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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339829

Research Project: Genetics, Breeding and Reproductive Physiology to Enhance Production of Catfish

Location: Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit

Title: Efficacy of a live attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri oral vaccine in channel and hybrid catfish

Author
item Chatakondi, Nagaraj
item Peterson, Brian
item GREENWAY, TERRENCE - Mississippi State University
item BYARS, TODD - Mississippi State University
item WISE, DAVID - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2017
Publication Date: 8/20/2017
Citation: Chatakondi, N.G., Peterson, B.C., Greenway, T.E., Byars, T.S., Wise, D.J. 2017. Efficacy of a live attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri oral vaccine in channel and hybrid catfish. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting. P. 970.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Intensive fish production systems resort to higher stocking densities and feeding rates in culture conditions to manifest suboptimal conditions to facilitate disease outbreaks leading to production losses. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an oral live-attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine against enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) in channel and hybrid catfish. The vaccine was delivered orally by feeding fish a diet coated with an attenuated E. ictaluri isolate at four dilutions (1:100, 1:200, 1:400 and 1:800) and compared to non-vaccinated (control) fish. Control and vaccinated fish were challenged with virulent E. ictaluri and mortality was examined for 30 days post-challenge. Mortality was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in vaccinated hybrids (12.1%) compared to non-vaccinated hybrid controls (85%). Similarly, mortality was lower (P <0.01) in vaccinated channel catfish (19.4%) compared to non-vaccinated channel catfish controls (73%). There was no significant difference in mortalities among the four doses tested for both vaccinated hybrid and channel catfish. The data demonstrates that the attenuated E. ictaluri vaccine at all four doses tested is effective at reducing mortalities in hybrid and channel catfish exposed to virulent E. ictaluri. Orally vaccinating hybrid and channel catfish may be an effective strategy to combat ESC.