VACCINATION OF SEX REVERSED HYBRID TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS X O. AUREUS) WITH AN INACTIVATED VIBRIO VULNIFICUS VACCINE

摘要

Vibrio vulnificus can cause infections in economically important aquaculture-raised fish and is considered an opportunistic human-pathogen. V. vulnificus was isolated using biochemical and molecular methods. V. vulnificus isolate recovered from diseased tilapia was determined to be biotype 1, 16S rRNA type B, vcg type C, and vvhA type 2. The isolate can cause disease in tilapia held in static salt water (1.5g sea salt/L). Fish vaccinated with formalin-inactivated whole-cell vaccine responded to vaccination as measured by agglutinating antibody titer (vaccinated titers ranged from 32-64 and non- vaccinated titers ranged from 4-8). Vaccinated tilapia exhibited relative survival of 73 and 60% following challenge with the homologous isolate. Vaccinated tilapia exhibited relative survival values of up to 87.5% following challenge with a heterologous isolate. Use of a mineral oil adjuvant enhanced protection. This vaccine provides an effective means of preventing infections caused by biochemically and genetically diverse isolates of V. vulnificus in aquaculture.