Protecting the health of farmed aquatic animals: Third-generation probiotics as essential 'bodyguards'

Aquaculture faces disease outbreaks, seeks solutions in probiotics

According to the Directorate of Fisheries and Fishery Surveillance (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the first eight months of 2025 saw complex and expanding disease outbreaks in aquaculture nationwide. Data from the Vietnam Animal Health Information System (VAHIS) recorded disease cases in 94 communes across 13 provinces and cities, with multiple types of diseases causing widespread losses.

White spot disease was the most common, affecting 1,561 ha, or 3.17% of the total cultivated area (49,225 ha). Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) impacted nearly 978 ha in 77 communes across 10 provinces, accounting for 3.26% of the affected area. Infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), though recorded only in two communes with 30.5 ha affected, showed a very high infection rate of 23.31%.

Other dangerous diseases were also reported, such as Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) and Bacillary necrosis of pangasius (BNP) in Ho Chi Minh city, affecting 40% and 37.5% of stock, respectively. In Dong Thap, white liver and white gill disease covered 11.05% of the area, while red gill disease and parasites were also present at high levels in some communes.

In the face of these disease threats, many farmers have proactively adopted preventive measures. Farmer Pham Van Truong from Phu Tho is a prime example. He manages 1.3 ha raising grass carp, common carp, and tilapia. Each year, he earns hundreds of millions of VND thanks to using probiotics.

From his point of view, probiotics are the key to maintaining a clean water environment and pond bottoms, keeping fish healthy, reducing disease, and promoting fast, even growth. “After each crop, I drain and dry the pond, then carefully treat it with probiotics before stocking the next batch. Over a 6 - 7 month cycle, I apply probiotics 14 - 15 times, spending only VND 7 - 8 million. Compared to the gained profits, this investment is small but highly effective. It minimizes the risk of disease, cuts down on feed, and boosts productivity,” he said.

Choosing reliable probiotic products is crucial

Not only farmers but also scientists stress the importance of probiotics. As viewed by Dr. Truong Dinh Hoai, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries at Vietnam National University of Agriculture, using probiotics to prevent disease and gradually replace antibiotics is an inevitable trend.

Despite clear benefits for water and disease management, many farmers hesitate to adopt these vital biosecurity tools. One major reason is the uneven quality across a crowded marketplace. Packaging often claims very high levels of beneficial microbes, but when applied in ponds, many strains adapt poorly and fail to survive, resulting in disappointing outcomes.

This inconsistency also creates wide price variations, from just tens of thousands to several hundred thousands of VND per product. Farmers who choose cheap, low-quality probiotics may see little benefit, making them reluctant to abandon their old habit of relying on antibiotics and chemicals for treatment, or leaning toward disease prevention.

Dr. Hoai urged farmers to become “smart consumers,” prioritizing probiotics with clear origins that have been researched, tested, and proven effective under real farming conditions in Vietnam.

As aquaculture demands intensify, probiotics must evolve. Initially, first-generation probiotics focused on water treatment. The industry then advanced to second-generation products that aided digestion and toxic gas reduction.

Now, third-generation probiotics must also provide strong inhibition of pathogens. This is an urgent requirement amid increasingly complex disease outbreaks, the emergence of new and dangerous pathogens, and the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

“Companies today are racing to improve product quality by selecting and developing strains that combine all three critical functions - water treatment, gas reduction, and pathogen inhibition. These innovations respond to real production needs, help reduce antibiotic abuse, and move the aquaculture industry toward a safe and sustainable path,” said Dr. Truong Dinh Hoai.