9 results

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

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Tools for investigation of the nodavirus carrier state in marine, euryhaline and freshwater fish and control of NNV through integrated management

Project number: 2008-041
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $463,365.00
Principal Investigator: Richard Whittington
Organisation: University of Sydney (USYD)
Project start/end date: 31 Mar 2009 - 29 Mar 2012
Contact:
FRDC

Need

This project relates directly to the FRDC VNN Research and Development Plan, to facilitate industry profitability, sustainability, growth and development. There is an overarching need to measure and then reduce the risk to fisheries and aquaculture sectors (including natural resources) associated with transfer of nodaviruses. The aquaculture industry is proactive and responsible (eg triple bottom line reporting) and wishes to manage risks based on sound science. Industry acknowledges a residual risk that cannot be controlled: virus prevalence in the wild and natural fish movements. However, there is an immediate need for industry to conduct business in the face of unknowns with respect to true disease status. While there is a need to ensure that infected, but apparently healthy, stock are not moved to areas that are considered free of the disease/disease agent, it is of fundamental importance for the sustainability of the barramundi aquaculture industry and developing species ventures such as Australian bass that stock are translocated. Current tests for determining disease status are considered inadequate, therefore biosecurity protocols in the short-term are required to address the risk of introduction of disease with water, broodstock and fomites. As new information becomes available through R&D, these protocols will be revised and improved as needed to improve biosecurity. In the meantime, protocols are needed to manage risks with incomplete information and without overburdening industry with uneconomic or unwarranted requirements. There is need for mitigation of impacts on translocation: hatchery to nursery to grow-out; hatchery to wild (eg stocking for recreational fishing); both intra-state and interstate translocations, access to overseas markets; sourcing broodstock from the wild. Financial impacts, environmental impacts and mulitsectorial impacts at level of commercial, recreational and regulatory sectors all need to be addressed.

Objectives

1. To develop and validate a real-time PCR method for the detection and identification of betanodaviruses
2. To develop and evaluate the applicability of serological tests for detection and identification of betanodaviruses
3. To transfer developed technology to Australian diagnostic laboratories
4. To provide a basis for development of a national proficiency testing scheme for the detection and identification of betanodaviruses
5. To provide recommendations for improved biosecurity protocols in relation to nodavirus infection and fish translocation

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-74210-301-3
Author: Richard Whittington
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1998-139
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Coastal stocks of fish: from which estuaries are most adults derived?

The origins of many stocks of fish are unknown. As juveniles, many fish are found in estuarine regions. After a period in these habitats they may leave estuaries for coastal reefs and shelf waters where they may be commercially fished. Currently, we do not know the proportion of...
ORGANISATION:
University of Sydney (USYD)
SPECIES
Environment
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 1998-348
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Quantitative Training Unit for Fisheries (phase 2)

The Quantitative Training Unit for Fisheries (QTUF) operated at The University of Sydney from 1995 to 2001. There were two distinct phases to the project: Phase I (Project 93/117, from 1995 to 1997) and Phase II (Project 98/348, 1998 to 2001). The QTUF project was designed to address the need for...
ORGANISATION:
University of Sydney (USYD)
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