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

Abstract

The present invention provides a new use of Quillaja extracts for the manufacture of a medicinal composition for the prevention and control of viral diseases in fish, which is preferably administered orally in combination with food. Other objects of invention relate to a medicinal composition and a food composition for the prevention and control of viral diseases in fish comprising the described Quillaja extracts.

1 . Use of a  Quillaja saponaria  extract as active ingredient for the manufacture of a medicinal composition, for prevention and control of viral disease in fish. 
     
     
         2 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicinal preparation is administered to the fish orally in a dose range between 0.9 to 12 mg saponins/Kg of live weight of fish. 
     
     
         3 . The use according to  claim 2 , wherein the administration is carried out orally in combination with fish food. 
     
     
         4 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the viral disease is caused by a virus belonging to the families of the group comprising Birnaviridae, and Orthomyxoviridae. 
     
     
         5 . The use according to  claim 4 , wherein the virus belonging to the Birnaviridae family belongs to the genus  Aquabirnaviridae.    
     
     
         6 . The use according to  claim 5 , wherein the virus is the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus. 
     
     
         7 . The use according to  claim 4 , wherein the virus belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family belongs to the genus  Isavirus.    
     
     
         8 . The use according to  claim 7 , wherein the virus is the virus of the infectious salmon anemia. 
     
     
         9 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the fish are salmonids. 
     
     
         10 . Use according to  claim 1 , wherein the salmonids are selected from the group consisting of  Salmo salar, Salmo trutta, Salmo gairdnerii, Oncorhynchus mykiss  or  Oncorhynchus kisutch.    
     
     
         11 . A medicinal composition for the prevention and control of viral disease 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 ratio of 2 to 90% w/w of the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         13 . A food composition for the prevention and control of a viral disease in fish, wherein it comprises an extract of  Quillaja saponaria  as active ingredient and an appropriate excipient. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the  Quillaja saponaria  extract is in a proportion of less than 6% w/w of the total composition. 
     
     
         15 . A method for the prevention and control of a viral 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 medicinal preparation is administered to the fish orally in a dose range between 0.9 to 12 mg saponins/Kg of live weight of fish. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the administration is carried out orally in combination with fish food. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the viral disease is caused by a virus belonging to the families of the group comprising Birnaviridae, and Orthomyxoviridae. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the virus belonging to the Birnaviridae family belongs to the genus  Aquabirnaviridae.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the virus is the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the virus belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family belongs to the genus  Isavirus.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the virus is the virus of the infectious salmon anemia. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fish are salmonids. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the salmonids are selected from the group consisting of  Salmo salar, Salmo trutta, Salmo gairdnerii, Oncorhynchus mykiss  or  Oncorhynchus kisutch.