A five-day training program on ‘Fish vaccination techniques and monitoring immune response’ was conducted by the fish culture division from 20.07.2026 to 24.07.2026 at ICAR-CIBA, Chennai. The training was attended by 15 participants. During the inaugural program Dr. M. Kailasam, Director, ICAR-CIBA released the training manual. The training program consisted theory and practical classes on expression of recombinant Nervous necrosis virus capsid protein in Escherichia coli and purifying the protein, vaccine preparation, including injectable oral and immersion vaccines, administration of vaccines to broodstock and fingerlings by injection method, administration of vaccine to fingerlings by oral method and administration of vaccine to seabass larvae by immersion method. The practical classes included non-lethal sampling of Asian broodstock for screening for viral nervous necrosis, blood sampling for antibody titration, virus propagation and titration, screening of ovarian fluids for VNN by nested PCR, serum antibody titration for NNV specific antibodies in vaccinated Asian seabass, challenge of fish by immersion and injection methods. The trainees were given hands on experience on all practical aspects of fish vaccination. Dr. M. Kailasam, Director, CIBA, distributed the certificates to the participants during the valedictory function and in his address to the participants, highlighted the importance of fish vaccination as an important prophylactic measure for disease prevention in finfish.
