Vietnam is one of the largest producers of aquaculture in the world and, over the past 25 years, is the global leader of the farmed freshwater catfish (Pangasius) sector – with the produce sold in more than 160 countries.
Photo: University of Stirling.
The University of Stirling has received more than £770,000 in funding to support the development and deployment of a new vaccine, aiming to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the aquaculture industry. This initiative, led by Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture, focuses on Vietnamese catfish (pangasius) farming, a sector significantly impacted by antibiotic overuse, which has contributed to a growing AMR crisis.
Funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre and the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the £774,239 grant is part of the Innovative Veterinary Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance (InnoVet-AMR) program. The project brings together a multidisciplinary team, including scientists, psychologists, and behavioral economists from the University of Stirling, in collaboration with Dr. Le Hong Phuoc and his team from the Research Institute of Aquaculture Number 2 (RIA 2) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Professor Margaret Crumlish, who is leading the second phase of the project, emphasized the critical need to reduce antibiotic use in Vietnam’s Pangasius catfish sector.
“Vaccine hesitancy in the Vietnamese Pangasius catfish sector remains high and combined with poor antibiotic stewardship, the sector has reached an AMR crisis. The novelty of this project, is not only the new immersion-based vaccine, but the integration of behavioural sciences to directly address vaccine hesitancy and promote vaccination strategies to reduce the threat of AMR," Crumlish explained in a press release.
The project builds on earlier research conducted by the Institute of Aquaculture, which developed an immersion vaccine that provides 70% protection against two key bacterial infections in catfish: Edwardsiella ictaluri and Aeromonas hydrophila.
However, despite the commercial availability of similar vaccines since 2013, uptake remains low due to concerns over trust, cost, and logistical challenges, the researchers say. Previous studies found that nearly 80% of catfish farmers resort to a mix of antibiotics rather than seeking preventive measures like vaccination.
To tackle these barriers, Stirling’s research team includes psychologists and behavioral economists such as Professor Ronan O’Carroll and Professor David Comerford. They explored the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy, identifying factors like skepticism, perceived inconvenience, and logistical costs as primary deterrents.
The upcoming phase of the project will assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on general attitudes towards vaccines, with the hope that these shifts may help encourage vaccine use within the sector.
The second phase of the project, which is set to continue until October 2026, focuses on supporting the commercial production and distribution of the vaccine. It will also explore strategic interventions designed to help farmers transition away from antibiotic reliance. Additional team members involved in this phase include Dr. Till Stowasser, an economist, and Professor Simon MacKenzie and Dr. Chris Payne from Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture, who bring valuable expertise in aquaculture and economic analysis.
The University of Stirling team has published three papers detailing the findings from the first stage of their research, with a fourth currently under review. Funded by the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund, InnoVet-AMR aims to reduce AMR in low- and middle-income countries by supporting innovative research and development.
