A while ago, I told my friend that I’ve a series of great fish jokes for Mondayitis. But the one I floated with him wasn’t the best. He responded,”Do these jokes cure Mondayitis, or do they induce Mondayitis?”
Dr Jeffrey Go discussed “Experimental spread of megalocytivirus between freshwater and marine environments using a model euryhaline vector species”.
Last week, I attended a webinar on this topic. The investigator presented some very interesting findings. In the lab, he was able to infect several Australian species with the iridovirus that was isolated from the gourami. The methods and results haven’t been published, so I can’t go into more detail.
Some interesting questions were raised:
- There is a huge difference between “possible” and “probable”. Are we taking an alarmist view?
- The results suggest that disease transmission is possible experimentally, but is it probable in our environment? Consider the following:
- Studies have shown that diseases that cause high mortality rates are unlikely to establish.
- The fishes used in the experiment occupy very different habitats (freshwater versus marine, tropical versus temperate, still waters versus open waters, etc.).
- How do we know that the virus is actually a disease of the gourami? Are we just victimising the ornamental fish industry?
The Ornamental Fish Industry Australia questions the validity of the original work (see link). More research would be needed to answer these questions.
The Pet Industry Association Australia defends the current quarantine practices are adequate (see link).
However, work by Dr Joy Becker, et al. (2009/044 Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: surveys of ornamental fish for pathogens of quarantine significance) suggests otherwise:
“DGIV was consistently found in several species of gourami imported from six different countries. The virus was also found in stocks of gourami from wholesale premises, at retail outlets and one domestic fish farm. The findings indicate that the health certification at exporting countries was insufficient to detect and prevent fish with DGIV being exported to Australia¼ The findings of this project supports revision of policy to prevent incursion of exotic pathogens from imported ornamental fish¼”
A paper on the quarantine requirements for Australia and other countries can be found at this link.
How did all this interest in the research first come about?
In February 2003, an iridovirus-like virus was observed from the spleen and kidneys and gills of juvenile Murray cod held in a recirculating aquaculture system (Lancaster et al. 2003). This infection resulted in 90% mortality in fingerlings (40-60 mm) and 25% mortality in larger fish (100-150 mm).
All things being said, I think it’s easy to be an armchair critic. It’s difficult to do the research, and I commend them on their work. We don’t know if we don’t look. I’ll have to wait for the published papers when they’re ready.
To summarise, I’m starting to be convinced about the potential threat, however, we don’t have enough information to make a decision to alter current practices.
Follow me on: Facebook “Fin Page” – YouTube – Blog – Linkedin – Twitter — Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
Aquatic Veterinarian | Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University | President WAVMA | Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – ANZCVS.
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
Learn about the P3nis snake, dumbo octopus, blobfish, goblin shark and sarcastic fringehead…
AAPSP’s Fish Pathology Workshop instructed by Dr Judith Handlinger – Dates, Venues & Registration details.
Itinerary for the 2-day workshop which will be presented at the various cities around Australia (spanning June to September, 2014):
Day 1:
- Introduction & basic anatomical differences – what they mean for pathologists
- Immunological and physiological differences, and how these influence pathology.
- What is different about the pathogens and host reactions (and what is the same).
- Differences in routes of exposure.
Day 2
- What is different about the pathogens and host reactions.
- Nutritional problems – what we know.
- Exotic diseases – national and State issues.
- Pathology as part of the puzzle – complex cases, finding the cause.
DATES:
- Wed 11 -Thur 12 June, TASMANIA.
- Mon 23-Tues 24 June, VIC TORIA.
- Mon 21-Tues 22 July, NEW SOUTH WALES.
- Thurs 31st July – Fri 1st Sept, QUEENSLAND.
- Mon 4-Tues 5th Aug, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
- Wed 27 – Thur 28 Aug, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
- Mon 1 –Tues 2 Sept, NORTHERN TERRITORY.
