Manifestations of systemic autoimmunity in vaccinated salmon

Unilateral perivertebral fibrosis associated with lordosis, kyphosis and scoliosis (LKS) in farmed Chinook salmon in New Zealand

“…In Atlantic salmon, vaccination is hypothesized to trigger a systemic autoimmune condition that causes inflammatory lesions to develop in many tissues throughout the body (Koppang et al 2008). As part of this systemic reaction to vaccination, perivertebral fibrosis has been reported, and this perivertebral fibrosis has been suggested to be the cause of higher rates of spinal deformity observed in vaccinated fish (Haugarvoll et al 2010). The perivertebral inflammation and fibrosis observed in Chinook with LKS is similar to the perivertebral lesion reported in vaccinated Atlantic salmon.…”

“…Spinal deformities have been reported to result in slower growth and reduced harvest weights (Hansen et al 2010). Additionally, the presence of severe deformities can also reduce the value of the fish due to difficulties during processing and the presence of increased connective tissue in fillets from affected fish (Haugarvoll et al 2010). Twenty different spinal deformity subtypes have been described in Atlantic salmon (Witten et al 2009).…”

Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and autoantibody production induced by vaccination in farmed Atlantic salmon

“…The primary considerations of successful vaccines for the aquaculture industry are cost-effectiveness and safety [30]. However, vaccination-induced autoimmunity in farmed Atlantic salmon reported in our recent work [10,11], will have significant impacts on future vaccine development and salmon farming strategy, in addition to animal welfare aspects. Evaluation for autoimmunity by immunofluorescence, ELISA and other methods [10] as well as monitoring total IgM levels should be included as an important category when vaccine safety is evaluated in future.…”

“…This lupus-like autoimmune disease model is characterized by production of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), immune complex glomerulonephritis, and arthritis [6,7,8,9]. It was recently reported that vaccinated farmed Atlantic salmon may develop systemic autoimmunity, characterized by various serum autoantibodies, immune complex glomerulonephritis, and liver thrombosis [10,11]. Various side effects that have been reported in farmed salmon may be related to autoimmune mechanism [11].…”

“…It was recently reported that vaccinated farmed Atlantic salmon may develop systemic autoimmunity, characterized by various serum autoantibodies, immune complex glomerulonephritis, and liver thrombosis [10,11]. Various side effects that have been reported in farmed salmon may be related to autoimmune mechanism [11]. Thus, evaluation for autoimmunity in pathogenicity studies of fish diseases and vaccine development will become increasingly important in the future.…”