Ana Isabel Miranda Soares Contatti: anaisabel.soares@phd.unipi.it ORCID: 0009-0003-2453-6651 Supervisori tesi: Prof. Baldassare Fronte, Dott.ssa Francesca Susini, Dott. Gianluca Fichi Titolo Progetto: Integrated approach for the prevention of diseases in aquaculture and the promotion of animal welfare Abstract: This PhD project focuses on the development of an integrated and sustainable approach to improve fish health, welfare, and productivity in aquaculture systems. With the global expansion of aquaculture, intensification practices have increased the susceptibility of fish to infectious diseases, leading to more frequent outbreaks and an increased reliance on antibiotics, posing significant concerns for animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and antimicrobial resistance. The main aim of this research is to investigate innovative and preventive strategies to reduce disease incidence and promote fish welfare. In particular, the project explores the effectiveness of oral vaccination against Lactococcus garvieae, the isolation and application of bacteriophages as targeted antimicrobial agents, and the use of functional feed ingredients to enhance immune response and overall fish resilience. Additionally, the project may examine sustainable aquaculture systems, such as aquaponics and integrated multitrophic aquaculture, to improve environmental performance and resource efficiency. By combining biological, nutritional, and technological approaches, this research aims to contribute to the development of more sustainable aquaculture practices, reducing antibiotic dependence while ensuring high standards of animal welfare and production efficiency. Pubblicazioni: Mariacher, A., Coltraro, M., Merlo, S., Corradini, C., Miranda Soares, A. I., Cocumelli, C., Susini, F., Fronte, B., & Fichi, G. (2026). A Scoping Review of Naturally Occurring Xenomas in Fish: Clinical Features, Diagnostic Approaches, and Knowledge Gaps. Parasitologia, 6(1), 10.