Northern aquaculture; modern vaccine- and gene technology giving health and welfare to the fish and well-being

to the farmer

Paul J. Midtlyng School of Veterinary Medicine

Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway

Northern salmonid mariculture

Büsum 11 juni 2015 2

Country Tons (2014) harvest weight

Norway 1 341 000

Faroe Islands 70 893

Scotland 169 210

Canada 120 000

EU-27 628 230 (2007)

Norway aquaculture in comparison

2014 Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries ; Eurostat *

Annual meat production

1000 tons

Salmonid aquaculture, Norway 1341

Finfish aquaculture EU-27 (2007)* 628

Sheeps +goats, EU-28 * 808

Beef, Germany* 1128

Pork, Denmark* 1587

Producer prices in comparison

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4

Meat type 2015 so far

Atlantic salmon 4,0-4,8 Euro/kg

Beef, Germany (young bulls) 3,7-4,0 Euro/kg

Pork, Germany 1,3-1,5 Euro/kg

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Comparative sales of antibacterial drugs in Norway 2014

Kg active substance Proportion

Aquaculture ca. 1590 1%

Terrestrial animals ca 5300 14%

Humans ca. 44 200 85%

Source: Norm/Norm-Vet 2014 report and Prof K. Grave, pers. comm.

Vaccination stopped antibiotic use

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

60

40

20

0 2010 2006 2001 1996 1991

800 900 1,000

Usage of Antibiotics (mt) Salmon production (’000 mt)

1

2

3

4

6

New vaccine formulations

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The ”breakthrough of fish vaccination” 1991-1993

• Multivalent, oil adjuvanted vaccine technology – highly effective against bacterial diseases, even against furunculosis – long-lasting immunity (through harvest)

Year # smolts # doses coverage 1991 40 mill 17,5 mill 43% 1992 60 mill 30,5 mill 51% 1993 60 mill 53,5 mill 90%

8

It did not happen by itself

• 3% R&D levy on sales accepted for 3 years by the veterinary pharmaceutical industry (voluntarily…….?)

• Large-scale field trial with vaccines under development (prototypes) accepted by the Norwegian Medicines Agency

• Scientifically convincing results obtained • Propaganda campaign ”stop furunculosis” was financed

by the Salmon Farmer´s marketing co-operative

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We could have given up, but didn’t

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

60

40

20

0 2010 2006 2001 1996 1991

800 900 1,000

Usage of Antibiotics (mt) Salmon production (’000 mt)

1

2

3

4

9

Innovative spirits, innovative efforts

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 10 11 12 13

Prod

uctio

n (t

onne

s

IPN -vaccine

Source: AquaGen AS; based on data from National Veterinary Institute / FHL

Viral diseases – a different story

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Breeding for disease resistance

A high priority in current Atlantic salmon breeding programs – selection for resistance to bacterial infections since 1995 (5

generations) – up to 60% of the basis for selection in AquaGen production

stocks of certain years * – Selection for resistance to IPN virus included since 2002

* A. Storset, pers. comm.

Fenotype Genotype

From fenotype- to genotype–based selection

Markers – ”plots” on the genomic map Q: IPN resistance gene

PD resistance Gene (?)

Salmon Louse resistance gene ????

Genomic markers

Q Q

Q Q

Q q

Q q

Q q

q q

”Super-resistant” offspring

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 10 11 12 13

Prod

uctio

n (t

onne

s

IPN –QTL

Source: AquaGen AS; based on data from National Veterinary Institute / FHL

Selection based on genomic marker resolved the problem

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Other viral infections remain a challenge

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

HSMI CMS PD ISA

• A mobile genetic element (plasmid) makes target cells produce a specific protein (antigen)

• A plasmid is not a complete organism (bacterium or virus), conventional vaccines are

• Cannot live or replicate on itw own (outside the target cell) • Protein (antigen) production stops when the host cell dies

(Naked) DNA virus vaccines

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DNA (plasmid) veterinary vaccines

Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis virus vaccine for salmon (Novartis Animal Health, now Elanco Canada) Licensed in 2005 Canine Oral Melanoma gene

therapy vaccine (Merial, USA) Licensed in 2010

West Nile virus vaccine for horses (Fort Dodge, USA) Licensed in 2005

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Vaccines against novirhabdovirus diseases in salmonids (Egtvedt disease, IHN)

Scientific documentation showing high and long-lasting vaccine protection Extensive research in Aarhus (DK) and Seattle (USA) A DNA vaccine for salmon was launched in B, Canada in

2005 Intramuscular injection ≈ 100 million fish vaccinated to date No reported adverse effect No reported clinical outbreaks in vaccinated fish

19 Büsum 11 Juni 2015

Genetic fingerprinting for identification of escapees

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Gene profile of both parents ≈ 100% correct parentage + database of distribution of eggs through the farming chain = verification or falsificaiton of putative escapees

45 mill ”Green track” salmon eggs delivered in 2014-15

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Total amount used in Norway: 360-380 mill eyed eggs

Conclusions

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1) If you want people to eat more (aquaculture) fish, look for innovative solutions! Focus on blocking hurdles tend to kill rather than to support. 2) Without mass vaccination, aquaculture is neither profitable nor sustainable in the long run! 3) Modern gene technology does not equal genetic modification! And can support all kinds of aquaculture operations (ECO as well as conventional).

Scottish Aquaculture 21-22/4-09 23

Acknowledgements

Organisers for inviting me to give this talk Aqua Gen AS for providing slides and illustrations