Under the FAO technical cooperation project (TCP/VIE/3304 (E)) Emergency assistance to control the spread of an unknown disease affecting shrimp, this final technical consultation on “Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (APHNS) of Cultured Shrimp” was jointly organised by FAO and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development from 25-27 June 2013, Prestige Hotel, Hanoi, Viet Nam.

The consultation presented all relevant project findings and outcomes of the work carried out under the project, and provided updates on EMS situation and experiences in some affected Asian countries, as well as additional technical presentations to assist in further understanding this disease in terms of its aetiology and epidemiology. Nineteen presentations were made over three sessions, while the fourth session drew a number of recommendations and risk management measures pertaining to:

• Disease nomenclature.
• Diagnostics.
• Reporting/notification
• International trade (live shrimp, shrimp commodity, shrimp feed).
• Farm and hatchery facilities.
• Affected and non-affected countries.
• Pharmaceutical and feed companies.
• Training/capacity building needs.
• Outbreak/emergency disease investigation.

Workshop presentations

A total of 62 participants contributed to a successful technical consultation. The report is being finalised and an announcement will be made on its release from the press. Further information about the consultation can be obtained by writing to melba.reantaso ‘at’ fao.org or rohana.subasinghe ‘at’ fao.org and Dr Le Van Khoa (MARD).

• Workshop prospectus
• Background to consultations
  Melba B. Reantaso
• Documentation of an emerging disease (early mortality syndrome) in SE Asia and Mexico
  D.V. Lightner, R.M. Redman, C.R. Pantoja, B.L. Noble, L.M. Nunan and Loc Tran
• Histology and bacterial metagenomics
  Tim Flegel
• Diagnostic studies (histopathology and PCR)
  Dang Thi Hoang Oanh, Pham Phong Vu, Dao Thi Thanh Hue, Don Lightner, Tim Flegel, Le Van Khoa, Melba B. Reantaso
• Environmental studies: Assessment of toxins in feed, sediment and water
  Claude E. Boyd
• Environmental studies: Pesticides/pathology combination challenge tests
  Truong Quoc Phu
• Epidemiology of EMS/AHPNS based on September 2012 cross sectional studies
  Visanu Boonyawiwat
• Known distribution of EMS/AHPNS: Current status
  Eduardo M. Leaño
• Progress of the research on EMS/AHPNS in China: Vibrio parahaemolyticus and suspected yellowhead virus isolated from EMS/AHPNS cases
  Jie Huang
• Status of EMS/AHPNS in Thailand
  Jiraporn Kasornchandra, Janejit Kongkumnerd, Chutima Komvilai
• Bacteriophages and pathogenic Vibrio spp. in the aquatic environment
  Iddya Karunasagar
• Mass mortality of shrimp due to vibriosis in the Philippines: Similarities with EMS and lessons learned
  Celia R. Lavilla-Pitogo
• Experience of fish mortalities caused by epidemic clonal strains of Aeromonas hydrophila carrying a lysogenic bacteriophage
  Wes Baumgartner, Mark Liles, Mark L. Lawrence
• Progress on the work related to output 2: Farmer training on biosecurity and good aquaculture practices
  Le Van Khoa and Koji Yamamoto
• Output 4: Draft national aquatic animal health strategy for Vietnam
  Eduardo M. Leaño