Gut and Blood Diversity Microbiota of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in Aquaponic Systems: A Scoping Review

Tilapia is commonly integrated with vegetables in aquaponics systems, where complex microbial interactions may have important implications for food safety. This scoping review examines the current evidence on the microbiota diversity of tilapia reared in aquaponics systems, analyzes its potential influence on food safety, and highlight direction for future research. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and included studies published between 2000 and 2025, retrieved from five scientific databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Wiley Online Library. Only three studies met the inclusion criteria. The available evidence indicates that research on the microbiota of tilapia in aquaponics systems remains limited and fragmented. Most studies have focused on characterizing the gut microbiota of tilapia in different compartments of the system, while investigations addressing blood microbiota are absent. The gut microbiota reported in these studies is composed of the Phyla Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, taxonomic groups that include species with recognized pathogenic potential for humans. However, direct evidence linking fish-associated microbiota to the internalization or transmission of human pathogens to vegetables grown in aquaponic systems remains scarce and inconclusive. This review identifies critical knowledge gaps, including the lack of integrated studies simultaneously screening the microbiota of fish, water, and vegetables, the underrepresentation of food safety outcomes, and the absence of standardized microbiological and molecular methodologies. By mapping the current evidence and its limitations, this scoping review provides a foundation for future research aimed at elucidating microbial transfer pathways in aquaponic systems and developing evidence-based biosecurity and microbiological control strategies to enhance the sustainability and safety of food production in aquaponic systems. • There is a lack of studies regarding the gut microbiota composition of tilapia in aquaponics and there is any study about the blood microbiota of tilapia in aquaponics systems • Growing vegetables in consortium with fish farming in aquaponic systems can compromise food safety and increase public health risks.