A review on pathogenicity of Aeromonas hydrophila and their mitigation through medicinal herbs in aquaculture

Aeromonas hydrophila is a freshwater, facultatively anaerobic, chemo-organoheterotrophic bac-terium that distressed fishes with gastroenteritis, septicemia and causes a disease known as Motile Aeromonas Septicemia (MAS), which affects the aquatic environment. Haemolysin, aerolysin, cytosine, gelatinase, enterotoxin and antimicrobial peptides have been identified as virulence factors in A. hydrophila. Medicinal herbs/plants and their uses are the instant, easily available, cost-effective, efficient and eco-friendly approach for socio-economic, sustainable development of modern aquaculture practice. Phytotherapy either through a dip or by incorporation into the diets is an alternative approach to synthetic pharmaceuticals to diminish the pathogenicity of aquatic environmental pathogens. Due to the presence of remarkable phytoconstituents like flavonoids, alkaloids, pigments, terpenoids, steroids and essential oils, the medicinal plant exhibits anti-microbial, appetite-stimulating, anti-stress, growth-promoting and immunostimulatory activ-ities. Aqua-industry preferred phytotherapy-based techniques/compounds to develop resistance against a variety of aquatic pathogens in culturable fishes because they are inexpensive and environment-friendly. As a result, this review elaborates on the diverse applications of phyto-therapy as a promising tool for disease management in aquaculture and a major step toward organic aquaculture.

Automated summary

Aeromonas hydrophila is a freshwater bacterium that causes gastroenteritis and septicemia in fishes and leads to the disease known as Motile Aeromonas Septicemia (MAS). Virulence factors such as haemolysin, aerolysin, cytosine, gelatinase, enterotoxin, and antimicrobial peptides have been identified in A. hydrophila. Phytotherapy using medicinal herbs/plants with their bioactive compounds is an alternative and eco-friendly approach to reduce the pathogenicity of aquatic environmental pathogens. This review emphasizes the diverse applications of phytotherapy in aquaculture disease management, contributing to the development of organic aquaculture.