The vaccine will cure two inactive bacterial diseases, one for Columnaris and Edwardsiellosis. Edwardsiellosis is very common in the breed of fish in freshwater.
Immunologicals Ltd is a Hyderabad-based subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board. Immunologicals has been associated with the Central Institute of Fisheries Education for the commercial development of India’s first fish vaccine.
As stated earlier, this vaccine will be developed to save freshwater fish against ordinary bacterial diseases. CIFE, a research institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), will provide the technology for two inactivated bacterial vaccines, one for Columnaris disease, a serious disease affecting many freshwater fish species, and the other for Edwardsielosis which causes a high degree of mortality, resulting in severe economic losses. Both of these diseases are extremely common in freshwater fish and are generally considered common.
“IIL Indian Immunologicals Ltd has introduced several innovative veterinary vaccines first Fish Vaccine to the world, like the Porcine Cysticercosis vaccine, FMD+HS+BQ combination vaccine, and Theileria vaccine. IIL is again the first in India to get fish vaccines. We are committed to introducing more and more products for the aquaculture market and helping shrimp and fish growers to increase their productivity and protect fish schools from various diseases,“ said Dr. K Anand Kumar, Managing Director, Indian Immunologicals Limited.
“Indian Immunologicals Ltd is planning to introduce vaccines and immunostimulants with tech transfer from various fisheries institutes under ICAR. Several fish vaccine candidates are currently being evaluated by IIL for commercialization. Launch of such vaccines may have a positive impact on reducing indiscriminate use of chemical or antibiotic based treatment methods, helping reduce antimicrobial resistance by fish farmers practicing environmentally sustainable ways of pond and fish health management,” said Dr. Priyabrata Pattnaik, Deputy Managing Director, Indian Immunologicals Limited.
Indian Immunologicals Ltd is committed to finding solutions to key issues facing Indian fish farmers in the agricultural production system. There are currently no commercial-scale fish vaccines available in India to prevent aquaculture infections.
The aquaculture industries play an important role in meeting the growing global demand for protein as the world population is expected to reach 9.8 billion people by 2050. India is a producer. The third largest fish producer globally and more than 65% of India’s fish production comes from inland fishing and aquaculture.
