鱼用哈维氏弧菌亚单位缓释微球口服疫苗的免疫效果初探

通过复乳化-溶剂挥发技术,采用生物可降解性高分子材料聚-DL-乳酸-聚乙二醇共聚物(PELA)包裹哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi,Vh)重组外膜蛋白OmpK,制成缓释微球颗粒疫苗,口服免疫鲫鱼,测定其血清的凝集效价和相对免疫保护率.结果表明,制备的缓释微球疫苗直径＜10μm,且以粒径＜5μm的微球居多;微球中重组外膜蛋白OmpK包裹率达78.3%.鲫鱼口服微球疫苗2周后,血清抗体水平持续上升,第5周血清凝集抗体效价可达到与佐剂注射组相当的水平(28),抗体高峰期比注射组长1～2周,且降低较慢;免疫4周后用活菌攻击,口服组具有69.4%的相对免疫保护率,而对照组死亡率高达98%.结论为采用可生物降解的缓释微球作为鱼类亚单位口服疫苗的载体系统是可行的.     

鳗弧菌灭活疫苗对牙鲆免疫效果的研究

制备鳗弧菌福尔马林灭活的全细胞疫苗，腹腔注射接种牙鲆，50d后进行第2次免疫。利用自制的兔抗鱼血清的抗血清通过ELISA实验检测了受免鱼特异性免疫应答水平，并通过攻毒实验，测定了疫苗对牙鲆的免疫保护率。结果表明，各免疫组血清抗体效价的最高值分别达1：512、1：2048、1：1024；各组受免鱼对人工攻毒均具有保护作用。用鳗弧菌攻毒后，免疫保护率分别达81．25％、87、50％、93．75％，而且发现受免鱼对副溶血弧菌(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)也表现了一定的交叉保护性，免疫保护率分别为46．15％、53．85％、53．85％。     

斜带石斑鱼口服PELA-OmpK微球疫苗的示踪及免疫效果

采用可生物降解的合成高分子聚DL-乳酸-聚乙二醇共聚物(DL-polylactide-co-polyethylene glycol,PELA),包裹哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi,Vh)重组外膜蛋白OmpK后,制备成PELA-OmpK微球.微球粒径小于10μm,且94%粒径小于5μm,平均粒径为2.8μm.蛋白包裹率达79.4%.斜带石斑鱼(Epinephelus coioides)口灌四甲基异硫氰酸罗达明(TRITC)荧光素标记的OmpK-PELA微球后,第1天在其后肠观察到大量红色荧光微球,第3天荧光微球数量明显减少,第7天荧光微球基本消失.免疫组化研究结果表明,口服PELA-OmpK组在斜带石斑鱼后肠组织黏膜层可见较强的棕黄色阳性着色.口服PELA-OmpK组血清抗体效价(峰值2m)显著高于口服OmpK蛋白溶液组(峰值24)与对照组(P＜0.05),低于注射组(峰值212)(P＜0.05);口服PELA-OmpK组的黏液抗体效价显著高于口服OmpK蛋白组(P＜0.05).初次免疫30 d后用活菌攻击,口服PELA-OmpK组的相对保护率(62.5%)显著高于口服OmpK蛋白组(12.5%)(P＜0.05);低于注射组(87.5%)(P＜0.05).结论为采用可生物降解材料PELA作为鱼类口服疫苗的投递载体是可行的.     

注射溶藻弧菌疫苗对南美白对虾免疫功能的影响

应用溶藻弧菌疫苗注射南美白对虾,测定了弧菌疫苗对南美白对虾免疫指标的影响以及疫苗的免疫保护作用。结果表明,注射溶藻弧菌疫苗后,血清凝集效价增强,24 h时活力达到最高值,尤其是1.08×108cell/ml组的凝集效价升高最明显,为对照组的6.0倍;在24 h时,3个试验组的凝集效价均明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。溶菌活力注射后6 h即达到最高值,1.08×107、1.08×108cell/ml组的溶菌活力明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。抗菌活力在注射后3 h时最高,明显高于对照组。溶血活力在注射疫苗后有所增强,注射后6 h时1.08×106、1.08×107cell/ml组的活力达到最高,而1.08×108cell/ml组12 h时活力达到峰值。注射疫苗对血清超氧化物歧化酶活力基本没有影响。1.08×106、1.08×107、1.08×108cell/ml对南美白对虾的免疫保护率分别为46.3%、61.0%和75.6%。     

