Use of quillaja saponaria extracts for the prevention and control of bacterial infections in fish

Abstract

The present invention provides a new use of Quillaja extracts for manufacturing a medicinal composition for the prevention and control of bacterial diseases in fish, which is preferably administered orally in combination with food. Other objects of the invention are related to a medicinal composition and a food composition for the prevention and control of bacterial diseases in fish comprising said Quillaja extracts.

1 . Use of a  Quillaja saponaria  extract as active ingredient for the manufacture of a medicinal composition useful for the prevention and control of a bacterial disease in fish. 
     
     
         2 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicinal composition is orally administered to the fish in a dose range between 0.9 to 12 mg of saponins/Kg of live weight of fish. 
     
     
         3 . The use according to  claim 2 , wherein the administration to fish is carried out orally in combination with food. 
     
     
         4 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the bacterial disease is caused by Gram negative bacteria. 
     
     
         5 . The use according to  claim 4 , wherein the Gram negative bacteria are selected from the group consisting of the genus  Piscirickettsia, Aeromonas  and  Vibrio.    
     
     
         6 . The use according to  claim 5 , wherein bacteria belonging to genus  Piscirickettsia , are  Piscirickettsia salmonis.    
     
     
         7 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the bacterial disease is caused by Gram positive bacterium. 
     
     
         8 . The use according to  claim 7 , wherein the Gram positive bacteria belong to the genus  Renibacterium.    
     
     
         9 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein fish are salmonids. 
     
     
         10 . The use according to  claim 9 , wherein the salmonids are selected from the group consisting of  Salmo salar, Salmo trutta, Salmo gairdnerii, Oncorhynchus mykiss  and  Oncorhynchus kisutch  species. 
     
     
         11 . A medicinal composition for the prevention and control of bacterial diseases in fish, wherein it comprises a  Quillaja saponaria  extract as active ingredient and an appropriate excipient. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the  Quillaja saponaria  extract is in a proportion between 2% and 90% w/w of the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         13 . A food composition for the prevention and control of bacterial diseases in fish, wherein it comprises a  Quillaja saponaria  extract as active ingredient and an appropriate additive. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the  Quillaja saponaria  extract is in a proportion less than 6% w/w of the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         15 . A method for the prevention and control of bacterial disease in fish, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
 providing a medicinal composition comprising a  Quillaja saponaria  extract as active ingredient; and   administering said medicinal composition to the fish in a dose range between 0.9 to 12 mg of saponins/Kg of live weight of fish.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the administration to fish is carried out orally in combination with food. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the bacterial disease is caused by Gram negative bacteria. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the Gram negative bacteria are selected from the group consisting of the genus  Piscirickettsia, Aeromonas  and  Vibrio.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein bacteria belonging to genus  Piscirickettsia , are  Piscirickettsia salmonis.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the bacterial disease is caused by Gram positive bacterium. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the Gram positive bacteria belong to the genus  Renibacterium.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein fish are salmonids. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the salmonids are selected from the group consisting of  Salmo salar, Salmo trutta, Salmo gairdnerii, Oncorhynchus mykiss  and  Oncorhynchus kisutch  species.