Antibiotic protection against recrudescence of latent Aeromonas salmonicida during furunculosis vaccination

Citation

Inglis V, Robertson D, Miller K, Thompson K & Richards R (1996) Antibiotic protection against recrudescence of latent Aeromonas salmonicida during furunculosis vaccination. Journal of Fish Diseases, 19 (5), pp. 341-348.

Abstract
Problems of temporary immunosuppression following vaccination against Aeromonas salmonicida infection had to be overcome in the development of a furunculosis vaccine. Empirical observations have indicated that immunosuppression persists for some time after vaccination, rendering fish, especially subclinical carriers of A. salmonicida, highly vulnerable to bacterial invasion. The efficacy of simultaneous application of furunculosis vaccine and a long-lasting amoxycillin preparation to a population of Atlantic salmon smolts was evaluated. Control groups were treated with either vaccine alone, amoxycillin alone or were untreated. Moderate stress, simulating smolt transfer with a 5°C temperature rise, resulted in a rapid outbreak in mortalities reaching 100% in the vaccinates. Losses among the untreated controls were more gradual and rose to about 50%. Both amoxycillin-treated groups survived well. Further severe stress resulted in total mortalities among the untreated fish but no further losses in the amoxycillin groups. Four months after vaccination, evidence of a specific immune response was confirmed by ELISA, demonstrating circulating antibodies in the blood of vaccinates. In a severe and in a moderate challenge with A. salmonicida., the relative specific protection was 63 and 86%, respectively. Thus, effective protection against furunculosis was achieved without jeopardizing the stock during the vaccination process and with elimination of the carrier state.

Journal
Journal of Fish Diseases: Volume 19, Issue 5

People

Professor Randolph Richards

Emeritus Professor, Institute of Aquaculture