Project Number: 6420-32000-022-05
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 16, 2007
End Date: Mar 01, 2009

Objective:
The objective of the cooperative research to be conducted under this agreement is to test the efficacy of the AQUAVAC-COL vaccine when used to protect brook and brown trout against columnaris disease. The research will be conducted as a field trial at Setzer State Hatchery, Pisgah Forest, NC. AQUAVAC-COL is currently licensed for prevention of columnaris disease in catfish. This work will contribute new information about the efficacy of the vaccine when applied to other fish species.

Approach:
The ARS developed vaccine will be administered to brook and brown trout fry following the label instructions for catfish. Replicated groups of brook and brown trout fry will be vaccinated with AQUAVAC-COL or will be sham-vaccinated. After vaccination fish will be monitored throughout the production period. Mortality, growth, feed consumption, and disease outbreaks will be recorded. Vaccinated trout will be challenged by exposure to Flavobacterium columnare to determine whether the vaccine was protective. Relative proportion survival and the preventive fraction will be estimated. Survival curves and incidence will be compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated fish.