ICAR-DCFR Secures Patent for Rapid Detection of Deadly Fish Pathogen - Lactococcus garvieae

The ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (ICAR-DCFR) in Bhimtal has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining a patent for a ground-breaking diagnostic tool designed to mitigate Lactococcus garvieae's detrimental effects. Led by Dr. Neetu Shahi, Senior Scientist at ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal, the patented technology, titled ‘Composition, Protocol, and Diagnostic Kit for Identification of Bacterial Pathogen Lactococcus garvieae,’ marks a significant breakthrough in aquaculture health. 

Dr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, Director of ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal, underscored the critical need for innovative detection methods to protect global aquaculture industries from the escalating threat posed by L. garvieae. This bacterial pathogen, notorious for its devastating impact on marine and freshwater ecosystems, has led to staggering economic losses amounting to millions of dollars globally.

Originally identified in the 1980s from bovine mastitis samples in the United Kingdom, L. garvieae poses a severe threat by causing hemorrhagic septicemia and meningoencephalitis in over 60 fish species. The infection leads to crop losses ranging from 20 to 60%, significantly impacting fish production. Moreover, surviving fish become asymptomatic carriers, further facilitating the spread of the disease.

Traditional identification methods for L. garvieae are time-consuming and prone to misidentification, exacerbating the spread of the pathogen. Factors such as climate change, antibiotic resistance, and the lack of rapid diagnostic tools compound the challenge, particularly in warmer months when the outbreak of "Warm Water Lactococcosis" intensifies, posing a dire threat to rainbow trout farming.

The newly patented technology offers a transformative solution by enabling the rapid visual detection of L. garvieae within just 40 minutes. Leveraging specific concentrations and compositions of oligonucleotides, the diagnostic kit facilitates swift, accurate, and cost-effective detection by discerning color changes in the reactants.

The patent secured by ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal, indicates a significant step forward in safeguarding global aquatic ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of the aquaculture industry.