Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has partnered with the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) for the commercial development of a vaccine against Hemorrhagic Septicemia in freshwater fish. This infection is caused by the opportunistic pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila and is a significant economic problem in Indian aquaculture. All of the cultured freshwater fish species in India are susceptible to this disease.
Aquaculture plays a vital role in India’s economy, with the fisheries sector providing a livelihood for approximately 28 million people. India is the world’s third-largest fish producer, with more than 65% of the country’s fish coming from inland fisheries and aquaculture. However, disease is the main constraint to aquaculture globally, with an estimate that 20% of all cultured aquatic animals lost because of infectious diseases, amounting to around USD 10 billion in losses annually on a global scale.
IIL ventured into the aqua business in October 2022 by launching products for the aquaculture health market, dealing with pond management and fish or shrimp gut management. Subsequently, the company announced the commercial development of fish vaccines with ICAR-CIFE. Dr. K Anand Kumar, Managing Director of Indian Immunologicals Limited, stated that IIL is “working at multiple-fronts in defining pathways for commercial development of fish vaccines in India
