There’s now a vaccine that can protect tilapia from bacterial diseases.

It was the product of years of scientific study by researchers of the Central Luzon State University-College of Fisheries-Freshwater Aquaculture Center (CLSU-CF-FAC) situated in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

The researcher  project that developed the vaccine won the third prize in the recent Aquatic Technology Competition and Marketplace (ATCOM) sponsored by the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (DOST-PCAMRD).

ATCOM is an annual PCAMRD activity during which outstanding technologies are cited for their significant contributions to the country’s aquatic and marine industry.

The  rationale behind the study is that Nile tilapia is susceptible to bacterial diseases, particularly these cultured with high stocking density. Moreover, fish vaccines against bacterial pathogens are imported products whose origin of isolates is usually unknown or from other geographical areas.

“It is necessary, therefore, to isolate the bacterial pathgens from a locality, process a vaccine out of that isolate, and immunize the fish in the same locality to ensure that some serotype is introduced,” the researchers said.

In the preparation of the vaccine for Nile tilapia, isolates of Aeromonas hydrophila and streptococcus iniae were collected from various localities in the Philippines.

“Autogenous vaccine is prepared by formal in fixing of cultures of either A. hydrophila or S. iniae and combining the two into a single vaccine. The vaccine is introduced into the fish in the same localities where the bacterial isolates were collected to ensure the same serotype was used in the immunization,” the researchers explained. (Autogenous means it is derived from sources within the same individual.)

The vaccine may be introduced by injection into fish. For tilapia fingerlings, the vaccine can be diluted with tap water and the small fishes are immersed into the vaccine solution.

To benefit from the technology are Nile tilapia and freshwater fishfarmers, as well as fish hatcheries, in the country. Ornamental fishes may also be immunize for protection against A. hydrophila and S. iniae. — Rudy A. Fernandez