Elucidation of the role of Tenacibaculum spp. in atypical winter-ulcer in sea-farmed Atlantic salmon in Norway

Tenacibaculosis has recently emerged as a serious disease in Norwegian salmonid aquaculture. The contribution of environmental, management and bacterial factors to outbreaks of tenacibaculosis are unknown. The present study has main focus on increasing knowledge relating to this disease primarily through an epidemiological study aimed at identifying risk factors for development of tenacibaculosis.

Primary aim

To increase knowledge relating to Tenacibaculum-associated disease in Norwegian marine salmon farming.

Secondary aims

To clinically characterise the disease ‘tenacibaculosis’ in sea-farmed Atlantic salmon.
To study the epidemiology of tenacibaculosis and identify risk factors for outbreak of disease.
To characterise toxin production in Tenacibaculum spp.
To test ‘proof of principle’ for use of proteinaceous toxins as protective vaccine antigens.