Efficacy of a Nucleic Acid (NA) Vaccine against Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV) in Farmed Atlantic Salmon in British Columbia

Description

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), the causative agent of IHN, is endemic to the western coast of North America. IHNV is the most economically important viral disease of salmonids. IHNV is highly infective, pathogenic and virulent in Atlantic salmon. The only method of reducing the risk IHNV poses to the Atlantic salmon farming industry is through use of an efficacious vaccine. An efficacious vaccine is essential in reducing mortalities due to IHN, controlling spread of the virus among salmon farms and in reducing the viral load in the environment. Nucleic acid vaccines against IHNV have been shown to be highly efficacious in at reducing mortalities caused by IHN in rainbow trout This technology has also been shown to be highly effective in reducing losses in Atlantic salmon smolts when challenged with IHN virus. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved a nucleic acid (NA) vaccine (Novartis) against IHNV for a field trial in Atlantic salmon. Due to the unpredictable nature of IHNV epizootics, specifically, the prolonged interval between the previous two epizootics, it is essential that industry study vaccine efficacy and duration of efficacy in a controlled laboratory facility.

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2004 - 2005

Ecoregion(s)

Pacific: Vancouver Island West Coast

Principal Investigator(s)

Garth Traxler
Email: TraxlerG@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca