FISH PATHOLOGIST GROUP DISCUSSION AND WORKSHOP
The following information was compiled from information exchanged
during the fish pathologist discussions. Pathologists representing 9
eastern states dealing with both state and private fish culture
facilities, as well as federal pathologists from the USFWS (Region 5 -
Northeast; Region 4 - Southeast) contributed to the discussion.
Major diseases of concern: (number in parentheses indicates number of
individuals reporting the problem)
1. External Protozoa (8) included specific mention of
Ichthyopthirias and Ichthyobodiasis (costia)
2. Columnaris disease (6)
3. Bacterial gill disease (5)
4. Furunculosis (4)
5. Enteric Redmouth Disease (3)
6. Enteric Septecemia of Catfish (3)
7. Fungal infections (3)
8. Streptococcal infections (3)
9. Motile Aeromonas septecemia (2)
10. Pseudomonas septecemia (2)
11. Whirling disease (2)
12. Coldwater disease (2)
13. Stress induced diseases - managment (2)
14. Bacterial Kidney Disease (1)
15. "No Blood" disease (1)
16. Vibriosis (1)
PRIORITY ISSUES AND RESEARCH NEEDS
The following information prioritizes research needs expressed during
group discussions. Numbers in parentheses again reflect the number of
individuals expressing and agreeing with a given issue.
1. Drug registration (10) includes the need to overcome bureaucratic
hurdles, need to increase "pivotal studies" or research on
unregistered drugs to support Investigational New Animal Drug (INAD)
and satisfy requirements for New Animal Drug Application (NADA), and
the need to increase number of INADs/chemotherapeutant options.
2. More precise diagnostic methods (6) to detect carrier states,
improve upon culturable detection of carrier states, and practically
analyze relevance of detection limits with significance of disease.
3. Non-lethal sampling technologies (5)
4. Vaccine development
The following are additional reearch needs suggested by individuals.
The list is in the order topics were mentioned, not in any special
order of priority. These include (a) wild fish health assessment -
methodology, recording data, consistency, (b) health assessment of
non-traditional species (e.g. - freshwater mussels), (c) diagnosis of
EED virus, (d) whirling disease status and implications, (e)
Photobacterium damsellae, (f) algal toxins, (g) interactions of exotic
diseases and fish species, (h) Saprolegnia research, (i) studies on
coldwater disease, (j) improvement of our understanding to detect
ability of pathogens to cause disease.
OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN AND IMPORTANCE
1. Importation of Exotic Diseases
2. Incorporation of new technology into Bluebook/concern expressed
over distribution process for Bluebook revisions.
3. Education
4. Management alternatives to chemotherapy
CONCLUSIONS
Several scientists pointed out that similar issues and research needs
were expressed within the fish health community 22 years ago when the
Eastern was first organized. These same issuses will probably
continue to dominate discussions in future workshops, as well. It was
agreed, however, that the issue of technique sensitivity has reched a
plateau with the sensitivity of DNA technology. Several scientists
summarized the discussion concerning polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
DNA diagnostic tools as being developed and utilized in good clinical
science to aid in the prediction of/management of disease and the
natural resource. The concepts that techniques such as ELISA and PCR
should or should not be used for disease certification purposes, or
instances when a definitive diagnosis of low level infection occurs
continues to be argued throughout the fish health community.
