Vibriosis and atypical furunculosis vaccines; efficacy, specificity and side effects in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L.

Abstract

Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., vaccinated by injection with vaccines containing Vibrio anguillarum serotype O2 or atypical Aeromonas salmonicida bacterin, alone or with oil adjuvant, was highly protected against homologous challenge (relative percent survival [RPS]>94 and >77, respectively). Furthermore, the A. salmonicida bacterin also elicited significant protection against bath challenge with V. anguillarum (RPS>30). Oil adjuvant appeared to be unnecessary for obtaining short-term protection in cod against vibriosis and furunculosis. Neither the oil-adjuvanted vaccine nor the bacterin resulted in significantly reduced weight gain 12 weeks postvaccination, but intra-abdominal adhesions were observed in fish injected with oil-adjuvanted vaccines.