Recombinant vaccines against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the aquaculture industry in recent years has led to an increase in disease outbreaks. Over the last few years bacterial disease problems have been brought under control, largely due to the use of a new generation of oil-adjuvanted vaccines. Vaccine development for viral diseases such as infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (EPNV), viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus and infectious haematopoietic virus has proven to be more difficult. IPNV is the most important infectious disease in the Norwegian aquaculture industry. Recent reports estimate that IPNV is responsible for the loss of approximately 5% of the Atlantic salmon smolts transferred to sea. To date vaccine research has focused on the use of inactivated virus, live-attenuated strains, or recombinant sub-unit vaccines. The traditional vaccines based on live IPNV are not deemed acceptable to the aquaculture industry because of their safety, environmental and economic disadvantages. Current methods of vaccine development have turned to recombinant DNA technology. It is hoped that this technology may provide efficient and inexpensive vaccines.