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Title: DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF VACCINES FOR FISH CULTURED IN WARM-WATER

Author
item Klesius, Phillip
item Shoemaker, Craig
item Evans, Joyce

Submitted to: International Aquatic Animal Health Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: KLESIUS, P.H., SHOEMAKER, C.A., EVANS, J.J. DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF VACCINES FOR FISH CULTURED IN WARM-WATER. 3rd INTERNATIONAL AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS. 1998.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vaccines that induce protective immunity to pathogens result in prevention of disease. Most animal husbandry industries have relied on vaccines as a management tool to prevent disease and reduce use of expensive and ineffective antibiotics. The development and use of vaccines in the catfish industry has been slow due to lack of information on the fish immune system. Fish have the ability for both humoral (antibody) and cell mediated immune responses. The nature of the disease process determines which branch of the fish immune system will result in acquired immunity. Acquired immunity to facultative intracellular pathogens (i.e. Edwardsiella ictaluri) is cellular more than humoral. Live attenuated vaccines are more effective in stimulating cellular immunity than are bacterins. We developed an E. ictaluri vaccine that is safe and efficacious against enteric septicemia of catfish (relative percent survivals about 90-95%). The attenuated vaccine E. ictaluri RE-33 vaccine is being field-tested with permission from USDA, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and state veterinarians of Alabama and Mississippi for approval as an ESC vaccine. We believe that safe attenuated vaccines that are low cost, easy to administer, effective in the youngest life stages and able to provide long lasting protection without booster are the best answer to infectious disease management.