The project is financially supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
FAVET
The Aquaculture Genomics Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (Favet) has launched a project to strengthen the genetic resistance of rainbow trout and improve their health against Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV) and other emerging viral diseases.
Infectious diseases in this species increase mortality rates and pose a significant economic threat to one of the most important aquaculture industries in Latin America and the Caribbean, with rainbow trout being farmed in at least 12 countries. Chile is currently the largest producer of trout.
The project, titled 'Reduction of Rainbow Trout Mortality Associated with Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus and Emerging Diseases Using Molecular and OMIC Techniques', is financially supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and includes the participation of countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador.
"Chile is currently the only country in Latin America that has genetic improvement programs. This means that production companies work in collaboration with specialized laboratories, like ours—one of the main service providers in this area in the country—to select and breed specimens with desirable traits, such as greater disease resistance or better production performance," assured Favet professional and lead researcher of the project, Dr. David Tapia.
Researchers from the University of Chile have employed techniques such as Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to identify genetic markers associated with resistance to IPNV.
In addition, knowledge in disease management and prevention in aquaculture has been shared through various courses, training sessions, and internships held in Peru and Argentina.
"From Chile, we have been supporting other countries with the collection of trout samples, which are then sent to the laboratory in Austria to determine whether they carry any molecular markers that could be associated with disease resistance," Tapia indicated.
The first training course of the project, the Regional Training Course of Fish Population Genomics, was held in June in Campos do Jordão, Brazil, and was organized by the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). This included a technical visit to a trout farming station to promote the connection between theory and practice.
Finally, Chile will host the second course in mid-October: the Regional Training Course on Selective Breeding. It will take place in the city of Puerto Varas, due to its proximity to trout farming centers with genetic improvement programs.
