The Fish Vet's Blog

The Europeans have established a new European College of veterinary specilization in Aquatic Animal Health and this is the only veterinary specialization in Aquatic Medicine in the world (all other specilizations are part of Zoo medicine Colleges and are subspecialities).

The primary objectives of the European College are to advance aquatic animal medicine /health in Europe. This covers all aquatic animals:

• fish, aquatic mammals, shellfish, shrimp and aquatic invertebrates whether ornamental, cultured or wild.
•water quality, welfare, zoonoses, therapeutics and relative legislation.

It aims at the improvement and promotion of the quality of veterinary practice through contacts of general practitioners with registered specialists.

This is done by:

a) Establishing guidelines for the post-graduate education and experience required as a prerequisite to become a specialist in the specialty of aquatic animal health.

b) Examining and authenticating veterinarians as specialists in aquatic animal health to serve the veterinary patient, its owner and the public in general, by providing expert care for all aquatic animals with medical diseases.

c) Encouraging research and other contributions to knowledge relating to pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy, prevention, welfare, zoonoses and control of diseases directly or indirectly affecting aquatic animals (fish, mammals, shellfish, shrimp and aquatic invertebrates) whether ornamental, cultured or wild and promoting communication and dissemination of this knowledge thus providing improved services to the public and industry.

One essential prerequisite for becoming a Diplomate of any EBVS recognised College is to be a graduated veterinarian from a higher education institution that is accredited in a respective country, and to have a licence to practice veterinary medicine in an European country. Non-veterinarians are not eligible for becoming a Diplomate, but can request the associate membership status in the College.

In general, some form of post-veterinary graduation experience (internship, masters, clinical/practice year or equivalent experience,) will be required for admission into residency program. The residency would take minimum of three years under supervision of an ECAAH Diplomate, during which time at least one publication as first author and second written proof of expertise (significant case study, set of small case reports, co-authoring a publication) will need to be produced before becoming eligible to sit for a general and specialty exam.

PRESIDENT:
Prof. Foteini Athanasopoulou Univ. of Thessaly, Greece

Past President, World Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Association.

Ex Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Laboratory of Ichthyology and Fish Diseases, Veterinary Faculty

221 Trikalon str, Karditsa 43100

Tel +30 24410 66008, 66045, +30 6984214219

eathan@vet.uth.gr foteini8@gmail.com

VICE PRESIDENT:

Prof. Dusan Palic Univ. of Munich, Germany

Professor and Chair of Fish Diseases and Fisheries Biology

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich

Lehrstuhl für Fischkrankheiten und Fischereibiologie

Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Kaulbachstraße 37, 80539 München, Deutschland

Email: d.palic@fisch.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de

Tel: +49 (0)89 2180 2282

TREASURER:

Dr Hamish Rodgers Ireland

Hamish Rodger, PhD, MRCVS,

Vet-Aqua International,

Unit 7b, Oranmore Business Park,

Oranmore, Co. Galway,

Ireland

tel/fax + 353 91 792997, mobile +353 87 6184166

email: hamishrodger@eircom.net

www.vetaquainter.com

SECRETARY:

Ass. Prof. Vassilis Bakopoulos Univ. of Aegean, Greece

Assistant Professor

Department of Marine Science

Aegean University

University Hill

Mytilene 81100

Greece

Tel. +30-22510-36870

Cel. 6932371586

E-mail: v.bakopoulos@marine.aegean.gr

MEMBERS

Dr Ioannis Vatsos Norway

Associate Professor in Veterinary Sciences at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, University of Nordland, Norway

ivatsos@vet.auth.gr, inv@uin.no

Dr Francesc Padros University of Barcelona, Spain. UAB associated researcher , Animal Biology Unit, Veterinary Faculty. UAB.

Tel: +34 93 581 46 37, Fax : + 34 93 581 20 06.

Follow me on: Facebook “Fin Page” – YouTube – Blog – Linkedin – Twitter

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
Skype: thefishvet

President WAVMA 2014

Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University | Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – ANZCVS.

See advert on YouTube.

Many have asked me what I think is the best microscope for diagnostic use. It really depends on what you’re going to use it for. Below are the scopes I have found to be more than satisfactory for my works.

For my site visits, I can’t go past the monocular microscope (see link) because it is just so portable and practical. You can set up just about anywhere. There’s no need to find powerpoints or run long extension cords which can be a hazard for tripping, and ofcourse, electricity around water is dangerous. Examination of wet mounts can be conducted rather quickly. It is excellent for pond-side diagnostics.

I also spend a lot of time reading histology slides. For this sort of work, I can’t go past binocular microscopes (see link). If you’ve to spend lots of time reading slides, it becomes a strain if you’re using a monocular. You have to use both eyes, because squinting through one eye become tiresome and a strain for the working eye. However, in my ealy days, I found it very difficult to use both eyes at the same time. It’s something that takes practice, but your eyes will thank you. Unfortunately, I’ve not found a decent binocular scope that is very portable. This is the closest thing to a binocular scope that is compact enough for a mobile veterinarian, but it needs to be plugged into a powerpoint.

If you are not moving your microscope around and don’t like to look through the eye-pieces, then I recommend the trinocular microscope (see link) combined with a digital camera. This will relay an image onto a computer screen.

The digital camera options in increasing quality are :
ISH500 (5 megapixels) – $795
ISH1000 (10 megapixels) – $995
HDMI-2 – $1,495.

