​This article mirrors what a lot of Australian scientists and veterinarians think and say, but powerless to exert any effect. Seems like there’s no stopping this train wreck.
We do not live in isolation. Despite the enormously stringent quarantine rules…

Question: How did the killer prawn WSSV come to create outbreaks in Australia? Read more of the devastating crustacean disease at this link.

Another question: How did the new strain of the killer rabbit haemorrhagic virus enter Australia?

And another: How did the tomato potato psyllid (link) come to cause havoc in Perth (Western Australia), the most isolated city in the world? 

If such disease can arrive our shores, how can we assure other countries that the KHV released in Australia, won’t mutate into more virulent strains, and then escape our country to kill carp and koi, where these fish are vital to people’s livelihoods? 
Read more of the article at this link.

Share your comments. 
For more information and discussions on KHV, use the search field, or click on this link.

​Two fish were in a tank,  one said to the other,  “Do you know how to drive this?”

With thanks to BT. 
Have a FINtastic week! R <+>{

Following widespread rainfall and recent flooding events across Western Australia, the Department of Health has issued a press release stating the substantial rainfall combined with higher temperatures had created perfect mosquito breeding conditions.

Read also, article on Dengue Fever.

And on Ross River virus. 

​There’s news of the potential moving of salmon leases in New Zealand. Maybe due to global warming, this move may help stock cope with elevated water temperatures.

They probably need to get to cooler waters, or have increased passive water flow to cater for lower DO that comes with warmer waters.

It may be a plus or minus, for the local communities – bring jobs for locals, but may be eye-sore, competing with tourists.

We hope they’ll do due diligence from the biosecurity perspective 

Closing Date for comments: 27 Mar 2017

More information at: http://mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations/marlborough-salmon-relocation/

​“A healthy fish is very proud, very pretty to look at,” he says. Infected fish, on the other hand, would lie at the bottom of the tank, their fins limp and bodies secreting a cloud of mucus.

In the process of that research, they noticed that sick fish would huddle around the aquarium heater – in what’s termed “Behavioural fever”. 

The heat could help them fight infection. 

Read more here – 

In Studying Sick Fish, Scientists Trace History Of Fevers  

 The conference provides a forum for presentation of research, diagnostic, epidemiology, management and policy issues encompassing all areas of aquatic animal health and bio-security. Previously, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation’s Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram has organized national scientific conferences (in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009) and Australasian scientific conferences (2011, 2013 and 2015) featuring presentations on aquatic animal health research in Australia and an international aquatic animal health expert as the keynote presenter. We anticipate that the Fourth Australasian Scientific Conference on aquatic Animal Health will attract participants from New Zealand, SE Asia and beyond.

We are pleased to announce that the conference keynote speakers will be Dr Grant Stentiford, Director, European Union Reference Laboratory for Crustacean Diseases, Team Leader, Pathology and Molecular Systematics at Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) Weymouth Laboratory, United Kingdom, and Dr Brian Jones, A/Manager, Bacteriology and Aquatic Animal Health, Ministry of Primary Industries, New Zealand, Adjunct Professor, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.

In this second conference announcement you will find information about registration, abstract forms and accommodation details. Please register for the conference through Joanne Slater, FRDC Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram Coordinator (email: joanne.slater@csiro.au). Conference delegates will need to make their own accommodation arrangements.

If you have any queries with respect to any aspect of the conference please contact Joanne Slater or Mark Crane (mark.crane@csiro.au).

The proposed conference program will in part depend on the range of topics received as abstracts but we anticipate that it will at least include sessions on:
Bacterial and Fungal Infections of Finfish

Finfish Viruses

Finfish Parasites

Finfish Immunology & Vaccines

Diseases of Molluscs

Diseases of Crustaceans

Immune Responses in Invertebrates

Emergency Response

Biosecurity

​We made a splash in Melbourne, and feature in the Combined Fish Clubs of Victoria ‘s publication.
An erratum on page 3

“Fish with ulcers due to Tetrahymena need to be culled because there’s no way of treating them. Sometimes they look like a white spot infection, but they penetrate deep within the fish tissue, even Into the brain.”

Fish with ulcers due to other causes (e.g. lice, anchor worm, flukes, bacteria, trauma, etc.) can be treated by various means, targeting the primary cause, together with symptomatic therapy.

The picture on page five looks like we’ve two heads in one body! Maybe Alistair and I have spent too much time in Tasmania 😛

​Question: What do fish call their alphabets?

Answer: A-B-Sea!

Have a FINtastic week! R <+>{

To end this week’s crusta-themed blogs on a good note, prawns are being introduced to help reduce parasites.

Read more here – http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38571937

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

Aquatic Veterinarian & Veterinary Pathologist.
PERTH | MELBOURNE | SYDNEY | TOWNSVILLE | BRIBIE ISLAND.
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

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

Considering the recent WSSV outbreak events in Australian prawn farms, that’s taken down 7 shrimp farms and found in the wild populations in Logan River and Moreton Bay, it is vital to employ professionals with actual firsthand expertise on diseases exotic to Australia. Our dynamic team can help prevent diseases on your valuable prawn farm and hatchery.

 

Aquatic Animal Health Specialist, Giana Gomes, has extensive experience with farmed prawns and has first-hand experience white spot outbreaks in Brazilian farms. After completing her veterinary degree, she worked as a veterinarian for Aquatec Ltd and Genearch Ltd, one of the largest shrimp hatchery and the first SPF hatchery in Brazil, respectively. Giana’s Master’s thesis was on prawn disease NHPB (necrotising hepatopancreatitis bacterium) which causes significant economic losses in Central and South America. In Australia, she has worked at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to establish histology techniques for tropical rock lobster larvae and the ornamental cleaner shrimp.

 

Giana’s expertise is illustrated in her presentation for the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association, “The most effective biosecurity actions you can take are monitoring and keeping a record of the health of your shrimp crops.” – FREE to watch at this link

 

Let’s not reinvent the wheel. 

Together we can help you maximise your farm’s potential.

 

 

 

ENQUIRE NOW.

DOWNLOAD OUR SERVICES MANUAL

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh 

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.

Aquatic Veterinarian & Veterinary Pathologist

THE FISH VET, AUSTRALIA – PERTH | SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE | BRIBIE ISLAND

Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.

• W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
• Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
• Skype: thefishvet
• President WAVMA 2014
• Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University