New collaboration provides Italian fish farmers with a sustainable solution to the significant and growing challenge of Lactococcosis

In recognition of the major threat that the highly-infectious bacterial disease Lactococcosis poses to aquaculture in terms of mortalities and production loss, aquafeed producer Skretting Italy and biotech pharmaceutical company HIPRA have come together in a new partnership to provide trout farmers with a practical and sustainable solution package that is focused on limiting its impact.

The new Skretting-HIPRA collaboration follows a workshop that addressed Lactococcosis management in trout production which the two companies jointly hosted at the AQUAFARM 2023 exhibition in Pordenone, Italy (15-16 February 2023). With the aim to accelerate initiatives that reduce aquaculture’s reliance on antibiotics through best-practice and proactive health, the partners’ industry-first solution combines Skretting’s functional diets OPTILINE HT and PROTECTM with HIPRA’s ICTHIOVAC LG vaccine into one collective approach.

Lactococcosis affects a variety of freshwater fish species, particularly large fish that are nearing harvest size. It becomes more prevalent when water temperatures rise above 15ºC in the summer months and can lead up to 80% of mortality in affected farms. It is regarded as a challenge that is increasing in intensity amid the growing threat of climate change.

The Skretting-HIPRA solution uses OPTILINE HT in temperatures above 18°C to support the fish in temperatures exceeding the optimal range, while the HIPRA ICTHIOVAC LG vaccine protects trout specifically from Lactococcus garvieae infection. Involving PROTECTM in the vaccination protocol supports their immune response and external barriers and also aids post-vaccination recovery, with the recommendation to introduce it four weeks before vaccination and continue with its use until two weeks after.