Instructor and research team from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chulalongkorn University developed a immersion nanovaccine “Flavo Innovac” for tilapia and sea bass. Reduce mortality from disease and limit the need for syringes.
Tilapia and sea bass are popular fish for consumers. But keeping these fish healthy and disease-free is a serious concern for farmers. especially with the epidemic problem caused by the flavobacterium bacteria. (Flavobacterium spp.) that are abundant in water sources in general. Especially when the number of fish in the pond or cage is crowded. The germs will spread more quickly. As a result, the fish is suffering from gill rot – alkali. affect the respiratory system until death which in the worst case is the dead fish raised the pond.
For this reason, Associate Professor Dr. Channarong Rodkham, Lecturer of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Chulalongkorn University Therefore, in collaboration with the research team of Aqua Innovac, invent the innovation of “Flavo Innovac”, the world’s first inactivated vaccine. that prevents flavobacterium by using nanotechnology as a delivery system
“Usually in the fish or aquaculture industry, there are infectious diseases in the water culture process. If farmers raise fish too densely bad environment poor water quality more organic water temperature change Fish are weak and easily infected. In addition, flavobacteria are the main pathogens that attack fish. Cause rotten gills, alkaline skin, causing loss and mortality rate of more than 70%, especially in young fish that are still weak. Prevention can also be done by vaccinating fish,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Channarong.
Why should fish be vaccinated in water?
If you think about the vaccine People tend to think of using a syringe. But using syringes on fish is different from people. including procedures, costs, as well as limitations and disadvantages caused by the use of needles, the risks arising from the use of syringes as well
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Channarong, MD. Explain the process of vaccinating fish using a syringe. “We cannot inject the fish right away because the fish will struggle. As a result, the fish can be stressed. Therefore, the injection of the fish is necessary to stun the fish first. By bringing the fish to soak in water that is mixed with anesthesia. After that, the fish will be vaccinated one by one. by having a specialist to inject and also need to use a system to transport the vaccinated fish into the pond All of these things are incurred, causing the cost to increase.”
“In addition to vaccinating fish, there is a risk of fish becoming infected with other infections in the water from needle-injected wounds. There is also a limitation that we cannot vaccinate very small fish. This small fish is a group that is at very high risk of infection.”
Subcutaneous vaccination has therefore become an alternative to injectable vaccination. The use of infusion vaccines can effectively stimulate the fish’s immunity. low cost of vaccination And can vaccinate hundreds of thousands and millions of fish at a time, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Channarong.
“For infusion vaccines Farmers can easily do this by immersing the fish in water that has been vaccinated according to the proportions specified by the label. It takes about 30 minutes, with oxygen being given to the fish while the vaccine is constantly immersed. Then release the vaccinated fish into the pond or cage. In addition, the gingivitis nanovaccine is made from flavobacterium. A species isolated from the local area of Thailand itself. Therefore, it provides good protection against flavobacterium disease in Thailand.”
Nanotechnology Vaccine Delivery System
Nano Flavo Vaccine Innovac is not only the first fish vaccine in Thailand. It is the world’s first inactivated vaccine against flavobacterium that uses nanotechnology as a delivery system.
“Innovative nanotechnology helps to encapsulate vaccines or antigens. When fish were immersed in a positively charged nanovaccine. The vaccine will be able to attach to the mucous membranes. of fish, which have a negative charge as well Then the organic nanoparticles will gradually Release antigens to continuously stimulate the immune system of fish. When all the antigens are released, the organic nanoparticles will gradually decay in a short time no residue It is safe for the fish, the environment and consumers.”
Prove the effect of the Flavo Innovac vaccine in field research.
At present, the Flavo Innovac vaccine innovation is in the field of research and development. and evaluation of marketing results A group of farmers have already used the vaccine to try it out. got quite good feedback It can actually reduce the loss of fish from flavobacterium infection.
“The duration of the vaccine to prevent infection is approximately 2 – 3 months out of a 6 – 9 month total fish farming cycle. Although the duration of protection is relatively short, the first 3 months is when the fish are quite young. There is a high risk of infection. Immunization of young fish during this time is therefore an important factor in surviving the fish in the next phase that is more resistant to this infectious disease.”
Epidemic prevention is of utmost importance.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Channarong said fish health checks before putting the fish into the ponds is necessary. In addition, vaccinating fish at a time when the fish are still young will help reduce the loss of fish in the pond. the initial stage of rearing This will allow to extend the fish farming until the wholesale market phase.
“In addition to vaccinating fish Another important thing that every fish farmer should do is submit a group of fish samples for screening at the laboratory. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and the Department of Fisheries also provide services in this section. To check if the baby fish bought and raised are infected with this or other diseases. came before? which if any infected fish Before vaccination, it can affect vaccination quite a lot. Or it could cause the vaccination at that time to fail.”
The development of innovative flavo vaccine Innovac has received support from many sectors, including Chulalongkorn University and the National Research Office (NRCT). Supported by the Industrial Technology Research and Development Center of Chulalongkorn University (Chulalongkorn University Technology Center: UTC), which in the next phase The research team plans to develop a booster (booster) vaccine that is administered as a combination with food. so that farmers can stimulate the landscape to make fish more convenient and easier
In addition to the innovative flavobacterium vaccine, Aqua Innovac also has an idea to develop a vaccine against other bacteria. that affect the culture of tilapia and sea bass And there are other innovations such as nano-anesthetic for fish. Supplements for ornamental fish, etc.
Farmers and companies interested in participating in field research and development can contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Channarong at email [email protected].
