Diversity of Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) bacteria in New Brunswick: a study on gene changes, severity and vaccine efficacy

21-M-02

Description

Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) is a disease caused by the bacteria Renibacterium salmoninarum (Rsal). It is a fish health issue affecting salmon production in:

• North America
• Europe
• Chile

Isolates are a group of bacteria isolated from a population. Research on BKD has shown physical traits (phenotypes) and genetic differences among isolates, but these isolates change over time. It is important to use the most current isolates to better study BKD and disease resistance in fish. This research aims to help manage BKD by identifying changes in isolate diversity. It will also explore the ability to assess severity or harmfulness in the lab (in vitro) rather than in an animal.

This project aims to identify Rsal isolates coming from BKD field cases in New Brunswick. It will look at genetic changes between field isolates over time. And it will develop and assess tools that can be used to test isolates in the future. Currently there is only one commercially available vaccine for BKD. This study will examine how effective this vaccine is in the lab (in vitro) on salmon infected with a recent, harmful isolate. A recent isolate will be identified to be used for future disease resistance testing.

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2021 - 2024

Principal Investigator(s)

Steve Leadbeater, Aquatic Sciences Biologist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews Biological Station, Maritimes Region

Email:Steven.Leadbeater@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Team Member(s)

• Sandi McGeachy, Chief Aquaculture Scientist, Director of Aquaculture Science and Fish Health Branch, New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
• Anthony J. Manning, Senior Scientist, Research and Productivity Council (RPC)
• Jennifer Acheson, Provincial Veterinarian, New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
• Sean Corrigan, Aquatic Sciences Biologist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews Biological Station, Maritimes Region
• Vicky Merritt, Technician, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews Biological Station, Maritimes Region

Collaborator(s)

• Andrew Swanson, Vice President of Research & Development, Kelly Cove Salmon Limited

• Allison MacKinnon, Elanco Animal Health, Elanco Canada Limited