灿烂弧菌灭活菌苗对美国红鱼免疫效果的研究

制备灿烂弧菌(Vibrio splendidus)福尔马林灭活菌苗,通过浸泡、注射和口服3种方式接种美国红鱼(Sci-aenops ocellatus),分别在接种免疫后第7、14、21、28、35天采鱼血,检测其血清抗体效价、溶菌酶活力和白细胞吞噬活性;第28天用1.0×108CFU/mL的灿烂弧菌悬液进行攻毒试验,检测菌苗的免疫效果。结果表明,各免疫组血清抗体效价在第21天达到峰值,且浸泡组和注射组的血清抗体效价高于口服组;在35d实验期内,各免疫组的血清溶菌酶活力有明显提高,各浸泡组和注射组于免疫接种后14d显著高于对照组(P<0.05);除浸泡3组外,其余各免疫组的白细胞吞噬百分比(PP)和吞噬指数(PI)在免疫接种后14d均较对照组有显著差异(P<0.05);各组受免鱼对人工攻毒均具有保护作用,以注射2组的免疫保护率最高,达77.8%。     

灿烂弧菌灭活菌苗对美国红鱼免疫效果的研究

制备灿烂弧菌(Vibrio splendidus)福尔马林灭活菌苗,通过浸泡、注射和口服 3种方式接种美国红鱼(Sciaenops ocellatus),分别在接种免疫后第7、14、21、28、35天采鱼血,检测其血清抗体效价、溶菌酶活力和白细胞吞噬活性;第28天用1.0×108CFU/mL的灿烂弧菌悬液进行攻毒试验,检测菌苗的免疫效果.结果表明,各免疫组血清抗体效价在第21天达到峰值,且浸泡组和注射组的血清抗体效价高于口服组;在35 d实验期内,各免疫组的血清溶菌酶活力有明显提高,各浸泡组和注射组于免疫接种后14 d显著高于对照组(P<0.05);除浸泡3组外,其余各免疫组的白细胞吞噬百分比(PP)和吞噬指数(PI)在免疫接种后14 d均较对照组有显著差异(P<0.05);各组受免鱼对人工攻毒均具有保护作用,以注射2组的免疫保护率最高,达77.8%.     

鱼源植物乳杆菌表达IPNV VP2-VP3重组蛋白及其口服免疫程序

为比较鱼源乳酸菌表达系统口服疫苗在不同免疫程序下诱导鱼免疫应答水平的差异,确定鱼源乳酸菌表达系统口服免疫虹鳟幼鱼的免疫程序。本研究构建了重组表达IPNV VP2-VP3蛋白的鱼源植物乳杆菌L1212,将重组菌pPG612-VP2-VP3/L1212包裹颗粒饲料,口服免疫虹鳟幼鱼。免疫程序分为连续免疫组、免疫1 d后间隔1 d再免疫1 d组、连续免疫4 d后32 d加强免疫1次组和间隔免疫后32 d加强免疫1次组。免疫后进行尾动脉采血,间接ELISA方法检测各组血清抗体效价,免疫接种66 d后,腹腔注射IPNV,计算各组相对免疫保护率。确定颗粒饲料按照1 mL/g比例与108 CFU/mL重组菌pPG612-VP2-VP3/L1212和2.5%海藻酸钠混合,于20℃烘干制备口服疫苗。间隔免疫组血清抗体效价和攻毒保护率均显著高于其他组,并且免疫2次的间隔免疫组的血清抗体效价和攻毒保护率均显著高于免疫1次间隔免疫组。采用重组菌包被颗粒饲料饲喂虹鳟幼鱼,间隔免疫的免疫程序和免疫保护率优于连续免疫的免疫程序,对IPNV的入侵起到保护作用。     

