Fish diseases

In commercial aquaculture, diseases represent a major cost component due to mortality, reduced productivity, treatment and vaccination. In addition to the economic consequences, disease outbreaks negatively affect fish welfare and present a risk to wild fish populations, particularly with pathogen strains evolved  in the aquaculture environment. 

The choice of diseases to focus on for each species in FISHBOOST is of critical importance for ensuring maximum positive economic and welfare impact of the research. They have a high priority for the industry and do not have other fully effective methods of control. 


Atlantic salmon: Pancreas disease (PD)
  • Currently among the most economically important disease in European production 
  • Caused by a salmonid alphavirus
  • Mortality rate is normally low to moderate, but losses up to 50% have been observed
  • No existing fully effective vaccines (yet)
  • Disease causes poor condition and thin fish
Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata): Pasteurellosis and Sparicotyle chrysophrii
  • Considered one of the most threatening diseases in world aquaculture
  • Caused by bacteria
  • Mortality rate is 90-100%
  • Vaccines available, but seems to have poor effect. Protective vaccines not available. 
Common carp (Cyprinus caprio): Koi Herpes Virus (KHV)
  • Most serious threat to carp farming in Europe and Asia 
  • Caused by a highly contagious vdouble-stranded DNA virus
  • Mortality rate can go up to 100%
  • No effective vaccine in Europe yet, research into vaccine development underway
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Flavobacteriosis
  • Highlighted as one of the biggest threats to fry production
  • Caused by a bacteria
  • Mortality rate is up to 90%
  • No vaccine available yet
European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax): Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) virus
  • The most serious threat for seabass aquaculture
  • Caused by a virus 
  • Mortality around 10% per month
  • Attempts at establishing effective vaccines are seriously hampered by the very early stage of the lifecycle at which the virus effects the fish
  • Disease alters the structure and function of the brain and retina
Turbot (Scophthalmus  maximus): Scuticociliatosis
  • Caused by a protozoan parasite
  • Mortality rate between 15-30%, depending on batch and can be higher in more aggressive phases
  • Parasite causes decrease appetite and depression of the immune system
  • Vaccines best alternative for prevention