As tilapia farming expands globally, infectious diseases continue to challenge sustainable production. Vaccination has emerged as one of the most effective tools to prevent disease outbreaks, reduce antibiotic use, and support fish welfare. The development of vaccines for tilapia requires a tailored approach, considering species-specific immune response, pathogen diversity across regions, and practical administration methods in farm conditions.
This presentation outlines the key stages in fish vaccine development—from pathogen identification and antigen design to efficacy and safety validation under both laboratory and field conditions—within the required regulatory framework. As a case example, we present data from ALPHA JECT micro 1 TiLa, an inactivated vaccine against Streptococcus agalactiae serotype Ib. Laboratory trials using isolates from Latin America and Asia has proved high levels of protection, and field evaluation confirmed safety and efficacy under commercial conditions.