Onda launches new tool in fight against fish disease

Aquaculture contract research company Onda has launched two new disease study models for fish pathogens Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi and Tenacibaculum finnmarkense.

Onda, based at two research sites on Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Canada, said the models complement its existing Tenacibaculum challenge models, providing reliable, science-driven tools to address the pathogen, which is one of the most pressing bacterial challenges in global aquaculture.

The company said in a press release that it was the first contract research organisation to bring a robust and reliable Tenacibaculum maritimum model to market, understanding the gap for testing reliable solutions. With the expansion to include T. dicentrarchi and T. finnmarkense, Onda can now support producers and innovators in geographies where these strains pose major threats, including salmon farming regions across Chile, Norway, Canada and Northern Europe, and help clients bring new products to market faster. 

Lighting the way

“These new models light the path forward, turning complexity into clarity in the fight against tenacibaculosis, and mapping the battlefield so our clients can get ahead” said Dr Fabio Zanuzzo, Onda’s director of aquatic animal health. 

Unlike single-strain disease, Tenacibaculum encompasses multiple species that impact different regions and host fish in unique ways, making prevention and treatment especially difficult. The bacteria’s ability to cause severe lesions, reduce welfare, and drive significant mortality underscores the need for reliable study models and innovative health solutions to protect both fish stocks and industry sustainability. 

Aquaculture producers face increasing pressure to manage complex fish health challenges, and diseases like Tenacibaculosis are among the costliest. For salmon alone, Tenacibaculum infections are estimated to cost the industry tens of millions of dollars annually. These economic pressures highlight the urgent need for reliable study models and innovative health solutions that help producers safeguard fish welfare and maintain market supply, said Onda.

Controlled study

The development of innovative vaccines, treatments, and management strategies requires access to controlled, reliable study models. Onda’s expanded Tenacibaculum platform provides aquaculture companies, biotech innovators, and feed manufacturers with the tools to evaluate candidate products under conditions that replicate real-world challenges.

“These new models underscore Onda’s commitment to addressing the aquaculture industry’s most urgent health challenges,” said Onda chief executive Myrna Gillis.

“By equipping our clients with robust research platforms, we help them bring effective solutions to market faster, supporting healthier fish, stronger businesses, and a more sustainable food supply.”