Title:

Assessing compliance and efficacy of import conditions for green (raw) prawn in relation to White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)

Project Number:

2016-066

Organisation:

Future Fisheries Veterinary Service Pty Ltd (FFVS)

Principal Investigator:

Matt A. Landos

Project Status:

Completed

FRDC Expenditure:

$106,070.00

Program(s):

Industry

Need

Data is needed to assess the efficacy of the existing import controls. Australia's post-border testing and inspection measures on imported prawn commodities have not been subject to assessment of their efficacy in preventing WSSV stock reaching Australian retail outlets. In light of the recent outbreak, a review of the application of protocols is warranted. Data is required to understand the extent of inspection processes for illegal prawn commodity importation, which may bypass the import testing protocols.

Objectives

1. Sample uncooked prawn commodities at retail outlets in Logan and Clarence River Catchments

2. Test commodities for presence of WSSV DNA using qPCR at NATA accredited laboratory

3. Review import testing and processes associated with import of prawns into Australia

Assessing compliance and efficacy of import conditions for uncooked prawn in relation to White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) through testing retail commodities and comparison of stringency of import measures with other imported commodities into Australia

Final Report
ISBN:978-0-9577587-8-0
ISSN:
Author(s):Matt Landos
Date Published:April 2017
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Subsequently to the outbreak of WSD on Australian prawn farms in November-December 2016, this project was initiated to generate data on some of the likely entry pathways for WSSV to enter Australian waters via the retail purchase of uncooked prawns and crabs. The project also sought to compare the import procedures across different commodity types including chicken meat, pork, salmon and stock feeds to those which were being applied to prawns, prior to the WSD outbreak at the Logan River prawn farms.

Supplementary report to: Assessing compliance and efficacy of import conditions for uncooked prawn in relation to White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) through testing retail commodities and comparison of stringency of import measures with other imported commodities into Australia

Report
ISBN:978-0-9577587-9-7
ISSN:
Author(s):Matt Landos
Date Published:April 2017
Download
Additional tests were requested for samples of retail seafood product reported to be of Australian origin where a positive result for the qPCR test for WSSV DNA was obtained. A procedure for surface decontamination and dissection of internal tissue was implemented. This was intended to help distinguish natural infection with WSSV from surface contamination with the virus that could occur at any time during processing, offer for sale and processing for the survey.

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