Evaluation of experimental challenge models after immunization and infection with Piscirickettsia salmonis by i.p. injection or cohabitation.
The main goal of this study is to evaluate the experimental challenge model against Piscirickettsia salmonis in Atlantic salmon in vaccinated fish.
In the design of this trial the three R’s are considered, no replacement of the animal model could be found, but the minimum possible number of fish will be used.
The experiment includes a total of 2590 fish.
A considerable distress is expected in this trial because the fish will be expose to a pathogen with a high virulence after an immunization period with test vaccines. Fish that no longer can swim and are lying on the tank bottom will be removed and killed.
The benefit that this study can generate are very important for the salmon industry and for animal welfare because improves in the challenge model to test vaccines against a pathogen like P. salmonis, can help to improve the quality and efficacy of the vaccines in aquaculture and with this could be a reduce in the use of antibiotics in the production phase.
In the design of this trial the three R’s are considered, no replacement of the animal model could be found, but the minimum possible number of fish will be used.
The experiment includes a total of 2590 fish.
A considerable distress is expected in this trial because the fish will be expose to a pathogen with a high virulence after an immunization period with test vaccines. Fish that no longer can swim and are lying on the tank bottom will be removed and killed.
The benefit that this study can generate are very important for the salmon industry and for animal welfare because improves in the challenge model to test vaccines against a pathogen like P. salmonis, can help to improve the quality and efficacy of the vaccines in aquaculture and with this could be a reduce in the use of antibiotics in the production phase.