The fishkeeping “industry” is full of myths. People are being advised to do all sorts of crazy things, most of which have no evidence behind them. A magic bullet perhaps?
Over the years, however, I have found a number of strategies that seem to be effective at curing fish diseases.
Here are SIX steps that actually work.
1. OBTAIN a correct diagnosis, often can’t tell what’s wrong just on clinical signs alone. Need evidence, water results, microscopic examinations, laboratory testing, whatever it takes.
2. Don’t stop at the first diagnosis. There may be more than one thing wrong.
3. Choose the right medicine class to suit the diagnosis.
4. Select the best method of administration.
5. Stick to plan, and keep your veterinarian informed with regular updates.
6. Be able to change plans to suit unique situations.
—
Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET – Perth, Melbourne, Townsville – AUSTRALIA.
The new look of the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society was officially launched at the recent World Aquaculture Society conference 2016 in Las Vegas.
Visit the journal homepage for more information including details on the Editors Choice Awards 2016 and access both the FREE Sample Issue and Virtual Issue: Selection of papers from Volume 45.
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography
The Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) unveiled the new ASLO Hub during an Editor Forum event at the recent 2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting.
ASLO’s new open access journal, Limnology and Oceanography Letters has recently launched. For more information visit the journal homepage.
Interested in Publishing Your Research? We Can Help You …
Wiley wants to work with you by making article submission as painless as possible! While only the best work is accepted by our journals, we strive to make everything else easy. From article preparation to peer review, to production, to promotion, Wiley is with you every step of the way.
An interactive program that’s set to start the conversation, evoke debate and place Western Australia’s aquaculture industry on the state agenda. The Aquaculture Western Australia State Forum signals a new tide of growth for marine and land-based aquaculture with the potential to drive economic growth in regional WA.
>
> It will provide a unique opportunity for industry, policy makers, regulators and funders to share information, understand risks and barriers to success, and develop a collaborative action agenda for future industry development.
>
> Forum outcomes:
>
> Learn from industry practitioners about risks, barriers and opportunities
>
> Co-ordinate and share information about regional aquaculture development initiatives
>
> Discuss future directions in aquaculture in Western Australia
>
> Define the role of Government in developing the industry
>
>
> Click below to download the Forum brochure and agenda.
SPEAKER
Giana Bastos Gomes* BVMed, MVMed, CertAqV
Aquatic Animal Health Specialist –The Fish Vet & PhD candidate – JCU
ABSTRACT
Diseases pose a significant risk to efficient aquaculture production (fastest growing agribusiness in the world). Forty percent of global aquaculture production lost is caused by disease. Diseases risk constrains growth and profitability of aquaculture. It also constrains humanity’s challenge of providing food security to our expanding population.
Aquaculture farms are largely located in remote areas. Diagnosis of pathogens in aquaculture facilities rely on traditional techniques (such as histopathology, PCR, microbiology) which can only be performed accurately in well-equipped laboratories. By the time results from disease tests are back to the farmers’ mass mortalities of stock may have already occurred. Moreover, there are limited reactive responses that farmers can make to save their stock. Prompt, pre-emptive and fast action is the key to success when managing disease in aquaculture. Clearly, there is real need for straight forward pathogen detection devices that detect and quantify pathogens and parasites on-farm.
This project will develop a highly sensitive point-of-care digital device that incorporates the identification and quantification of specific genetic material from aquaculture pathogens. This technology will dramatically improve the response capability of aquaculture farmers to disease risk.
*
Giana received the 2016 Minister and Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Australia to develop this project.
The first WAVMA Virtual Conference will provide 20-30 hours of CPD on topics of interest to vets already practising in the field and vets or students who are starting out, wishing to increase their knowledge. If you are a qualified veterinarian, veterinary scientist, student or Vet Tech/Nurse and provide at least one presentation, then you will obtain free registration to the conference*.
The conference will be streamed by Vetstream (register at http://wavma.vetacademy.net/), a UK company specialising in veterinary education. Most presentations will be pre-recorded, and are due to last 30 minutes, with an opportunity to ask questions either through a specific live “panel” Q&A sessions or in discussion forums. The proposed topics include: antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, nutrition, health and welfare, veterinary education, and the “One Health” concept.
There will be also a series of 45-50 minute keynote presentations going out live, followed by a live 10-15 minute Q&A session. During the event, renowned specialists in the field of aquatic animal health and production, such as Greg Lewbart, Mohamed Faisal, Simon Davis, Keith Davenport and many more, will provide first-class lectures on topics ranging from invertebrates to social & welfare impacts of live capture of marine ornamentals.
