Abstract
Organic acids have been extensively studied in recent years as sustainable feed additives in aquaculture, providing a dual benefit of improving growth performance and mitigating pathogen pressure. Their antimicrobial action is primarily influenced by their ability to penetrate microbial cell membranes, a function directly related to the acid's dissociation constant (pKa).
Recent findings have shown that organic acids with pKa values between 3.1 and 5.5 demonstrate significant activity against key aquaculture pathogens such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Streptococcus agalactiae and more. The concept that the higher the pKa value the higher the antipathogenic effect of Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), was challenged with our interesting findings.
This pKa-centric approach supports the strategic design of feed additives that provide a foundation for antibiotic-free disease control strategies in aquaculture.