the GAPs reduces the health risk at the rainbow trout egg incubation UPAs.