Bibliometric analysis of vaccine research trends in aquaculture

Aquatic animal health management remains a major challenge in aquaculture, largely due to the continued reliance on traditional approaches such as antibiotics, which contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the environment. Vaccination has emerged as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative for disease prevention and health improvement in aquatic species. However, research trends in vaccine-based disease prevention in aquaculture have not been comprehensively mapped or systematically analysed. This study applies bibliometric analysis as a systematic and quantitative approach to evaluate the scientific landscape of vaccine research in aquaculture, using tools such as VOSviewer. Bibliographic coupling analysis identified seven major thematic clusters: Cluster 1 focuses on vaccine research in bacterial disease prevention; Cluster 2 addresses vaccination in rainbow trout farming; Cluster 3 explores vaccination strategies, mechanisms, and limitations; Cluster 4 concentrates on vaccine research in key aquaculture species in China; Cluster 5 highlights vaccine development for viral diseases in economically important freshwater species; Cluster 6 examines viral vaccination in carp species; and Cluster 7 focuses on DNA vaccine development for viral disease control in aquaculture. In addition, co-word analysis revealed four principal clusters: experimental vaccine models, bacterial vaccines, vaccination strategies in aquaculture, and viral vaccines. Publication data from the Scopus database indicate a steady increase in research output over the past 15 years, reflecting a growing emphasis on vaccines as a core strategy for disease management in aquaculture. Overall, this bibliometric analysis underscores the critical role of vaccines and identifies key research directions to support the development of sustainable aquaculture systems.