Vietnamese pangasius (Basa or swai) is among the world's most traded fish, and disease management in intensive pond systems is critical for welfare and food safety.
Disease management in Vietnamese pangasius farming is both an animal welfare and food safety issue. Fish with bacterial infections suffer from pain, dysfunction and ultimately death that is preventable with appropriate biosecurity and management. The high stocking densities typical in pangasius production create conditions that make disease spread difficult to prevent without heavy antibiotic use. Welfare improvements in pangasius require a combination of density reduction, improved water management and responsible antibiotic stewardship.