March 29, 2023

Indian Immunologicals in partnership to commercially develop fish disease vaccine

Vaccine manufacturer Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) announced a partnership with the Bhubaneswar, India-based Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) for the commercial development of a vaccine against Hemorrhagic Septicemia which affects freshwater fish.

"India is the third largest fish producer in the global sphere and more than 65% of India's fish is through inland fisheries and aquaculture," a press release stated. "The main constraint to aquaculture globally, however, is disease with an estimate that 20% of all cultured aquatic animals are lost because of infectious diseases, amounting to around $10 billion in losses annually on a global scale."

Hemorrhagic Septicemia in freshwater fishes is caused by Aeromonas hydrophila, an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium. This infection is the scourge of fresh and brackish water fish farming worldwide and has emerged as a significant economic problem in Indian aquaculture over the past decades.

"IIL is the first in India to get to fish vaccines. We are aware of the challenges associated with being the first, having been in similar situations for many other livestock vaccines," said K. Anand Kumar, managing director of IIL. "We are working at multiple-fronts in defining pathways for commercial development of fish vaccines in India."

"IIL is committed to developing vaccines for fisheries sector with a long-term strategic objective of reducing use of antibiotics there by antimicrobial resistance in environment, as part of One Health initiative," said Priyabrata Pattnaik, deputy managing director of IIL.

- Mint