Kazakhstan discovers deadly antibiotic-resistant fish bacteria
Newly discovered aeromonas oralensis poses threat to aquaculture and may impact public health, scientists warn
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — A team of Kazakhstani scientists has discovered a previously unknown species of bacterium that could pose serious risks to aquaculture and potentially to human health.
Named Aeromonas oralensis after the city of Uralsk where it was found, the bacterium was identified during an investigation into a disease outbreak at a fish farm in West Kazakhstan specializing in Siberian sturgeon.
According to Kursiv Media, researchers initially suspected the common bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila, but genomic testing revealed a new and distinct antibiotic-resistant strain. The findings were confirmed through collaboration among laboratories in Almaty, Astana, and Uralsk.
Serik Bakiyev, one of the lead scientists on the project, said the bacterium is highly virulent. In controlled tests on Nile tilapia, the infection caused 100% mortality, raising alarm about its potential to disrupt fish farming operations across the region.
“This discovery is not just local—it’s a contribution to global science,” said Bakiyev, who emphasized that naming the bacterium after Uralsk was meant to showcase Kazakhstan’s role in cutting-edge microbiological research.
The study has been published in Microorganisms, a peer-reviewed international journal. Researchers are now working on developing vaccines and alternative therapies like bacteriophages and endolysins to mitigate the threat.
Fish in farming environments are often vulnerable to infections due to stress, contaminated water, or poor nutrition. Scientists warn that antibiotic-resistant strains such as Aeromonas oralensis may lead to larger economic losses and increased biosecurity risks unless preventive solutions are found.
In a separate development, scientists from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) unveiled a mobile unit named Dayar 20, designed to process and preserve agricultural products for several decades—marking another leap in Kazakhstan’s agricultural and scientific innovation.
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