19株海水鱼致病性弧菌OmpK基因序列及其抗原性分析

从哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)、溶藻弧菌(V.alginolyticus)、副溶血弧菌(V.parahaemolyticus)克隆、测定了共19株海水鱼类致病性弧菌外膜蛋白OmpK基因序列,探讨其作为海水鱼类致病性弧菌共同抗原的分子基础.根据已知的弧菌外膜蛋白OmpK序列设计1对简并引物,利用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)方法从19株弧菌总DNA中分别扩增得到约800bp外膜蛋白OmpK的基因片段,将其克隆到pDM18-Tvector载体筛选阳性重组子进行序列测定.结果显示,OmpK基因分别含有786bp～849 bp的开放读码框,编码261～282个氨基酸,其核苷酸序列之间的相似性在72%～100%,推测氨基酸序列的相似性为71%～100%,且种内OmpK氨基酸序列的相似性比种间高.序列分析还表明,每一种弧菌OmpK基因都有一段特异性序列,可用于设计核酸探针或特异性引物来诊断、检测哈维氏弧菌等海水鱼致病性弧菌.本研究不仅从基因水平上证实了外膜蛋白OmpK广泛存在于海水鱼致病性弧菌中,而且证明了它们之间具有较高的相似性.由结果推测外膜蛋白OmpK是哈维氏弧菌、溶藻弧菌、副溶血弧菌等致病性弧菌的一种共同抗原,是较好的亚单位疫苗候选成分,为进一步研制广谱的海水鱼类致病性弧菌外膜蛋白基因工程亚单位疫苗提供了理论基础.     

罗非鱼无乳链球菌Sip-Pgk融合蛋白乳酸菌口服疫苗制备及其免疫效果的研究

为研制比无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)单个蛋白抗原免疫效果更佳的多蛋白重组罗非鱼(Oreochromis sp.)链球菌病口服疫苗,该研究利用同源重组法构建表达无乳链球菌Sip-Pgk融合蛋白的pNZ8148-sippgk质粒,通过电转化乳酸乳球菌(Lactococcus lactis) NZ9000中获得L. lactis NZ9000 pNZ8148-sip-pgk重组乳酸菌,使用nisin诱导表达并进行Western blot鉴定,制备Sip-Pgk融合蛋白乳酸菌口服疫苗,通过不同免疫次数隔周免疫的方式灌胃罗非鱼。ELISA检测免疫后的血清抗体水平,在灌胃免疫结束后的第18天通过腹腔注射无乳链球菌攻毒获得相对免疫保护率。结果显示,构建的重组乳酸菌诱导表达的蛋白大小为92 kD,与目的蛋白大小一致。与2次免疫比较,3次免疫该融合蛋白乳酸菌疫苗能显著提高罗非鱼的血清抗体水平和对无乳链球菌的免疫保护效果。3次免疫Sip-Pgk融合蛋白乳酸菌疫苗的血清水平显著高于单一蛋白组和PBS组,其相对免疫保护率最高(45.56%)。     

溶藻弧菌HY9901鞭毛蛋白flaB基因的克隆及原核表达

参照GenBank上登录的弧菌鞭毛蛋白flaB基因序列设计引物,PCR扩增溶藻弧菌HY9901株的flaB全长基因,序列分析结果显示该基因为1134bp,编码377个氨基酸。与GenBank中其它弧菌的同源基因序列比对显示,溶藻弧菌flaB基因与副溶血弧菌flaB基因的同源性最高(92%)。将该基因定向克隆到原核表达载体pET-32a(+)中,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中成功表达出带His-tag的融合蛋白,分子量大小与预期一致。优化的表达条件为28℃,0.4mmol/LIPTG浓度诱导10h。用纯化后的融合蛋白免疫SPF级小鼠,制备了多克隆抗体。Western-blotting结果表明鼠抗FlaB血清不仅能与诱导后的重组蛋白发生反应,而且能与天然的溶藻弧菌全菌蛋白发生反应,提示鞭毛蛋白FlaB可能是溶藻弧菌的重要保护性抗原之一,为下一步进行FlaB蛋白免疫原性的研究以及疫苗的制备奠定了基础。     

