Page 63 - FoodFocusThailand No.236 November 2025

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• Photobacteriosis vaccine caused by Photobacterium
damselae, which infects sea bass and grouper.
• Lactococcosis vaccine caused by Lactococcus garvieae
in Nile tilapia.
2. Vaccines Against Viral Infections
Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) is a highly destructive viral
pathogen that has caused severe losses in the global Tilapia
industry. Developing a TiLV vaccine is therefore a critical
research priority. Effective vaccine design must balance cost
and efficacy. The research team successfully developed
DNA and recombinant protein vaccines using key viral gene
segments (segments 9 and 10). Combining these gene
segments provided greater protection than using a single gene.
The vaccine has been applied in broodstock fish to produce
TiLV-free brooder, reducing the risk of vertical transmission of
the TiLV to offspring. It also prevents severe mortality during
the first month after fingerlings are transferred from hatcheries
to farms, commonly known as “one-month mortality syndrome.”
Further applications include using the vaccine in juvenile fish to
stimulate specific immune responses, enhance survival rates,
ภาพที่่� 1 ประสิิทธิิภาพวััคซีีนป้องกัันโรคสิเตรปโตคอคโคซีิสิแบบฉีีด and strengthen aquaculture stability.
(StrepKU-1) ในฟาร์มเลี้ี�ยงจริงจากั จ.กัาญจนบุรี
Figure 1 Efficacy of the injectable vaccine (StrepKU-1) against
Streptococcosis tested in tilapia farms in Kanchanaburi Province.

intraperitoneal injection, has been successfully tested in
commercial farms in Kanchanaburi and Kalasin provinces.
Results showed that vaccinated tilapia achieved a survival
rate of up to 97.5%. Moreover, vaccinated fish grew faster
than unvaccinated fish, which shortened production cycles,
reduced feed consumption, lowered production costs, and
allowed for more culture cycles per year (Figure 1).
Since injections to the fish can be impractical for farmers
lacking equipment or technical expertise, an oral vaccine,
StrepOra-1, was developed for easier use. This vaccine can
be administered to fish of all ages and provides long-term
immune stimulation throughout the culture period. It also
reduces fish stress and labor costs compared with individual
injections. The research team successfully developed an oral
delivery system using Streptococcosis as a model disease.
The oral vaccine provided protection equivalent to the
injectable vaccine (Figure 2), making it a viable alternative. ภาพที่่� 2 ประสิิทธิิภาพวััคซีีนป้องกัันโรคสิเตรปโตคอคโคซีิสิแบบกัิน
In addition, our team has developed several other
bacterial vaccines, including: (StrepOra-1) ในระดับห้้องปฏิิบัติกัาร ช่่วัยลี้ดอัตรากัารตายของปลี้าได้เทียบ
• Aeromonad vaccine caused by Aeromonas spp., which เท่ากัับปลี้ากัลีุ้่มควับคุมที�ได้รับวััคซีีนช่นิดฉีีด (StrepKU-1)
causes disease in tilapia, red tilapia, and sea bass. Figure 2 Efficacy of the oral vaccine (StrepOra-1) against
Streptococcosis in laboratory tests, showing comparable protection
• Vibriosis vaccine caused by Vibrio spp., pathogens to the injectable vaccine (StrepKU-1).
affecting sea bass and grouper.
Developing vaccines for aquatic animals significantly
reduces the need for antibiotics, prevents drug resistance
and residue contamination, and lessens environmental
impacts. Injectable, oral, and DNA vaccines developed by
Thai researchers demonstrate strong disease prevention
capacity, improving survival rates and overall aquaculture
productivity. Promoting the use of vaccines alongside good farm
management practices represents a crucial pathway toward
producing safe, high-quality, and sustainable aquatic food.

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