Screening of Columnaris preventing/treating products

Columnaris disease

With the rapid expansion in fish farming for both food production and ornamental fish sectors over the past years, an increasing number of microorganisms have been identified as important fish pathogens. Flavobacterium columnare, the cause of columnaris disease, affects freshwater fish including many commercially important fish species such as catfish, rainbow trout and carp. Flavobacterium columnare infections may result in skin lesions, fin erosion and gill necrosis. This disease has a high degree of mortality leading to severe economic losses.

Product screening

We can perform tests to screen products for their potential in preventing or treating Columnaris disease:

• Evaluating the impact on the viability of F. columnare bacterial cells under laboratory circumstances.
• Assessing the protective effect against challenge with F. columnare by monitoring mortality, morbidity, bacterial titres and macroscopic/microscopic lesions.
• Investigate the curative effect following challenge with F. columnare by monitoring mortality, morbidity, bacterial titres and macroscopic/microscopic lesions.