The presentations will remain online on the conference website for approximately three months, after which they will be placed on the WAVMA webinar platform and the Vetstream website. Any money raised will be used to support WAVMA’s educational programs, such as the Student Scholarship Program.
If you would like to be one of the presenters at the WAVMA Virtual Conference, to offer suggestions or for further details about the event, please contact Chris Walster (the WAVMA Past President 2015), who is the Conference Coordinator, at: President@wavma.org
*Cost categories:
Presenters Free
WAVMA Members $250
Non-members $350
WAVMA Students $50
Student Chapters $250
Non Student Members $100
Post conference:
Add $100 to each charge
Go to wavma.vetacademy.net where you will find more information and where the sign up page is.
For more information about other upcoming meetings,
check out the WAVMA website.
Dr Richmond Loh , THEFISHVET, is now registered to work in ALL states in Australia. AND with his team mates based in Townsville, Melbourne and Perth, we’ve got everything covered.
We have expertise in coldwater and tropical cultured fishes, including crustaceans and molluscs.
—
Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET – Perth, Melbourne, Townsville – AUSTRALIA.
We want you to know that WAVMA has greatly expanded its programs, and we plan to improve these and develop more to help people like you boost your capacity to practice aquatic veterinarian medicine.
To see what you might have missed out on, either visit www.wavma.org/Member-Resources or look through the attached WAVMA brochure.
Renewal is easy; you still have a member profile. Simply click on administrators.
Whether or not you renew your membership, we’d love to know what you think about WAVMA’s current and future programs – please click on https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2015-16_Member_Pgm_Input to give us your input in a brief (<5 min) survey.
With members from more than 69 countries, the opportunity to ensure the voice aquatic veterinarian’s is clearly heard is now assured. Renew your membership to ensure our collective efforts continue to have an impact!
Warmest regards,
Sharon R. Tiberio, DVM, CertAqV (Treasurer)
Earlier this year the CVMA released the following updated position statement strengthening the roll of aquatic veterinarians in Canada (see http://tinyurl.com/jt5nqh6).
Aquatic Animal Veterinary Medicine
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) recognizes that veterinarians are mandated to perform activities that contribute to the health and welfare of aquatic species used for food, as with other species of animals. In addition the CVMA recognizes the contributions of aquatic animal professionals and technical experts in this regard.
It is the position of the CVMA that veterinarians must play a lead role in aquatic animal health and welfare management, including disease prevention and control, diagnosis of diseases, implementation of biosecurity programs and food safety. The CVMA supports veterinarians in the proper and prudent use, prescribing of therapeutants, vaccines, and other health- related products. The CVMA supports veterinary involvement in food safety including the inspection of products derived from aquatic animal production as for other food animal production.
The CVMA encourages continuing education programs, health management programs and curricula focused on aquatic animal species and aquaculture at veterinary colleges.
Background
1. Veterinarians play a pivotal role in the health and welfare of animals, including aquatic species;
2. Veterinarians play a key role in assuring the production of aquaculture products are safe for human consumption and appropriately certified to meet international trade requirements. This also requires contributions from both governmental and private sectors, as well as aquatic animal health professionals and other partners.
3. Aquatic animal production is a vast and rapidly expanding sector involving a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species, including finfish, crustaceans, mollusks, in food producing aquaculture and fisheries. It also includes marine mammals, reptiles, amphibians, ornamental species and others although all of these lie outside the scope of this position statement.
4. Canadian veterinarians practice aquatic animal medicine in various fields including: private client animal treatment, commercial fish farms, stock enhancement hatcheries, academic research and teaching, municipal marine parks, public aquaria and government regulatory programs; involving veterinary medical disciplines of clinical diagnoses, pathology, pharmacology, vaccinology, epidemiology, preventative medicine, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, as well as seafood inspection and regulations;
5. Canadian consumers, food animal producers and trading partners rely on veterinarians in order to ensure that appropriate preventive and therapeutic products are used in animals and that foods of animal origin are safe;
6. Veterinarians provide essential expertise in regional and national aquatic animal health and disease surveillance programs supporting protection of aquatic animal resources and international seafood trade;
7. Veterinarians assist in sustainable aquatic animal production and are involved in the protection of the aquatic environment and wild stocks, protection of public health and socio-economic development;
8. CVMA and aquatic animal veterinarians support the National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP) and are actively working to ensure that aquatic animal policies, programs, regulations and legislation that exist or develop, and involve the charge of the profession, are consistent with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s existing policies, programs, regulations and legislation dealing with “terrestrial” animals. The CVMA, when necessary, also engages with Provinces and federal government bodies to provide advice on appropriate aquatic animal health policy and legislation.
[1] For the purposes of this position statement “aquatic animal” refers to any aquatic species used for food, with the exception of marine mammals.
