Technology Description:

Agricultural Research Service scientists created a safe and effective modified live vaccine that controls Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) infections in a variety of fish species.  E. tarda is an aquatic bacterial pathogen that infects both warm and cold water fish.  More than 20 species of fish are affected by E. tarda septicemia disease (edwardsiellosis), including tilapia, catfish, hybrid striped bass, carp, flounder, yellowtail, seabream, and salmon, and ornamental and tropical pet fish.  

The vaccine can be administered by bath immersion or by injection.  The use of this modified-live
E. tarda vaccine offers several benefits including reducing disease loss in fresh and marine water fish and eel production, diminishing the food safety risks to humans, and reducing the contamination of water by E. tarda that may be discharged in the environment from fish production systems.  This vaccine could provide an estimated savings of millions of dollars in the aquaculture production and food industries, as well as in livestock production and water supplies.

Vaccine manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies could benefit from this technology. 

Reference:

Please refer to patent application S.N. 10/858,882 (Docket #0181.03), “A Modified Live Edwardsiella Tarda Vaccine for Aquatic Animals,” which was filed on June 2 2004.  Foreign rights are not available.

Inventors:

Joyce J. Evans                                                  Phillip Harry Klesius

Aquatic Animal Health Research                            Aquatic Animal Health Research         

Chestertown, MD 21620                                      900 Wire Road                   

(410) 778-2120 / Fax: (410) 778-4399                  Auburn, AL 36832

jevans@msa-stoneville.ars.usda.gov                      (334) 887-4526 / Fax: (334) 887-2983

                                                                      Pklesius@ars.usda.gov

Craig A. Shoemaker

Aquatic Animal Health Research

900 Wire Road

Auburn, AL 36832

(334) 887-3741 / Fax: (334) 887-2983