Health and Biosecurity

The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending that farmers and the food industry stop using antibiotics routinely to promote growth and prevent disease in healthy animals. The new WHO recommendations aim to help preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics that are important for human medicine by reducing their unnecessary use in animals. In some countries, approximately 80% of total consumption of medically important antibiotics is in the animal sector, largely for growth promotion in healthy animals.

Since 2009, tilapia aquaculture has been threatened by mass die-offs in Israel and Ecuador, which have been caused by a novel Orthomyxo-like (RNA) virus named Tilapia lake virus. This has been reported as a newly emerging virus that causes syncytial hepatitis of tilapia. An emergency regional consultation was held in Guangzhou, China from 27-28 September 2017 to discuss and plan actions on the overall prevention and management of this disease.

In this issue:

28th NACA Governing Council, Dhaka, Bangladesh; register for the First Regional Training Course on Culture-based Fisheries; 11th Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum, Kochi, 21-24 November; audio recordings for regional feed consultation now available; tilapia lake virus; Proceedings of the International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health and Epidemiology for Sustainable Asian Aquaculture; ICAR-CIBA launch "Vanami Shrimpapp", a mobile app on Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farming; Pakistan officials train on aquaculture certification.

These are the proceedings of a symposium convened by the ICAR National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, India, from 20-21 April 2017. The symposium included presentations from national and international experts on aquatic animal epidemiology and related disciplines to address a range of risk factors that catalyse horizontal spread of disease, spread of transboundary pathogens and increased disease susceptibility, thereby contributing to strengthening of surveillance efforts, especially in the Indian context.

The 73rd edition of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report contains information from 14 governments. The foreword provides a disease advisory on tilapia lake virus (TiLV), an emerging threat to farmed tilapia in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is an emerging infectious agent that has recently been identified on three continents. While the link between TiLV and disease outbreaks in Israel and Thailand are well documented, further investigations are being undertaken to determine the significance of TiLV in the other countries. This report summarises the available scientific information on TiLV, including clinical signs, diagnostics and epidemiology. Infection with TiLV in tilapia populations may result in socio economic losses and impacts on food security.

Aquaculture Asia Magazine is an autonomous publication that gives farmers and scientists in developing countries a voice. Stories concern the small-scale aquaculture prevalent in the region and the circumstances of farmers trying to make ends meet in an increasingly globalised world. We accept articles on any aspect of aquaculture and the related processing, marketing, economic, environmental and social issues. An RSS feed is available if you wish to stay informed of new issues.

A collection of technical publications relating to aquatic animal disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Policy briefs and guidelines, certification standards, codes of practice and other voluntary instruments relating to aquaculture.

The Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease report provides information about the status of aquatic animal disease in 21 participating states in the Asia-Pacific region. The diseases covered in the report are reviewed annually by the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health. The report was first published in the second quarter of 1998. It is a joint activity between NACA, FAO and the OIE Regional Representation (Tokyo). 

The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific is an intergovernmental organisation that promotes rural development through sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resources management. NACA seeks to improve the livelihoods of rural people, reduce poverty and increase food security. The ultimate beneficiaries of NACA are farmers and rural communities. NACA implements development assistance projects in partnership with research centres, governments, development agencies, farmer associations and other organisations.

In this issue:

Inspiring story of aquaculture in Sikkim - a journey from conservation to farming; farming of scampi and tiger shrimp together - a case study from West Bengal; Labeo pangusia - a candidate for diversification of hill aquaculture; sustainability of an integrated livestock-fish-crop farming system as a small scale enterprise; sustainable coastal aquaculture in India; potential scope and prospects of domestic fish market in Chhattisgarh.

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is a relatively recent pathogen causing serious mortalities in farmed tilapia. The virus appears to be spreading via the usual pathway of importation of live fish with inadequate regard for biosecurity protocols. Countries that are at risk should establish surveillance for TiLV. Unusual tilapia mortalities should be investigated. Importation of live tilapia should probably be reconsidered until adequate biosecurity arrangements are in place. Links to some recent advisories and publications are provided.

WorldFish is seeking a Post Doctoral Fellow to coordinate and conduct research on emerging aquatic animal health challenges as a component of the Fish Health and Nutrition Research Cluster of the CGIAR Research Program on FISH. S/he will involve in epidemiological research on emerging fish diseases and engaging international and national research teams in Bangladesh, Egypt, Malaysia and other WorldFish focal and scaling countries and partners to deliver high quality research on aquatic animal health.

Tilapia lake virus is a newly emerging virus that is associated with significant mortalities in farmed tilapia. This fact sheet describes the threat to industry, clinical signs, diagnosis, risk factors, prevention and control options and actions that must be taken to minimise the impact of this disease on the global tilapia aquaculture industry. All countries with a tilapia industry must be vigilant and act quickly to investigate cases of mortalities in farms.

Recently, we released a warning of TiLV in Thailand and an improved RT-PCR detection methodology. The Fish Health Platform in Centex, BIOTEC/Mahidol University has also obtained positive test results for TiLV in other Asian countries where it has not yet been reported. Many countries have been translocating tilapia fry/fingerlings prior to and even after the description of TiLV. We have prepared a map listing countries with confirmed reports of TiLV infections and 43 other countries that we believe have imported infected fish.

This disease card published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) provides information about tilapia lake virus (TiLV), a recently observed pathogen causing significant mortalities in cultured tilapia. The disease card provides details of the pathogen, modes of transmission, host range, geographical distribution, clinical signs, diagnostic methods, socio-economic significance, transmission risk and a list of available references. We urge laboratories to test for TiLV when abnormal tilapia mortalities occur.

The 73rd edition of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report contains information from 14 governments. The foreword provides information about the implementation of a National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) in India.

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is an emerging disease of cultured tilapia in the Asia-Pacific region. Originally observed and reported in Israel, Ecuador, Colombia and Egypt, TiLV is now confirmed in cultured tilapia in Thailand causing mass mortalities. At risk is here is the US$7.5 billion global industry per annum, especially among the top tilapia-producing countries in the region including China, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Bangladesh. This advisory describes signs of the disease and PCR detection methods.

In this issue:

Anti-microbial resistance in aquaculture; participatory market chain approaches to boost fish nurseries; traditional community fishing practices of rural Assam; practical significance of restricted feeding regimes in aquaculture; Bangana dero: A potential indigenous fish species for diversification of carp culture; shell colour variation in farmed Litopenaeus vannamei: Comparison of white- and brown-shelled shrimp; culture-based fisheries: A low-tech, greenhouse friendly approach to improving food and income for Cambodian families.