Desert King’s PAQ-Xtract® enhances vaccine response against SRS in salmon
A study by Pathovet Labs, published in Salmonexpert, demonstrated that the oral immunostimulant developed from PAQ-Xtract® improves fish survival, modulates immune markers, and broadens protection against different genogroups of Piscirickettsia salmonis. This bacterium is responsible for Salmonid Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS), the main infectious disease affecting Chilean salmon farming and one of the leading causes of mortality in the sector.
The research evaluated the efficacy of various vaccination strategies against SRS. Currently, vaccines formulated with genogroup PS-EM-90 provide only partial immunity against genogroup PS-LF-89, whose prevalence has increased in recent years.
Results showed that supplementation with PAQ-Xtract® enhances the immune response and improves the effectiveness of existing vaccines. In vaccinated and supplemented groups, relative percent survival (RPS) rates reached up to 96% against genogroup PS-LF-89, significantly outperforming non-supplemented fish.
The study also showed a positive effect on the regulation of biomarkers associated with cellular immunity, such as IL-12 and CD8+ cells, reinforcing PAQ-Xtract® role as a natural ally in disease control.
PAQ-Xtract® thus positions itself as a key complement to vaccination management in salmon, contributing to the prevention and control of SRS and promoting a more sustainable and efficient aquaculture industry.
PAQ-Xtract® is a patented formulation developed by Desert King® containing a purified and standardized Quillaja saponin extract that acts as an immune modulator in fish. It offers a natural solution against Salmonid Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS), the leading infectious challenge in salmon farming in Chile.
By controlling Piscirickettsia salmonis, PAQ-Xtract® helps reduce antibiotic use in salmon farming by over 66%, demonstrating that efficacy and sustainability can go hand in hand. It also lowers SRS-related mortality by nearly 50%, tackling one of the most complex diseases in the industry.
