Chapter 5 - Prevention and Control of Viral Diseases in Aquaculture

Abstract

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing sector globally and, with intensification of the production, viral diseases have emerged. representing a challenge to sustainable development. Thus disease control and prevention is an imperative. This will depend on viral properties, the environment, reservoir hosts, susceptibility of farmed species, transmission dynamics and viral pathogenicity. Most of these parameters are not known for aquatic viruses, which preclude deployment of optimal control strategies. Current prevention and control targets host species utilized in aquaculture, and is likely to change as additional species are being exploited. With this come new challenges because pathogen exchange between aquatic species is difficult or impossible to predict in principle. Here we introduce current preventive and control measures, including vaccination principles that have been and are explored to reduce the prevalence and impact of viral infections in aquaculture.