The viral disease IPN (Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis) is still a big problem for salmon farmers, and the work continues to improve vaccines against the disease.
Challenging to test vaccines
To test vaccines, challenge models are used. These are standardised methods where fish are infected with viruses under controlled conditions. Fiskeriforskning has developed such a model for the IPN virus.
It is time-consuming to create challenge models because many factors must agree in order for them to work. Fiskeriforskning is very particular in selecting the virus, time for infection, water temperature and other factors to get the best possible results.
Full booked the rest of the year
Major vaccine manufacturers in Argentina, Canada and Great Britain are now taking an interest in Fiskeriforskning's challenge models, and have signed up on the test list until far into 2006. The order book is full this autumn, and Research Coordinator Heidi Mikalsen is receiving a steady stream of enquiries about new tests for next year.
"We can offer good services by virtue of the fact that we are a research institution that stays up-to-date in the work with viral diseases", says Mikalsen.
There is also a growing interest for challenge models for bacterial diseases, such as winter sores. This autumn, Fiskeriforskning will work for the first time with a challenge model for winter sores on cod.
Contact person
Research Coordinator Heidi Mikalsen, direct telephone: (+47) 77 62 90 75.
