Development of a safe and effective vaccine against T. maritimum
in salmonids is the focus of this study to reduce the reliance on chemotherapeutants and to prevent future unforeseen outbreaks
from occurring. For salmonids, vaccines are already used for the prevention
of vibriosis, cold water vibriosis, yersiniosis, and furunculosis
among others. As
yet, a vaccine is not available for T. maritimum for salmonids. Previous
attempts to develop a vaccine for salmonids in Tasmania proved
unsuccessful due to inconsistent results although more recently, promising results for a vaccine for species
of sole (Solea solea and S. senegalensis) in Spain has been reported. Consideration was given to evaluating this
vaccine for use in Atlantic salmon, however, in vivo testing and use
of vaccines manufactured overseas is subject to strict quarantine
regulations and risk analysis (J. Carson, pers. comm.) which makes
their use in Australia problematic. In addition, there is good justification
for the development of an autogenous vaccine based on local
strains of T. maritimum derived from Atlantic salmon.