AQUA 2024

August 26 - 30, 2024

Copenhagen, Denmark

DEVELOPMENT OF SMALLER DOSE VOLUME VACCINES FOR FARMED FISH

Nils O Steine* , Bjørn  E Brudeseth, Knut E Løkling and Svein Alexandersen.

 

 PHARMAQ AS, Harbitzalléen 2A, P.O.Box 267 Skøyen, N-0213 Oslo, Norway

 

Nils.steine@zoetis.com

 



 Fish vaccines have been  and are evolving parallel to the growing fish farming industries globally. In the 1990s a relatively high dose of 0.2 ml oil-based vaccine could result in severe adverse reactions in the abdominal cavity of injection vaccinated salmon. New vaccines were developed with half that dose, 0.1ml in the early 2000s, with an improved welfare and safety profile. This also included  vaccines for  other species than salmonids.  Up to six bacterial and viral components needed to be added in these vaccines , requiring more research and technology development in order to ensure acceptable efficacy and safety.   Based on further RnD , refinement of  both downstream and formulation processes involved, PHARMAQ launched the micro dose injection concept in 2008; a 0.05 ml dose  volume  containing the same antigens. This was the first product of its kind , and the  volume en abled vaccination of even smaller fish, while still maintaining efficacy and  further improvement of  safety.  This concept was proven successful and has since been the foundation for most of the Pharmaq  vaccines developed across species; Salmon, trout, Atlantic cod, cleaner fish , seabass and bream, tilapia and pangasius.  Since 2013 mono- and di-valent vaccines have also been developed with the further reduced  dose  volume; 0.025ml. These volumes are injected alone or in combination with the micro dose vaccines while still maintaining as low injected volumes as possible. Safe dosing and administration are still fully possible with modern and calibrated injection systems, automated or manual. The  development and experiences with the smaller dose volume vaccine concepts across species will  be presented and discussed.