This week we are offering free shipping within Australia. Take advantage of savings by placing your orders now.

Follow me on: Facebook "Fin Page" – YouTube – Blog – Linkedin – Twitter

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
Skype: thefishvet

President WAVMA 2014

Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University | Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – ANZCVS.

See advert on YouTube.

Thank you to everyone who’ve contributed to this discussion. I thought I’ll summarise my thoughts.

Some of our colleagues do not use topical disinfectants, some dilute it prior to use, and some use it neat. So, the questions were:
1. Whether or not to use topical disinfectants?
2. If yes, is dilution necessary?
3. If yes, will diluting betadine negate its antiseptic properties?

In my notes (below), it states that excess free iodine is indeed irritant to skin and mucus membranes (but dose rate unrecorded). To err on the side of caution, some veterinarians choose to not use betadine at all. Additionally, there is argument that immunoprotective qualities of mucus would be destroyed by application of chemicals.

Some of our colleagues choose to apply betadine topically for the treatment of ulcers and post-surgical wound-closure. This likely reflects extrapolation from our veterinary training in the treatment of terrestrial animals. It seems logical that we need to prevent bacterial colonisation while allowing the skin to heal. Is this justified?

I could not find literature specifically on the toxic effects of topical use on fish. When used on fish eggs, it is applied at 0.002-0.01% for 1-15 minutes. For spawning fish, they are immersed in solutions at a concentration of 0.006-0.007% for up to 30 minutes (see link to article). This significantly lower dose may be because ionophores are particularly toxic to gills. I was sent an article stating the efficacy, and at the same time, no signs of toxicity were shown in opthalmic surgeries in canines when used at 0.2%. Can fish be likened to eyeballs with fins and scales? Perhaps the fish is more different to the eye of a dog.

One of our colleagues suggests that the antiseptic properties are lost once betadine is diluted by more than 50%. Consequently they routinely use it neat, and in their experience, have found no evidence of delayed healing. Could it be that much of the betadine washes off once fish are replaced in the water as evidenced by the brown tint disappearing within minutes?

But what if we use betadine, combined with a fish "bandage" (see link). Here, betadine is used at 1:10 dilution, and the brown tint lasts for at least 2 hours after application. This may be evidence that the contact-time is extended. Should the betadine continue to be used diluted in this situation?

I suspect the debate continues because:
– The solutions may come different concentrations: as 0.5% liquid spray, 1% betadine solution and even up to 7% (tincture of iodine).
– The iodophore may come in different forms (Wescodyne reported more toxic than Betadine) – see link.
– Toxicity depends on pH (more toxic at pH <6, and becomes ineffective at pH >8).

Though empirical data is useful, I believe we need controlled studies to settle the debate.

Follow me on: Facebook "Fin Page" – YouTube – Blog – Linkedin – Twitter

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
Skype: thefishvet

President WAVMA 2014

Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University | Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – ANZCVS.

See advert on YouTube.

Oyster, n. A person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

 

Have a FINtastic week!
R <+>{

A mysterious disease is threatening the survival of a New South Wales turtle species, wiping out most of its population within two months and baffling [veterinarians and] scientists who say they have never seen anything like it.

Learn more at this link –

http://vetpracticemag.com.au/turtle-species-under-threat/

 
—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh 

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA. 

Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

Weird question, but not such a silly question. I was asked to write about it recently. What do you think?

Find my answer at this link.

Interesting.

By the WA museum – http://museum.wa.gov.au/research/collections/aquatic-zoology/fish-ichthyology-section/collecting-fish

The Department of Fisheries invites you to celebrate with us at the final stage of a three year program to restore Lake Marmion to a more natural and healthy state!

 

In late 2012 the pest catfish (Tandanus tandanus) and the aquatic weed Salvinia molesta was found to have infested Lake Marmion. At the time, the pest catfish was the first confirmed wild population of this species in Western Australia and carried a fish disease never seen in Australia before that presented an extreme health risk to native fish. Not only ate the catfish an aggressive predator, it was also carrying a bacteria (Pseudomonas anguilliseptica) which causes red spot disease.

Working in partnership with the City of Melville and other agencies, the pest catfish and aquatic weed was successfully eradicated.

 

As a final step of the project, the lake will be restocked with native fish to help create a healthier, more balanced aquatic environment in the lake. This project demonstrates how working in partnership can result in greater outcomes that benefit the community as a whole.

 

This project brings Western Australia closer to achieving our ultimate goal of keeping our oceans, rivers and lakes healthy and beautiful now and in the future.

 

Thursday 4^th June 2015, 12:15 – 1:15 pm

Lake Marmion

Marmion Reserve, Myaree 6154

 

Introductions by

Dr Lindsay Joll, Acting Deputy Director General, Department of Fisheries WA,

 

with

Hon Ken Baston MLC, Minister for Fisheries

 

and

Mayor Russell Aubrey, Mayor of the City of Melville

 

Light refreshments will be provided

We look forward to seeing you there

RSVP by 29 May 2015 to Helen Rice, 9482 7205 or helen.rice@fish.wa.gov.au

Because they are porpoise-built!

 

Have a FINtastic week!
R <+>{

Watch this video I found on Project Piaba : https://vimeo.com/124670986

I want to go!
 
Some screen shots from the video:

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh 

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA. 

Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383