October 17, 2024

 

UK scientists secure US$1 million for research on antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture

Scientists at the University of Stirling in Scotland, UK have received over GBP 770,000 (US$1 million) to support the commercial rollout of a new vaccine that could transform the aquaculture industry, Global Seafood Alliance reported.

 

The project, led by the University's Institute of Aquaculture, builds on previous research that developed a vaccine to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Vietnamese catfish.

 

This new initiative aims to address the challenges farmers face in adopting vaccines, as identified in the earlier study. A multi-disciplinary team, including psychologists and behavioural economists, will use the funding to support the vaccine's development and encourage its use among aquaculture farmers in Vietnam. The goal is to reduce the overuse of antibiotics, which has contributed to a rise in AMR in freshwater farming systems.

 

"Vaccine hesitancy in the Vietnamese Pangasius catfish sector remains high," said Professor Margaret Crumlish, project lead from the Institute of Aquaculture. "Combined with poor antibiotic stewardship, the sector has reached an AMR crisis. The novelty of this project lies not only in the new immersion-based vaccine but also in the integration of behavioural sciences to address vaccine hesitancy and promote vaccination strategies to reduce AMR."

 

The project has been awarded GBP 774,239 (US$1 million) by Canada's International Development Research Centre and the UK Department of Health and Social Care under the Innovative Veterinary Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance (InnoVet-AMR) initiative. It is a collaborative effort with Dr Le Hong Phuoc and his team from the Research Institute of Aquaculture Number 2 (RIA 2) in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam.

 

Vietnam, one of the world's largest aquaculture producers, has been the global leader in the farmed freshwater catfish (Pangasius) sector for over 25 years. However, the widespread use of antibiotics due to the susceptibility of catfish to bacterial infections has led to an AMR crisis, affecting animal, human, and environmental health in freshwater systems.

 

Research shows that about 80% of farmers lack effective therapeutic options and rely heavily on antibiotics. Although a commercial vaccine against bacterial diseases has been available since 2013, vaccine hesitancy remains prevalent among Vietnamese farmers.

 

The first stage of the study, which began in 2019, focused on developing vaccines for two major bacterial diseases, Edwardsiella ictaluri and Aeromonas hydrophila, both of which significantly impact the aquaculture sector in Vietnam. The research led to the creation of an immersion vaccine that protects fish by briefly submerging them before returning them to their ponds, providing 70 percent protection against both diseases.

 

To address vaccine hesitancy, the team used insights from psychology and behavioural economics to identify barriers preventing farmers from vaccinating their fish. They found that concerns about trust, future use, and the logistics and costs associated with vaccination teams were key factors behind the reluctance.

 

The next phase of the project will focus on advancing vaccine production and implementing strategies to encourage farmers to switch from antibiotics to vaccination. The team will also investigate whether attitudes toward vaccines have shifted following the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially reducing vaccine hesitancy among fish farmers. This stage of the project will continue until October 2026.

 

-      Global Seafood Alliance