哈维氏弧菌外膜蛋白OmpK基因的克隆及原核表达

根据哈维氏弧菌外膜蛋白OmpK的基因序列设计一对引物，应用聚合酶链式反应（PCR）方法，从分离自患病大黄鱼的哈维氏弧菌基因组中扩增获得一段约800bp的序列。将其克隆到pGEM-Teasy载体，测序结果证明该序列是哈维氏弧菌外膜蛋白OmpK基因。用PCR方法去除其信号肽序列，定向克隆到原核表达载体pGEX-4T-2构建重组表达质粒pGEX-4T-OmpK。IPTG诱导后能够在大肠杆菌BL21中高效表达分子量约为53kD的GST-OmpK融合蛋白。用纯化后的融合蛋白免疫新西兰兔获得了高效价的抗血清。Western-blotting分析表明，它与从哈维氏弧菌中提取的约27kD的外膜蛋白能够发生特异反应，提示外膜蛋白OmpK可能是哈维氏弧菌的重要保护性抗原之一。     

Vibrogen‐2 vaccine trial in lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) against Vibrio anguillarum

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus), a native fish of the North Atlantic Ocean, is utilized as cleaner fish to biocontrol sea lice infestations in Atlantic salmon aquaculture. However, bacterial infections are affecting cleaner fish performance. Vibrio anguillarum, the aetiological agent of vibriosis, is one of the most frequent bacterial infections in lumpfish, and effective vaccine programmes against this pathogen have been identified as a high priority for lumpfish. Vibrogen‐2 is a commercial polyvalent bath vaccine that contains formalin‐inactivated cultures of V. anguillarum serotypes O1 and O2, and Vibrio ordalii. In this study, we evaluated Vibrogen‐2 efficacy in lumpfish against a local isolated V. anguillarum strain. Two groups of 125 lumpfish were bath‐immunized, bath‐boost‐immunized at four weeks post‐primary immunization, and intraperitoneally (i.p.) boost‐immunized at eight weeks post‐primary immunization. The control groups were i.p. mock‐immunized with PBS. Twenty‐seven weeks post‐primary immunization, the fish were i.p. challenged with 10 or 100 times the V. anguillarum J360 LD₅₀ dose. After the challenge, survival was monitored daily, and samples of tissues were collected at ten days post‐challenge. Commercial vaccine Vibrogen‐2 reduced V. anguillarum tissue colonization and delayed mortality but did not confer immune protection to C. lumpus against the V. anguillarum i.p. challenge.     

鳗弧菌O1/O2二价灭活疫苗免疫大菱鲆的抗体持续期和免疫保护期

本研究分析了鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)O1/O2血清型二价灭活疫苗免疫大菱鲆后的抗体持续期和免疫保护期。以鳗弧菌O1血清型VAM003株和O2血清型VAM007株为抗原制备了福尔马林灭活二价疫苗,将疫苗按照三种剂量(10~7 cells/尾、10~8 cells/尾、10~9 cells/尾)以腹腔注射途径免疫大菱鲆,在免疫后3 d、7 d、14 d、30 d、60 d、90 d、120 d、150 d,用血清凝集实验检测了免疫鱼血清的VAM003和VAM007抗体效价,用攻毒实验检测了疫苗的免疫保护率(RPS)。结果显示,在免疫后7 d三个剂量组的大菱鲆均产生了特异抗体,并获得27%～60%的RPS。三个剂量组大菱鲆的O1血清型抗体持续期分别90 d (10~7 cells/尾组)、150 d (10~8 cells/尾组)、150 d (10~9cells/尾组),而三个剂量组大菱鲆的O2血清型抗体持续期均150 d。三个剂量组的大菱鲆获得的免疫保护持续期均150 d;以RPS75%为有效免疫保护,各剂量组大菱鲆抵抗O1血清型病原感染的有效免疫保护期为:14～120d(10~7 cells组)、14～120 d (10~8 cells/尾)、14～150 d (10~9 cells/尾),抵抗O2血清型病原感染的有效免疫保护期为:14～60 d (10~7 cells组)、14～120 d (10~8 cells/尾)、14～120 d (10~9 cells/尾)。研究结果表明鳗弧菌二价灭活疫苗可为大菱鲆提供有效而稳定的免疫保护,获得的抗体持续期和免疫保护期为该疫苗的临床中试研究提供了基础。     

Immunization of grouper, Epinephelus coioides, confers protection against a protozoan parasite, Cryptocaryon irritans

The present study aimed to determine whether protection is conferred by immunization of grouper, Epinephelus coioides, against a protozoan parasite, Cryptocaryon irritans. The immunization of E. coioides was carried out by a low level exposure of fish to live C. irritans theronts from predetermined number of tomonts and by an intraperitoneal injection of a vaccine consisting of formalin-killed C. irritans theronts.

