Furunculosis Vaccine Efficacy

Project Status:    Phase1 completed in May 2002. Phase 2 and 3 upcoming.

Funded By:    Aquaculture Component of the Research and Development Program, and the Newfoundland Salmonid Growers Association.

Problem:    Since the early days of the development of the Bay D'Espoir salmonid aquaculture industry in the late 1980's, the salmonid farmers have been challenged by outbreaks of Vibrio sp. and atypical furunculosis. Efforts to combat these pathogens have culminated in extensive vaccinations of Bay D'Espoir hatchery fish. Juvenile salmonids at the hatchery are vaccinated individually with an i.p. injection of oil-adjuvant vaccine. These juvenile salmonids are then left for a few weeks in the hatchery before being transferred to overwinter in Jeddore Lake. Results with application of  existing, commercially available vaccines for Atlantic salmon have not been entirely satisfactory for the Newfoundland salmonid farmer. In an initial attempt to understand the action of this atypical strain of the furunculosis pathogen (Aeromonas salmonicida), veterinary research into this bacterium at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) showed that the atypical strains of A. salmonicida isolates from salmon in British Columbia, Newfoundland, Norway, and Iceland differ from one another in subtle ways.Through the structural change identified to date in the bacterium among the jurisdictions amounts to only two sugars, this observation suggest that a single vaccine formulation against this pathogen may not be effective in all locations. Our hypothesis is that the local strain of atypical furunculosis may be sufficiently different from their known isolates as to justify direct research for the Bay D'Espoir industry. It appears that atypical furunculosis is not so much a disease as a disease complex.The identification of isolates and their molecular markers will allow determination of whether there are differences/mutations to the bacterium over time in the Bay D'Espoir region. Variation between Canadian and international isolates can then be readily determined. If sufficient differences are noted then a modified vaccine, autogenous vaccine, or new product may be brought into play for final testing in clinical field trials. The NSGA recognizes this work at the AVC as a critical step in addressing the question of vaccine efficacy.

Phase1: Characterizing the bacterium

Phase 2: Laboratory trial period to test vaccines

Phase 3: Field trial in Bay D'Espoir.

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