Evaluation of three types of Aeromonas hydrophila vaccines against acute infectious dropsy disease in Indian major carps

Abstract

Use of vaccines in fishes has become the single most important aspect in the effective management and overall control of mortality and related losses due to bacterial diseases. In India, no vaccines are being used to protect the cultured
fishes against diseases. In the present study, three different types of vaccines, namely, formalin killed, toxoid and live attenuated vaccines, against Aeromonas hydrophila was prepared and evaluated by 2 different routes of administration. Upon laboratory trials by intraperitoneally (I/P) route, in case
of killed vaccine, the relative percentage survivability (RPS) of 83.3, 75.0 and 77.8 and RPS values of 77.8, 68.8 and 72.3 for toxoid vaccinated Cirrhinus mrigala, Catla catla and catfish respectively was observed. Similarly, for attenuated
vaccine, RPS of 94.5 and 87.5 in C. mrigala, and C. catla respective groups were observed. By immersion method of vaccination, RPS values of 33.4, 37.5 and 27.8 for killed and 55.5, 43.8 and 38.8 for toxoid in C. mrigala, C. catla and catfish and 83.4 and 81.3 for attenuated vaccine in C. mrigala,
and C. catla respectively were observed. Both, the survivability rates and antibody titers were better in I/P vaccinated group than immersion grop. On the other, attenuated vaccine was found superior to that of toxoid and killed vaccines.