Amoebic Gill Disease Vaccine Phase II - Sea-Based Trials, Vaccine Refinement and Commercialisation
- Project Number - 2008/750
- Start Date - 1st July 2007
- End Date - 30th June 2011
- Principal Investigator - Dr Mathew Cook
- Research Provider - CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
- CRC Research End User - Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association
About the Project
In Tasmania, amoebic gill disease (AGD) is the main health concern that affects the salmon mariculture industry. It is also a major production cost (>$A15M) in terms of treatment and subsequent lost production. Outbreaks of AGD are most prevalent during the spring/summer and are associated with high salinity and high water temperature. Currently, freshwater bathing is the only effective treatment for AGD but it is very labour intensive, time-consuming, stressful to the fish and expensive. Given the increased demand for freshwater and the high costs associated with fresh-water bathing, it is not viewed as a sustainable treatment option in the long-term.
Vaccine development is part of a multifaceted research and development approach by the industry and research partners to develop short, medium and long-term solutions to the control of AGD. The intent of the collaborative research and development is to develop a set of strategies and tools to provide the salmon industry with a substantial reduction to the impact of AGD in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. The development of a sub-unit DNA vaccine being the most ambitious long-term approach of the overall research strategy.
Project Objectives
1. Determine whether vaccination success against AGD in the controlled small-scale laboratory environment can be translated to the commercial environment.
2. Refine the experimental vaccine and produce the most effective commercial vaccine formulation.
3. Review the pertinent legislative requirements for the commercialisation of the vaccine, and undertake the required research to adequately address any concerns.
4. Identify a suitable partner and develop an agreement for the delivery of an efficient and effective commercial vaccine against AGD for the Tasmanian industry.
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