International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 43-50 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmvr 48 cultivars to prevent introduction and dissemination of new or emergent pathogens. Biosecurity components in breeding programs safeguard the continued utility of resistance genes and prevent pathogen adaptation. Surveillance systems, risk management systems, and molecular diagnostics are increasingly being employed to aid breeding as well as disease control at farm level and to ensure long-term sustainability and limiting economic losses (Sciuto et al., 2022; Rahaman et al., 2025). 7.3 Contribution of disease-resistant tilapia breeding to green and sustainable aquaculture Disease-resistant tilapia production forms the pillars of green and sustainable aquaculture. Through the reduction of the use of antibiotics and chemical treatment, these strains diminish the environmental impact of aquaculture and the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Disease resistance improves survival, feed conversion, and efficiency of resource use, ensuring economic and environmental sustainability. The integration of genetic technology, biosecurity, and precision management serves global expectations of sustainable aquaculture with prospects of future food security and healthy ecosystems (Milijasevic et al., 2024; Nguyen, 2024). 8 Concluding Remarks Tilapia genetic diversity and selection for disease resistance have made great strides in the past decade. The studies have identified high degrees of genetic variation within tilapia populations and breeds that are excellent candidates for selective breeding. Molecular markers, QTL mapping, and GWAS have identified candidate genes and genomic regions associated with resistance to major diseases such as Streptococcus agalactiae and Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV). Combination of family-based selection, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and forward-looking genomic selection (GS) approaches has also been shown to hold tremendous potential for augmenting genetic gain. These advances collectively chronicle the viability of obtaining robust tilapia lines with improved disease resistance and stable long-term production. Although genetic improvement forms the foundation for disease-resistance upgrading, whether it can be applied in practice will depend on complementarity with aquaculture management. The compatibility of the disease-resistant strain should be examined not only in survival but also in regard to growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, reproduction, and acclimatization to different farming conditions. The integration of resistant strains with optimized culture conditions, biosecurity measures, and sustainable farming practices can maximize the utilization of their benefits. This combination guarantees that genetic gains will translate into actual productivity, profit, and resistance gains at the farm level. In the coming years, advancements in high-throughput genotyping, functional genomics, and genome editing tools will provide new opportunities for fine-tuning disease resistance characteristics in tilapia. Genomic selection will be an important breeding program strategy for improvement of multiple economically important traits at once. Integrating it with precision aquaculture-digital technologies, real-time monitoring, and data-driven management-can optimize the performance of resistant lines under changing farming conditions. On a large scale, widespread disbursement of disease-resistant tilapia will assist in keeping production risks to a minimum, reducing the use of antibiotics, and promoting sustainable aquaculture. Lastly, the blend of genetic enhancement, high-technology farming techniques, and industrial technology will be pivotal in securing long-term growth and sustainability of the global tilapia industry. Acknowledgments The authors sincerely thank the research team for their careful assistance and strong support during the conduct of the study and the organization of relevant materials. The authors also wish to thank the two anonymous peer reviewers for their valuable comments and constructive suggestions. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==