13 results

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: establishment of a national aquatic animal health diagnostic network

Project number: 2005-621
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $124,247.70
Principal Investigator: Richard Whittington
Organisation: University of Sydney (USYD)
Project start/end date: 30 Mar 2005 - 5 Mar 2007
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The lack of many recognised serious diseases is perceived as one of Australian aquaculture’s prime competitive advantages to meet future global demand. Maintenance of this high health status through initiatives which reduce the risk of disease incursions and facilitate early detection and response to emerging disease problems is seen as critical to continuing industry expansion. The range of commercially significant aquatic animal species, and their diseases, is increasing steadily. It is clear that, due to limited resources, diagnostic laboratories cannot develop proficiency in the diagnosis of all significant diseases, for example those listed in the Australian National List of Reportable Diseases of Aquatic Animals. Appropriately, State laboratories, in support of local industries, concern themselves with local aquatic animal species and their significant diseases and have developed expertise in those areas. Rather than duplicate this effort, AAHL’s involvement and expertise focuses on exotic diseases of concern to Australia, as well as new or emerging endemic diseases. As a consequence, expertise in specific diseases has developed in different laboratories throughout the country. To take advantage of this development, to ensure that expertise in different diseases is available Australia-wide, and to create a consistent system of aquatic animal disease diagnosis and reporting, it is proposed that a national network of laboratories should be established for the diagnosis and monitoring of aquatic animal diseases underpinned by a formal quality assurance program. Through a consultation process, uniform data standards and reporting formats need to be developed and adopted by all jurisdictions. Standard diagnostic tests and operating procedures also need to be developed and subsequently adopted by laboratories within the network. Thus this project is concerned with the establishment of the network and commencement of activities, including proficiency tests (“ring tests”) designed to assist laboratories in further developing their diagnostic capabilities and/or to allow demonstration that performance of a particular test is at a nationally accepted standard, using Australian and New Zealand Standard Diagnostic Procedures (ANZSDPs). In this way confidence of stakeholders in the quality of diagnosis provided is increased. The project is in complete alignment with AQUAPLAN 2005-2010.

Objectives

1. Make recommendations on the structure and function of the network of receival and reference laboratories
2. Establish a network for aquatic animal disease diagnosis.
3. Facilitate transfer of knowledge and technology in aquatic animal diagnostics.
4. Develop a model for national laboratory proficiency (ring) testing as a mechanism to enhance the proficiency of the established diagnostic network.

Final report

ISBN: 1-86487-8770
Author: Richard Whittington

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: surveys of ornamental fish for pathogens of quarantine significance

Project number: 2009-044
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $453,137.00
Principal Investigator: Joy Becker
Organisation: University of Sydney (USYD)
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2009 - 29 Mar 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

In project FRDC2007/007 and previous studies it was determined that ornamental fish entering Australia may carry pathogens of quarantine concern, specifically gourami iridovirus (GIV) and cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV2). Ornamental fish are imported under a policy based on a formal Import Risk Assessment (IRA). On the 11/09/08 Biosecurity Australia announced the formal commencement of an Import Risk Analysis (IRA) under the regulated IRA process to review Australia’s freshwater ornamental finfish policy with respect to quarantine risks associated with gourami iridovirus (GIV). Australia has imported a large number of gouramis for many decades. The 1999 IRA considered several species of gouramis and concluded that specific risk management measures were required for these species due to biosecurity risk posed by iridoviruses, including GIV. Australia’s quarantine measures include that gouramis are held in an export premises for a minimum 14 day period prior to export, health certification stating that they are sourced from populations with no known significant clinical disease in the last six months, and that the fish are held in post-arrival quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. These are key features which need to be reviewed. Additional scientific data would enhance the review.

A second impact is that the developing Australian ornamental fish aquaculture industry may be at risk due to introduced pathogens. This is of particular relevance for goldfish, where domestic breeders claim that their stock succumb to diseases such as CyHV2 disease when brought into contact with imported goldfish in wholesale and retail premises. This disease agent was also specifically addressed in the 1999 IRA.

There is need to determine whether GIV and CyHV2 are in fact entering Australia despite quarantine practices, and further, to determine whether either virus is already established in farmed or wild ornamental fish in Australia.

Objectives

1. To determine whether GIV is entering Australia despite quarantine practices
2. To determine whether CyHV2 is entering Australia despite quarantine practices
3. To determine whether GIV is already established in farmed gourami in Australia
4. To determine whether CyHV2 is already established in farmed goldfish in Australia
5. To determine whether GIV is already established in wild gourami in Australia
6. To determine whether CyHV2 is already established in wild goldfish in Australia
7. To determine whether domestic goldfish free of CyHV2 succumb to disease when cohabitated with imported goldfish carrying CyHV2
8. To extend the findings of this study to the ornamental fish sector in Australia and provide information for use by DAFF

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-74210-314-3
Author: Joy Becker
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2016-011
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Aquatic Animal Health and Biosecurity Subprogram: Disinfection measures to support biosecurity for infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) at aquaculture facilities

Megalocytiviruses are a group of closely related viruses that cause mass mortalities in both marine and freshwater aquaculture. They are of global importance as they are listed by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). They are difficult to control as they infect over 125 fish species and...
ORGANISATION:
University of Sydney (USYD)
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