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Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida ( Phdp) is a major pathogen of cultured cobia ( Rachycentron canadum), a primary target species for offshore cage culture in Taiwan. Serum antibody titers as well as efficiency and duration of protection against Phdp were evaluated following intraperitoneal administration of a candidate vaccine prepared with formalin-inactivated whole cells in combination with levan/alum adjuvants. The results showed vaccinates delayed the disease onset and had significantly ( P < 0.05) less mortality than control nonvaccinates during Days 21-105 postvaccination with highest relative percentage of survival ( RPS) and antibody titer up to 81.4% and 1:614, respectively. There was a highly significant positive linear correlation between the RPS and antibody titer ( R2 = 0.841). Long-lasting and significant protection against Phdp can be achieved with inactivated Phdp plus levan/alum, a potential cobia vaccine against photobacteriosis. Levan/alum complex may represent a promising adjuvant formula for the development of a Phdp vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]