Isolation of bacteriophages capable of lysis by Aeromonas hydrophila causing disease on red tilapia from cages in Vinh Long Province

Abstract

Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) is one of the bacteria that causes enormous damage to fish farmers worldwide and in Vietnam. Various treatment measures have been applied, but controlling these bacteria faces difficulties. Therefore, this study was conducted to isolate a bacteriophage (phage) capable of lysis from A. hydrophila that causes hemorrhagic disease in cage-raised red tilapia in Vinh Long province. A total of 10 phages were obtained from the liver, kidney, and spleen of diseased red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). The findings revealed that most phages have a broad host range in the A. hydrophila strains isolated in the study. Based on morphological characteristics under Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), phage ΦA3 with the broadest host range belongs to the Peduoviridae family (formerly Myoviridae). The results show the potential for applying phages to control pathogenic bacteria in red tilapia.