Transmission of waterborne fish and plant pathogens in aquaponics and their control with physical disinfection and filtration: A systematized review

Abstract

The objective of this systematized review was to collect and analyze information about the waterborne spread of fish and plant pathogens through aquaponics systems, as well as investigate physical disinfection or filtration methods used to control transmission. Information gathered from comparable aquaculture and hydroponics systems was also considered for its applicability to aquaponics, and a bias assessment of accepted literature was conducted. One-hundred and forty sources were included in the review, with 85 from aquaculture systems, 55 from hydroponics, and 0 from aquaponics. Transmission was studied using cohabitation of naïve and infected organisms or direct inoculation of the water. Pathogen control methods included ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, blue light-emitting diodes, media filtration, membrane filtration, heat, sonication, and three methods that fell outside these categories. Water quality and flow rate were identified as important factors influencing disinfection efficacy, along with parameters specific to each disinfection method. The lack of studies on pathogen transmission and control in aquaponics systems, paired with the risks associated with a disease outbreak, make this an important, yet neglected, area of research.