This report, the 43rd in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses emerging amphibian diseases in the region.

In this issue:

Myanmar revisited. Harvesting, traditional preservation and marketing of fishes of Chalan Beel, Bangladesh. Role of community in production and supply of larger, quality fingerlings. Can rice-fish farming provide food security in Bangladesh? Nutritional and food security for rural poor through multi-commodity production from a lake of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Emerging boost in Sri Lankan reservoir fish production. Farming the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium malcolmnsonii. Breeding and seed production of catfish Ompok pabda.

In this issue:

9th Technical Advisory Committee meeting and 30th anniversary of FFRC. Training Workshop on the Use of Molecular Genetics in Conservation held at USM, Malaysia. Japan International Award for NACA Staff. Consortium on freshwater finfish genetics and breeding. Shrimp Farming eNews. Seventh Meeting of the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health. Sri Lankans learn pisciculture at CIFA. India's Central Institute for Freshwater Aquaculture observes 33rd Foundation day.

Acute viral necrosis in scallops was included in the list of Qquarterly Aquatic Animal Disease (QAAD) reporting list for the year 2008. The disease card developed by regional resource experts from China in support of QAAD reporting system in Asia-Pacific provides information on pathogen, hosts, and confirmatory diagnostic methods. This is an emerging disease in the region and has caused significant losses to scallop culture industry in China.

During 2002, slow growth of farmed Penaeus monodon was reported throughout shrimp growing areas of Thailand and figures indicated that annual production volume was reduced by approximately 36%. The cause of this slow growth was not determined but laboratory trails suggested that a filterable infectious agent was involved. Injected extracts affected P. monodon but not P. vannamei. The slow growth condition was referred to as monodon slow growth syndrome or MSGS. This disease card provides an overview.