ARS researchers have developed a new live vaccine that is safe and effective for the control of Flavobacterium columnare in catfish.  F. columnare is an aquatic bacterium that infects channel catfish, sport fish such as perch, walleye, pike, centrachids (bass and sunfish), aquarium fish and baitfish. Columnaris is the second leading cause of mortality in pond raised catfish in the southeastern United States. Currently, there is no vaccine available that functions by reducing the bacteria’s ability to stick to catfish and other warm water fish.  In addition to reducing antibiotic and chemical use in aquatic production systems, this vaccine could provide an estimated savings of $100 million annually to the aquaculture industry.

Medicated feed with several chemotherapeutics currently used to control the disease have limited effect and are not approved for use on food fish.  Most producers have discontinued use of medicated feeds. The vaccine, which can be given by injection or by immersion, is effective in providing long lasting acquired immunity in channel catfish to F. columnare.

Companies that make vaccines for aquaculture could use this technology.  Developing a Flavobacterium columnare vaccine could potentially save aquaculture producers money by preventing this disease.

Please refer to patent application S.N. 10/774,248 (Docket #0180.03), "An Adhesion Deficient Isolate of Flavobacterium columnare Against Columnaris Disease," which was filed on February 26, 2004.  Foreign rights are available.

ARS researchers have developed a new vaccine against Streptococcus iniae, an emerging bacterial pathogen in cultivated tilapia, hybrid striped bass, rainbow trout, yellowtail, eel, and turbot. Worldwide, streptococcal infections are reported in 22 fish species, both cultured and wild, and causes $150 million a year in losses. This disease is recognized as one of the most problematic bacterial pathogens in intensively cultured fish and wild fish. Signs of the disease in fish include erratic swimming, whirling motion at the surface of the water, darkening of the skin, blindness, popeyes, and small lesions on the body, fins, and anus.

Antibiotic treatments currently used to control the disease in fish suppress strep disease signs, but doesn't completely eliminate the bacterium from treated fish. The vaccine, which can be given by injection or possibly by immersion, provides protection against mortality and disease for at least five months.

Companies that make vaccines for aquaculture could use this technology.  Developing a Streptococcus iniae vaccine could potentially save aquaculture producers money worldwide by preventing this disease.  Other advantages are reducing antibiotic use to control this bacterium in culture fish, making a safer, more environmentally friendly consumer product.

Please refer to Patent Number 6,379,677, "Streptococcus Iniae Vaccine," which issued April 30, 2002.