Streptococcus agalactiae Ia ST7. 2023

After confirming the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae Ia in Huila tilapia cultures and advancing a Unified Command Post (PMU) to implement inspection, surveillance and control actions, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) intensified surveillance epidemiological study in other regions of the country, which made it possible to identify the presence of the bacterium in the departments of Atlantico, Tolima and Magdalena.To date, the ICA has made a diagnosis through histopathology, bacteriological culture and PCR, managing to identify the presence of Hemolytic Streptococcus Agalactiae, and is currently in the process of analyzing the Complete Genome of the isolated strains, with the support of Agrosavia.It is important to emphasize that ICA is carrying out coordinated work with producers and other entities in the sector, in order to implement prevention and control measures for this disease, including active surveillance actions and timely attention to notifications due to reports of mortality or alteration of productive parameters in tilapia farms.In the same way, visits to verify compliance with the biosafety standard continue to be carried out, due to its importance for the prevention and mitigation of the consequences generated by the presentation of the disease.In this same sense, progress is currently being made in the authorization process for the Vecol Laboratory for the development of a bivalent autovaccine (Streptococcus agalactie Ib-Ia) with the strains isolated in the outbreaks detected in the country, as well as in the evaluation for admission. to Colombia of commercial vaccines against the bacterial agent that are registered in other countries.Due to the relevance and possible economic impact of the presence of this bacterium in different regions of the country, the ICA is studying the possibility of declaring a health emergency in the national territory, in order to expand the management and control measures of the situation.The ICA invites Colombian farmers to notify in a timely manner unusual mortality or changes in production parameters in fish production.After verifying the presence of the Streptococcus agalactiae ST7 Ia bacterium in Huila tilapia cultures, set up a Unified Command Post in Neiva to deploy inspection, surveillance, and control actions and confirm new outbreaks in Atlantico, Tolima, and Magdalena , the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) declared a National Health Emergency through Resolution 6535 of June 7, 2023.The declaration made it possible to apply the necessary sanitary measures in any part of the country, depending on the existing risk, aimed at controlling and reducing fish mortality, protecting national fish farming, and guaranteeing the country's food security. The entity has attended 29 cases in Huila, 10 in Atlantico, 3 in Magdalena, and one in Tolima. The ICA professionals have conducted timely and free sampling and diagnosis for producers in the affected regions. Mortality cases have occurred in all productive stages of tilapia: farming, fingerlings, rearing, and fattening, with the following levels of affectation in each department: Tolima (10 percent), Huila (12 percent), Magdalena (37 percent), and Atlantico (47percent).