Novel edwardsiella ictaluri e-ict-vl33 strain, vaccines thereof, and a method for protecting fishes using said vaccines

Abstract

A novel Edwardsiella ictaluri E-ict-VL33 strain, a vaccine derived from the novel Edwardsiella ictaluri E-ict-VL33 strain, especially in immersion form and oral form, and a method for protecting fishes from the infection of Edwardsiella ictaluri, especially catfish, the method including a primary immersion immunization using immersion vaccine, and after an appropriate period, boosting by oral vaccination, resulting in a strong and long-lasting immunity for fishes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 845,965 filed on Jul. 29, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to a novel Edwardsiella ictaluri E-ict-VL33 strain, vaccines derived therefrom, and a method for protecting fishes using said vaccines.[0004]2. Brief Description of the Prior Art[0005]Edwardsiella is a type of small Gram-negative rod bacterium. The host of Edwardsiella includes Catfish, Eel, Tilapia and other warm water fishes. Edwardsiella ictaluri is one member of Edwardsiella. E. ictaluri that can infect catfish, thereby causing Edwardsiella septicemia. Acute Edwardsiella septicemia usually results in typical bacterial septicemia with a high mortality rate for fishes. Chronic Edwardsiella septicemia can result in Hole-in-the-head syndrome, septicemia or, ultimately, death.[...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Still another object of the invention is to provide a method for improving the immunity of fish against E. ictaluri, and further preventing and protecting fishes from infection of E. ictaluri by using said vaccines.

[0018]An oral vaccine is obtained by using an inactivating agent to inactivate or kill the Edwardsiella ictaluri E-ict-VL33 strain (i.e., an inactivation process). The inactivated bacteria is then suspended in a buffer solution to form a bacterial suspension, and the bacterial suspension is mixed with an adjuvant to form a mixture. The mixture is then homogenously emulsified by a homogenizer with high shear force. This process allows the oral vaccine to be obtained. Said oral vaccine can further be spray coated on the outside of a feed to deliver the oral vaccine to fish. Also, the coated feed can further be sprayed with edible oil, such as plant oil and / or animal oil (in particular, a fish oil), to improve the delivery efficiency of the oral vaccine.

[0025]The term “prevent and protect” is intended to mean that, compared to the immunity of untreated fish, the immunity of treated fish against E. ictaluri is improved and the survival rate of treated fish after infection of E. ictaluri is higher than survival rate of untreated fish. Further inoculation of the amount of inactivated bacteria prevents and protects the fish from the infection of E. ictaluri or disease derived thereto.

Problems solved by technology

Acute Edwardsiella septicemia usually results in typical bacterial septicemia with a high mortality rate for fishes.

Chronic Edwardsiella septicemia can result in Hole-in-the-head syndrome, septicemia or, ultimately, death.

Edwardsiella septicemia occurs worldwide and causes high mortality and considerable economic damage to the catfish industry, especially in Vietnam and the USA.

All catfish species are susceptible to E. ictaluri and the disease causes major damage in Basa Tra fish in the Mekong delta and other places where the fish is cultured in Vietnam.

Many ways of protecting the fish have been tried but none so far have been very successful.

The use of antibiotics to counteract bacterial infections has been successful in some instances but not in others, especially because of widespread resistance as a result of extensive and non-controlled use of many different antibiotics either alone or in various combinations.

Furthermore, the use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics is discouraged because of both environmental and residual problems, and long-term use of antibiotics is not a sustainable control method for fish diseases.

However, preventing and protecting the fish from Edwardsiella septicemia cannot be achieved by using antibiotics which can only control the spreading of Edwardsiella septicemia.

It has been claimed that an attenuated vaccine is able to help in the control of the disease but, to date, the product has not made major inroads in the field.

However the limitations of this method include lack of immune efficacy [Gudding R, et al.

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