ICAR-CIBA, Chennai developed an indigenous vaccine for viral nervous necrosis (VNN) that affects several species of fish. Dr. K.K.Vijayan, director at ICAR-CIBA, said that this is the first vaccine to be released for aquaculture in India and will help prevent VNN in fish hatcheries and bring down the incidence of VNN in grow-out farms. 

VNN is a serious viral disease affecting many marine, brackishwater and freshwater fish species causing up to 100% mortality in larval and early juvenile stages. The disease is caused by nervous necrosis virus (NNV). Red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) is the only genotype prevalent in India and most other tropical countries. The disease is transmitted both vertically and horizontally. Infected adults remain as carriers and transmit the virus to offspring through eggs. The practical way to control the disease and prevent vertical transmission is to vaccinate fingerlings and adult fish.

CIBA-Nodavac-R is an injectable recombinant VNN vaccine that can effectively prevent VNN caused by RGNNV in fingerlings and prevent vertical transmission in brooders. The vaccine was developed under the consortium research platform on vaccines and diagnostics and can be used in all species susceptible to VNN such as milkfish, grey mullet, Mangrove red snapper, etc.

An oral vaccine for delivery through feed and an immersion vaccine is also under development.