Mucus titers detected by ELISA were significantly higher in fingerling and adult grouper subjected to the low level of exposure to C. irritans theronts at 3-week post-exposure compared to fish that had no previous exposure. In addition, significantly smaller tomonts were produced from adult grouper after three successive exposures than the tomonts produced after a single exposure to the parasite.

In the vaccine-immunization experiment, no mortality was monitored in fish that received high dose vaccine (100 μg/fish), while 40% cumulative mortality and 100% cumulative mortality were recorded in low dose group (10 μg/fish) and control group (PBS-injected), respectively. In the succeeding replicate, the vaccine-immunized group (high dose) had 37.5% cumulative mortality and 100% cumulative mortality for the control. In addition, a total of 1830 tomonts were collected at 5-day post-challenge from the control group while none from the vaccine-immunized group. Significantly fewer trophonts and tomonts were enumerated at 5-day and 7-day post-challenge, respectively, in the vaccine-immunized group than the control.

Results suggest that a protective immunity has been conferred on the immunized grouper as indicated by high antibody titers in the mucus of C. irritans-exposed fish and higher survival and fewer parasites in vaccine-immunized fish than the control groups. The conferred immunity played a major role in preventing or limiting the adhesion, invasion, and development of C. irritans theronts on the skin of the immunized grouper.     

Oral and parenteral vaccines against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium columnare</Emphasis>: evaluation of humoral immune response by ELISA and in vivo efficiency in Nile tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis>)

Flavobacterium columnare is a bacterial pathogen for many freshwater fish species. It is responsible for outbreaks in fish farms worldwide, causing high mortality rates. Fish vaccination is a potential approach for prevention and control of disease, with oral vaccines suitable for fish because of their easier application, low cost and minimum stress to fish. Alginate microparticles have been widely used as controlled release systems, including for fish vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of oral and parenteral vaccines against F. columnare to induce a humoral response, as well as the in vivo efficiency in Nile tilapia fingerlings. The fingerlings were immunized with bacterin by intraperitoneal (i.p.), intramuscular (i.m.), oral and immersion routes, as well as orally with alginate microparticles containing formalin-killed bacteria. A sandwich ELISA was developed to detect specific antibodies against F. columnare. The animals were challenged with pathogenic strain BZ-1 to determine the relative percentage of survival. A significant humoral response was induced by bacterin administered by i.p. and i.m. routes (P < 0.05). However, none of the vaccine preparations were effective in protecting fish against F. columnare infection (P < 0.05). In spite of high antibody levels, there was no relation between immunoglobulin titers and resistance to columnaris for Nile tilapia fingerlings. These data suggest that use of serological analysis as the only method to determine vaccine efficiency against F. columnare infection in Nile tilapia can lead to imprecise results for the usefulness of these products in vivo.     

Comparison of Protective Efficacy between Formalin‐killed and aroA Gene‐knockout Vibrio anguillarum Vaccines in Olive Flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus

The aro genes in bacteria encode enzymes needed for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids, and mutant bacteria that are defective in the enzymes can replicate only a limited number in vertebrates owing to the lack or scarceness of chorismate, through which the mutant bacteria of the aro genes become attenuated. In the present study, the 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase (aroA) gene‐knockout Vibrio anguillarum (ΔaroA V. anguillarum) were generated by the allelic exchange method, and its vaccine potential was evaluated in the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, by comparing the protective efficacy of a formalin‐inactivated V. anguillarum. The LD₅₀ (50% lethal dose) value of ΔaroA V. anguillarum was 1000 times higher than that of wild‐type V. anguillarum in olive flounder fingerlings, and the growth of ΔaroA V. anguillarum was significantly suppressed by coincubation with nonimmune olive flounder serum compared with that of wild‐type V. anguillarum. The survival rates and serum agglutination titers of fish immunized with ΔaroA V. anguillarum were significantly higher than those of fish immunized with the same amount of formalin‐inactivated V. anguillarum, suggesting that although the inactivated V. anguillarum vaccine can provide a high protection in olive flounder, the protective efficacy can be enhanced by immunization with an auxotrophic mutant ΔaroA V. anguillarum.     

