Address: Vikan, N-7800 Namsos - Norway
Laboratory (ies) involved: VESO Vikan experimental facility

Research topics

Biomedical and pharmaceutical research in fish and other aquatic organisms involving infectious and emerging diseases

Access contact person

Anne Ramstad , Project Veterinary Manager

Activities and services

VESO Vikan is the world leading laboratory for disease trials in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. and has its own hatchery for production of Atlantic salmon with known susceptibility to infectious diseases.

The facility is built to conduct clinical trials and other experiments with infectious diseases under stringent quarantine conditions, without discharge of infectious material to the aquatic environment. The facility can provide a full range of water qualities with respect to salinity, temperature and pH, and thus has the capacity to hold, maintain and manipulate a wide range of fresh water and marine species.

Several challenge models are available for Atlantic salmon, Cod, Sea Bass, Rainbow trout, etc. Our scientific staff has in depth experience in handling, management and care of fish in all stages operating according to OECD`s principles of Good Laboratory Practice. Living, working and conference buildings are located at the facility.

Description of the access to provide

• VESO Vikan is the world leading laboratory for disease trials in Atlantic salmon. Tests involving a whole range of other aquatic species are also conducted.
• VESO Vikan has a broad experience in bacterial and viral pathogens as well as parasites.
• VESO Vikan comprises an experimental trials unit capable of conducting challenge trails with fish pathogens, a hatchery for supply of SPF experimental fish and a marine net pen unit for field trials.
• The facility comprises 200 tanks of various sizes. The laboratory has experimental challenge models for several bacterial agents, viruses and parasites.
• A well equipped dry laboratory is available.
• We have a trained staff to give support to be able to conduct the experiments according to the project plan.

NUMBER of participants accepted:

8-10 projects, each project is estimated to approx 10 tank months (ca. 2500 euros)

Travel and subsistence costs

The project will cover visit to the facility at start of project, sampling and termination. Accommodation are free at the facility, food will be covered by Norwegian governmental rates and food must be prepared by the scientist at the accommodation. Travel costs are limited to approx 1000 euro per project.

Conditions of participant involvement

After the end of each project the candidate will:

• Submit a short report
• Fill a questionnaire available on-line at: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/capacities/questionnaire_en.html
• The participant is entitled to publish the results of its work at the infrastructure in the open literature.All publications resulting from the project should acknowledge this EC-support by mentioning : “The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community‘s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 228394”
• Proprietary research (research where results are not generally available to the public or only made available under confidentiality arrangements) cannot be supported.
• Travel and subsistence expenses linked to the access will be reimbursed upon approval of the report. Reimbursements will be done according to administrative rules of each hosting organisation.
• For more information about transnational access conditions, see the ANNEX III to the Grant Agreement - Infrastructures

Infrastructure ethical rules

All project plans must be approved according to Norwegian legislation for the use of animals (fish) for research purposes. The project plans will be evaluated local or in the National Animal Research Authority (NARA).

Recent publications

• T. Kanellos, I.D. Sylvester, F. D’Mello, C.R. Howard, A, Mackie, P.F. Dixon, K-C. Chang, A. Ramstad, P.J. Midtlyng, P.H. Russell (2006) DNA vaccination can protect Cyprinus Carpio against spring viraemia of carp virus. Vaccine 24, 4927-4933.
• Storset A., Strand C., Wetten M., Kjøglum S., Ramstad A. (2007) Response to selection for resistance against infectious pancreatic necrosis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Aquaculture. 272S1 62-68
• Ramstad A., A. B. Romstad, D.H. Knappskog and P.J. Midtlyng (2007) Field validation of experimental challenge models for IPN vaccines. Journal of Fish Diseases. 30, 723-731
• Ramstad A. and P.J. Midtlyng (2008) Strong genetic influence on IPN vaccination -and challenge trials in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) Journal of Fish Diseases. 31, 567-578 13.