Report of the fifth meeting of the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, 22-24 November 2006

The Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health meets annually to discuss regional disease issues including emerging disease threats. This is the report of the fifth meeting, held 22-24 November 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand. The report discusses emerging disease problems and regional response to:

• Finfish diseases: Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio sp., Streptococcus dsygalactiae, S. agalactiae and S. iniae, Francisella, loss of mucus and septicemia syndrome, Tenacibaculum maritimum, Nocardia seriolae, Flavocacterium columnare.
• Crustacean diseases: Taura syndrome virus, infectious myonecrosis virus, monodon slow growth agent, tegumental gland associated virus, Laem Singh virus, bamboo shrimp syndrome, rickettsia
• Mollusc diseases: Marteiliosis in cultured green mussel Perna viridis.

Other issues discussed included:

• Outcomes from the OIE General Session and Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission meetings in 2006.
• Lessons learned from the introduction of Penaeus vannamei to the region.
• Review of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting System, including development of criteria for inclusion of agents on the list of reportable diseases.
• Progress in implementation of the the Regional Technical Guidelines on Health management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals.
• Identification and designation of regional aquatic animal health resources, including experts, centres and reference laboratories.
• Regional and international collaboration.