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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424881
Research Project: Maximizing Profitability and Fish Health in Catfish Aquaculture

Location: Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit

Title: Economic assessment of commercial-scale Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine trials in U.S. catfish industry

Author
item KUMAR, GANESH - Mississippi State University
item BYARS, TODD - Mississippi State University
item GREENWAY, TERRY - Mississippi State University
item AARATTUTHODIYIL, SUJA - Mississippi State University
item KHOO, LESTER - Mississippi State University
item GRIFFIN, MATT - Mississippi State University
item WISE, DAVID - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Aquaculture Economics & Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2019
Publication Date: 7/1/2019
Citation: Kumar, G., Byars, T.S., Greenway, T.E., Aarattuthodiyil, S., Khoo, L.H., Griffin, M.J., Wise, D.J. 2019. Economic assessment of commercial-scale Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine trials in U.S. catfish industry. Aquaculture Economics & Management. 23(3)254-275. https://doi.org/10.1080/13657305.2019.1632392.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13657305.2019.1632392

Interpretive Summary: This study highlights the economic viability of a live attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri (ESC) vaccine delivered through feed in the U.S. catfish industry. By demonstrating improved survival, growth, and feed efficiency in vaccinated fingerling operations, the research underscores the potential for substantial economic benefits, with increased profitability for both channel and hybrid catfish farms. The success of this vaccination platform not only supports its commercial adoption but also paves the way for future development of vaccines targeting additional catfish diseases.

Technical Abstract: Enteric Septicemia of Catfish (ESC) is a ruinous bacterial disease affecting the U.S. catfish industry. Previous attempts to develop ESC vaccines have failed to achieve industry acceptance, largely attributed to difficulties in delivering the vaccine to immunocompetent fish. Recently, a live attenuated ESC vaccine has been developed, coupled with a mechanized platform designed to accurately deliver measured doses of vaccine with feed. This delivery scheme for vaccine-feed admixture has shown tremendous promise under controlled research settings. This study evaluated the economic effects of on-going commercial-vaccination trials on catfish fingerling operations in Mississippi. Commercial-vaccination trials for both channel and hybrid catfish demonstrated significant improvement in survival, growth, feed consumption, feed conversion and gross yield. At a realistic vaccination cost of $750/ha, the net economic benefits to channel and hybrid catfish fingerling-production phases were $3199 and $6145/ha, respectively. Whole-farm models showed additional profit ranging from $71,758 to $133,887/400-ha on farms that integrate fingerling production to their production strategies due to appropriation of more of the otherwise incumbent fingerling production acreage into foodfish production. Commercial adoption of the oral-vaccination platform would greatly enhance profitability while laying the foundation for development and delivery of polyvalent vaccines against other catfish diseases.