The economic cost of disease outbreaks to aquaculture producers could be reduced with the results from the PEPTIDEX project.
The project is involved with research into efficient vaccines against viral fish pathogens.
There are currently no vaccines available that successfully protect from viral infections in fish. Research on the peptide based vaccination will adapt the technology of its proven success in warm-blooded vertebrates to use in cold-blooded vertebrates.
Researchers at Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University have developed a range of probiotic micro-organisms which have demonstrated protection against several fish diseases, including furunculosis, a disease affecting a wide range of salmonid species as well as certain species of carp, bream, catfish, turbot and bass.
Furunculosis are most likely to occur in fish during the critical smolting and spawning stages of their development, and are caused by the onset of higher water temperatures or during periods of rapid temperature change.
These probiotics would replace the existing antibiotic feed premix treatment, which has the disadvantages commonly associated with antibiotics – gradual disease resistance in fish and occasionally in the humans that consume them.
Heriot-Watt University are currently looking for parties interested in obtaining a licence to this technology, forming a joint venture or sponsoring continued developments.
Does anyone have any information on the recent crisis in the last couple of years where fish in Chile are dieing at a very young age due to some disease. I have only heard it second hand, but am keen to understand what the real issue is and when and if it can be solved.
Sustainable Aquaculture Management