Abstract

A discussion of the development of equipment, drugs, chemicals, and materials used to treat, nourish, handle, and contain aquatic animals.

Notes

Tavolek fish health products have world-wide scope. Production is done by Pitman-Moore labs.

Aquaculture - better techniques are needed in fish culture, disease control, genetics and nutrition.

New Product Requirements

Vaccines - have been developed for Vibrio and Enteric red mouth.

Antifungals, growth promotants, antibiotics, anesthetics, tranquillizers, endocrines, diagnostics, disinfectants and parasiticides are needed.

New delivery techniques - vaccination methods such as direct immersion and the shower method are being studied.

Procedures used to bring a new fish vaccine to market:

• Ascertain current status of problem

  • mortality, morbidity, incidence.

  • disease control possible?

  • drug resistance exists?

• Disease situation

  • refractory to treatment

  • organisms are drug resistant

  • problem in delivery of treatment

  • not treatable

• A working strain is cultured, then treated (for example by attenuation).

• It is tested parenterally and orally and various topical methods such as immersion, shower-spray and hyperosmotic treatment are used.

• Vaccinated fish are challenged to see whether or not they are protected.

• An outline of the production of a successful bacterin is sent to the USDA for approval.

• The vaccine is field tested.

• Further development - shelf life, use with other species, onset and duration data, cross-protection studies are considered.

The FDA has to grant a license before the vaccine can be marketed.