溶藻弧菌鞭毛蛋白flaC基因DNA疫苗对红笛鲷的免疫保护研究

为研究溶藻弧菌鞭毛蛋白flaC基因DNA疫苗对红笛鲷的免疫保护作用,实验构建了重组真核表达质粒pcDNA-flaC并将该质粒肌肉注射红笛鲷,采用PCR、RT-PCR、ELISA和攻毒试验等方法检测了该真核表达质粒在红笛鲷组织内的分布、表达和对红笛鲷的免疫保护.PCR结果显示,免疫接种7和28 d,注射点周围肌肉、鳃、肾脏、肝脏和脾脏都存在质粒分布;RT-PCR结果显示,免疫接种后第7天、14天和28天,红笛鲷不同组织内均有目的基因表达.ELISA结果表明,鱼血清内产生了抗FlaC蛋白的抗体,表明DNA疫苗免疫后鱼体表达了目的蛋白,并诱导产生了相应抗体.攻毒实验表明,免疫后的红笛鲷能较好地抵抗致病性溶藻弧菌的感染.结果表明,质粒pcDNA-flaC可能是抵抗溶藻弧菌感染的有效的疫苗候选物.     

Neutralizing antibody levels for protection against betanodavirus infection in sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus (Thunberg), immunized with an inactivated virus vaccine

An inactivated betanodavirus, red‐spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), is a vaccine candidate for viral nervous necrosis (VNN). The present study was conducted to examine inoculation doses of the vaccine and neutralizing antibody titre levels to protect fish against VNN. Young sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus, averaging 25.4 g, were immunized at 25 °C water temperature by a single intraperitoneal injection of formalin‐inactivated RGNNV. Fish immunized at vaccine doses of 10^8.5, 10^8.0, 10^7.5, 10^7.0 and 10^6.5 TCID₅₀ per fish produced antibodies at mean titres of 1:907, 1:511, 1:259, 1:197 and 1:96, respectively, at 20 days post‐immunization (p.i.). Neutralizing antibodies were not detected in any control fish (titre <1:80). When fish were challenged with RGNNV (10^5.0 and 10^4.0 TCID₅₀/fish) at 20 days p.i., cumulative mortalities of the fish groups immunized with 10^8.5, 10^8.0, 10^7.5 and 10^7.0 TCID₅₀ per fish were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the relative percent survival values were higher than 60% in fish groups immunized with 10^7.5 TCID₅₀ per fish or higher doses. However, no significant differences were found in mortality between the group immunized with 10^6.5 TCID₅₀ per fish and the control group. From these results, it was deduced that the minimum effective inoculation dose of the vaccine is 10^7.0 TCID₅₀ per fish and the minimum mean neutralizing antibody titre giving significant protection is approximately 1:200. This antibody titre level is a possible measure of vaccine efficacy against VNN in sevenband grouper, instead of a virus challenge test.     

A Comparison of Immersion, Immersion/Oral Combination and Injection Methods for the Vaccination of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Against Edwardsiella ictaluri

Abstract.— Four different vaccination regimes, including non-vaccinated controls (C), immersion/oral combination (IO). late immersion (LI), and injection (IJ), were evaluated for antibody production and protection from challenge in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus that were hatched and raised in recirculating culture systems over a 28-wk period. For IO, fry were vaccinated by immersion on day 12 post-hatch and given an oral booster during week 10 post-hatch. The LI and IJ delivered vaccine was also administered at week 10 post-hatch. No titers were detected in the IO group prior to the oral booster at week 10. Mean titers rose sharply after the week 10 vaccinations in all treatment groups, maintained a high level for about 8 wk, and slowly declined over the next 4 wk. Injected fish had significantly higher titers during the primary response period than either LI or IO fish. There was no statistical difference in titers between LI and IO fish during the primary response. After an oral booster delivered during week 22, titers in LI and IO fish increased significantly at week 25, while titers in IJ fish declined despite the booster delivery. An immersion booster delivered during week 25 resulted in significant increases in titers in all vaccinated groups. Of multiple challenges, the only one not marred by concurrent columnaris infections revealed a low, but significant level of protection in IJ fish at 12 wk post-vaccination.