Indian Immunologicals and ICAR-CIBA collaborate on India’s first commercial fish vaccine

New Delhi: Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has partnered with the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), a key research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Chennai. This collaboration is set to accelerate the commercial development of a recombinant monovalent viral nervous necrosis (VNN) vaccine for finfish, marking a milestone in India’s aquaculture sector.

Viral nervous necrosis, also known as viral encephalopathy and retinopathy, is a critical threat to various species of marine, brackishwater, and freshwater fish, with mortality rates reaching up to 100% in larval and juvenile stages. Adult fish, though often asymptomatic, can transmit the virus to offspring through eggs and gonadal fluids, leading to significant challenges in aquaculture management.

IIL’s partnership with CIBA is part of its broader strategy to strengthen India’s aquaculture health sector. Since venturing into the aqua business in October 2022, IIL has introduced products focused on pond and gut management for fish and shrimp. Additionally, the company has collaborated with ICAR’s Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) in Mumbai and the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) in Bhubaneswar to develop fish vaccines. 

With India ranking as the third-largest fish producer globally, and over 65% of its fish sourced from inland fisheries and aquaculture, effective disease management is crucial for the industry. Disease remains a significant obstacle to the growth of aquaculture worldwide, with an estimated 20% of all cultured aquatic animals lost to infectious diseases, resulting in annual global losses exceeding $10 billion.

Dr. K. Anand Kumar, Managing Director of IIL, emphasized, “IIL is the first in India to get to fish vaccines. We are covering different kinds of fishes (freshwater, brackish water, etc.) and culture conditions (pond, cage culture, etc.) and are aware of the challenges associated with being the first, having been in similar situations for many other livestock vaccines. We are working at multiple fronts in defining pathways for commercial development of fish vaccines in India.”

Dr. Priyabrata Pattnaik, Deputy Managing Director of IIL, highlighted, “IIL as a leading “One Health” organization is committed to developing vaccines for different fish pathogens with a long-term strategic objective of reducing the use of antibiotics in aquaculture there by antimicrobial resistance in the environment.”

Dr. Kuldeep K. Lal, Director of ICAR-CIBA, echoed these sentiments, noting. “Viral nervous necrosis is a major threat for brackishwater aquaculture. The VNN vaccine developed by CIBA can prevent vertical transmission of the disease to the offspring and prevent mortality in fingerlings. The vaccine can play a significant role in controlling the loss due to VNN in India and other Asian countries.”

Aquaculture in India continues to suffer economic losses from infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens. Current management practices often rely on anti-infectives and conventional measures, which offer limited success. With growing concerns over antimicrobial resistance and a global push for chemical-free food products, the need for better infection control measures has become increasingly urgent. Currently, no fish vaccines are commercially available in India to address aquaculture infections, making IIL’s efforts a crucial step forward for the industry.