Prime-boost vaccination with chimeric antigens adjuvanted in Montanide™ ISA50 V2 confers protection against experimental Lepeophtheirus salmonis infestation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).

Sea lice are crustacean ectoparasites affecting Atlantic salmon production worldwide and impediments to industry growth. Chemical treatment has been the method of choice to control infestation with increasing resistance. Vaccination is an environmentally friendly alternative for sea lice control; however, obtaining high levels of lice reduction through active immunization has proven difficult. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of two sea lice vaccine prototypes under laboratory-controlled conditions.