Contact Megan Wyllie (MWyllie@animalhealthaustralia.com.au) and prepay AU$827.00 (GST exclusive) for the 2 day workshop.
See the following link for more details – aapsp fishpathology jhandlinger
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Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
Aquatic Veterinarian | Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University | President WAVMA |
Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – ANZCVS.
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
Have you ever considered being an “invasivore”? What is it?
There’s a new trend in cuisine, taking the world by storm. Heard of the green movement, organic produce and others? Well, this “invasivore” involves you eating invasive organisms.
What are invasive organisms? They are species that when introduced into a new environment, they establish and dominate and overtake the habitat. In doing so, they cause significant environmental damage. For the fish people, the most common problem species are the carp, tilapia, lionfish and the like.
This article on the new cullinary wave was shared by my friend and it has some great ideas! I wonder if Master Chef, Iron Chef, Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, etc. will adopt this in their cuisine.
“When we decide something is pretty good to eat, we run right through it,” says Jackson Landers, a hunting educator and author of Eating Aliens. “There’s definitely precedent for human beings deciding to hunt something down in a systematic way, especially if we apply industrial harvesting methods.”
“Any economist will tell you, when you have a public resource, as long as policy does not limit the take,” it will be depleted.”
Some other great quotes in the article include “For many fisheries people, you may not be considered a real scientist until you’ve eaten your study organism.”
Read more here.
Tune in to 6PR 882 radio station now. We’re talking about care for pet fishes.
Peter Bell is interviewing Miriam Sullivan on her PhD topic.
http://www.6pr.com.au/peter-bell–profile/20130809-2rmu1.html
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Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
E: thefishvet
P: +61 (0)421 822 383
Are you interested in a training video on aquatic veterinary medicine?
Have you ever had sick fish and couldn’t get decent help for a diagnosis and cure?
Are you looking for a career in aquatic animal health?
Are you an aspiring aquatic veterinarian and would like to learn the ropes?
Then, “Fish Vetting Techniques & Practical Tips – instructional video” is for you.
Why did I create this DVD? Well… it’s a fish welfare issue as much as it is to help other veterinarians and fish keepers.
The title is exactly what it says it is, and there is no substitute. It is one thing to read about it in a book, another to see examples and videos of veterinary techniques and the disease-causing agents.
Some reviewers have commented that it launches straight into the content, without an introduction. It’s because I didn’t want to reduce the content and the DVD is maxed out with 105 minutes of important demonstrations and discussions.
I promise you that this DVD will put you on the fast-track towards becoming an aquatic veterinarian.
Make you purchase now, at http://thefishvet.com.au/shop/shopping.html
Fish Joke for Monday-itis: What do you call a happy fisherman?
Q: What do you call a happy fisherman?
A: A happy hooker!
Vets calling for more research on antibiotics.
Misuse of drugs for “protection” rather than for disease control has far reaching consequences than we might know. You might end up with drug resistance by the bugs in your pond/aquaria. You won’t have anymore effective drugs to use.
What of using antibiotics? The bugs can transfer resistance genes to human bugs, becoming “super bugs”!
The questions for investigation… Does antibiotic resistance occur in veterinary medicine as much as, and in the same ways as, in human medicine? How do online pharmacies impact on this? How can we work together to curb this issue?
Why can’t veterinarians dispense drugs uncontrollably?
I often receive requests from various fish keepers for drugs or for prescriptions. I always decline those who are not my clients, explaining that it’s illegal for me to do so because I’ve not seen their fish.
At today’s session at the Annual Australian Veterinary Association’s conference, Dr Peter Punch explained the reasons to the attendees.
Veterinarians operate under strict regulations, they must be registered in the state they are dispensing and we must have made a diagnosis of the patient/s’ condition before we can prescribe or dispense certain medicines.
Veterinarians need to stay current with the literature and use best practice. We can prescribe only when they’re required.
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Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
E: thefishvet
P: +61 (0)421 822 383