Course description for 2026/27
Aquatic Animal Health
AKV5000
Course description for 2026/27
Aquatic Animal Health
AKV5000
The course covers the following main topics: Fish immunology responses and pathogen handling by the host. Fish welfare and stress response in farmed fish. Overview of major bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases of salmonide fish. Disease treatment and control vaccines, prophylaxis and therapy. Tools for pathogen detection and diagnostics.
Admission to the course requires the same qualifications as admission to the Master of Science in Biosciences.
Knowledge
The student should have:
- Knowledge of defence mechanisms in fish including host-pathogen interactions.
- Knowledge of fish welfare, stress responses and how this affect the health.
- A general understanding of the major infectious diseases of farmed aquatic animals, particularly those affecting salmonide fish.
- Learned ways of detecting, controlling and treating diseases.
Skills
The student should:
- Learned the functions of the different components of the immune system.
- Understand the stress response and how this influences the health and welfare of fish.
- Gained skills in distinguishing different classes of pathogens and assessing both physiological and pathological changes associated with diseases
- Acquired basic knowledge of the importance of controlling diseases to ensure sustainable aquaculture.
General Competence
- The course is a vital component of the Master's programme in Aquaculture. The competence acquired will be useful in different sides of the profession ¿ both as a scientist and as an aquaculturist.
- The course helps students to adopt new measures to prevent diseases and maintain the health of farmed fish.
No costs except semester registration fee and course literature.
Elective for:
MSc in Biosciences
Nordic Master in Sustainable Production and Utilization of Marine Bioresources
Lectures and laboratory work.
Mid-term evaluation
Compound evaluation.
Assignment, comprises 40/100 of the grade, grading scale A-F.
Oral exam, comprises 60/100 of the grade, grading scale A-F.
Generating an answer using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as one's own answer is considered cheating.
HAV2001 Fish Health and BI217F Microbiology or related subjects.
Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:
AK310F - Aquatic Animal Health - 7.5 credits
Credits
7.5
Study location
Bodø
Teaching semesters
Spring 2026
Responsible faculty
Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture
Course coordinator
