ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), formerly the Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Training Centre, is a research institute for freshwater aquaculture research and development in India, It is situated in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It was founded in 1987 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. Its genesis lies in the Pond Culture Division of Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Cuttack which started the training center at Kausalyaganga, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar for Developing and Training on Inland Fishery..
Microorganisms play pivotal roles in maintaining host physiology and ecosystem balance, with fish-associated microbiomes offering unique insights due to the diverse habitats and feeding behaviours of their hosts. This review comprehensively explores the diversity, composition, and functional roles of gut and skin-associated microbial communities in fish across freshwater, brackish, and marine environments, with emphasis on recent advancements in metagenomic methodologies. Culture-independent techniques, particularly high-throughput and third-generation sequencing technologies, have revolutionized our ability to uncover microbial diversity, gene functions, and interspecies interactions. The fish gut microbiome, heavily influenced by factors such as diet, habitat, and host species, contributes significantly to nutrient metabolism, immune modulation, and physiological adaptation. Similarly, the skin microbiota provides a critical first line of defence, offering protection through competitive exclusion and antimicrobial activity. Functional metagenomics reveals microbial contributions to host metabolism, energy homeostasis, xenobiotic degradation, and environmental adaptation via the gut-brain axis and metabolic pathways. Emerging evidence highlights the bidirectional relationships between microbiota and host phenotypic plasticity. This review underscores the importance of integrative metagenomic approaches to decode complex microbial functions and their ecological relevance in aquaculture, with implications for sustainable fish health management, disease prevention, and improved productivity.
The present study evaluated the impact of different stocking densities (SD 10, SD 20, and SD 30 fish m−3) on the growth, survival, physiological responses, and economic returns in Amur carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) reared in cages for 180 days. The juveniles of Amur carp (12.27 ± 0.31 cm; 35.6 ± 3.16 g) were stocked in galvanised iron cages in triplicate and fed with a floating pellet diet (28% CP, 4% CF) at a gradually reduced rate, from 5 to 3% of body weight per day during the culture period. Growth attributes, including final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed utilisation indices, declined significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing stocking density. The survival rate was noticed to be lower at higher densities. Although biomass was higher at SD 30, physiological and biochemical analyses indicated crowding stress, with increased levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glucose, cortisol, and antioxidant enzymes. Conversely, serum proteins, lipids, thyroid hormones, and immune markers were decreased with density. Poor digestive enzyme activities in terms of amylase and protease were noticed at higher densities, resulting in lower muscle protein content at SD 30. Haematological parameters like red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin, haematocrit, and platelets increased with density, whilst white blood cells (WBC) remained unchanged. Water quality parameters remained within optimal ranges with minimal variation between inside and outside the cages. The calculated benefit–cost ratio was highest at SD 10 (1.38). Correlation analysis and Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) indices confirmed density-induced stress, identifying 10 fish/m3 as the optimal stocking density for Amur carp in tropical Indian reservoir cage culture. These findings support evidence-based management strategies that enhance fish welfare and farmer profitability whilst minimising ecological impacts, thereby promoting responsible aquaculture and advancing sustainable food production in line with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Tilapia lake virus (TiLV), an orthomyxovirus, poses a significant threat to global tilapia aquaculture. However, there has been limited success in developing commercial vaccines. The current study assessed the protective efficacy of a cell culture-derived, formalin-inactivated whole virus vaccine for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) administered via injection or immersion. Upon viral challenge, the vaccinated fish yielded relative percent survivals of 100% and 83.88% to injection and immersion vaccinations, respectively. Immune responses were assessed through standardized IgM and IgZ indirect ELISAs in blood and mucus, and through immune gene expression profiling in spleen and kidney tissues. IgM levels were significantly elevated in vaccinated fish from 14 days post-vaccination and remained detectable up to 180 days, with peak responses at days 28 (in serum) and 42 (in mucus). Similarly, IgZ level was significantly higher in vaccinated fish than in the control throughout the study period, with a peak at 28 days. Innate and adaptive immune genes (IgM, IgD, IgZ, MHC I, MHC II, CD4, IL1β, Mx, NFκβ, RSAD2, IRF3, and TLR2) were consistently up-regulated in vaccinated fish. Collectively, the results indicate that the inactivated whole-virus vaccine is capable of stimulating coordinated humoral and cellular responses against TiLV, supporting its potential use in commercial settings.
The use of probiotics is increasingly becoming a strategic tool in aquaculture production systems to mitigate the impacts of antimicrobial resistance. The effects of dietary Bacillus licheniformis on the immune response and disease resistance of Cirrhinus mrigala were investigated following a 30-day growth trial. One hundred eighty fingerlings (10 ± 2 g) were randomly assigned to five groups (three replicates each) and fed either a control diet or diets supplemented with B. licheniformis at 1.0 × 10⁶ cfu g⁻1 (BL-6), 0.5 × 10⁷ cfu g⁻1 (BL-05.7), 1.0 × 10⁷ cfu g⁻1 (BL-7), or 0.5 × 10⁸ cfu g⁻1 (BL-8). Probiotic supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) improved weight gain percentage, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio. B. licheniformis at 10⁷ cfu g⁻1 and higher competitively replaced and decreased Gram-negative rods (from >75% to <45%), specifically Aeromonas (60 → 40), Pseudomonas (10 → <2), Alcaligenes (6 → 2), and Vibrio (4 → 0) at the genus level, with a concomitant increase in Gram-positive bacteria (25% → 55%), particularly Bacillus (3 → >40), in the intestine of C. mrigala. B. licheniformis supplementation increased total erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, hemoglobin, and serum protein, albumin, and globulin levels, while serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities decreased (P < 0.05). At or above 10⁷ cfu g⁻1, B. licheniformis significantly improved both cellular immune responses (phagocytic index and ratio, respiratory burst activity, serum myeloperoxidase activity, ALP, and total leukocyte counts) and humoral (including adaptive) immune responses (lysozyme activity, serum bactericidal activity, serum haemagglutination titre, and natural haemolysin titre), as well as survival following challenge with A. hydrophila O:18. These findings support the potential use of this bacterial species as a probiotic candidate in diets for the culture of C. mrigala.
This study assessed the ichthyofaunal and associated floral diversity of the Manakudy Estuary, southwest coast of India, over a two-year period involving monthly surveys from August 2023 to July 2025. Sampling efforts were stratified across three distinct ecological zones i.e., freshwater influx region (Station 1), mid-mangrove area (Station 2), and estuarine mouth region (Station 3), utilizing traditional fishing crafts and standardized visual census methods to capture spatial heterogeneity. A total of 120 species were recorded, representing 37 orders, 62 families, and 89 genera. The order Eupercaria incertae sedis showed the highest species richness (15.83%), followed by Carangiformes (12.50%) and Clupeiformes (8.33%). Among families, Carangidae was the most dominant with 13 species. Conservation assessment revealed the occurrence of threatened species, including the Endangered honeycomb stingray (Himantura uarnak) and the Vulnerable Coromandel whipray (Brevitrygon imbricata), along with two near threatened species. These findings provide baseline information essential for long-term biodiversity monitoring, sustainable fisheries management, and conservation planning in the Manakudy Estuary.
