Development of a trivalent vaccine for prevention of co-infection by Miamiensis avidus and Tenacibaculum maritimum in farmed olive flounder

Scuticociliatosis, caused by the parasitic pathogen Miamiensis avidus, poses a significant threat to olive flounder farms in South Korea. Infected fish suffer from severe systemic infections affecting various organs, with potential secondary bacterial diseases. This study investigated the emergence of different M. avidus serotypes in 20 olive flounder farms on Jeju island, South Korea, from 2015 to 2020. Additionally, we identified Tenacibaculum maritimum as a co-infecting bacteria. Based on serotyping and monitoring data, we developed a trivalent vaccine targeting two serotypes of M. avidus and one strain of T. maritimum. The efficacy of the vaccine was evaluated under laboratory conditions and demonstrated a relative percentage of survival (RPS) of 75%, 80%, and 93% for M. avidus serotype I, M. avidus serotype II and T. maritimum, respectively. Furthermore, successful field trials conducted on four different olive flounder farms resulted in significantly higher survival rates (52%–76% RPS) and weight gains in vaccinated fish. Overall, this study presents an effective vaccine against M. avidus and T. maritimum infections in farmed olive flounder, making a valuable contribution to sustainable aquaculture in South Korea.