CASE NOTES
Aquatic Disease investigations: Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI)
Jeffrey Go, Zoe Spiers, Deb Finlaison, Cheryl Jenkins, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
Posted Flock & Herd December 2021
Diseases of aquatic organisms are covered under the following Act and subordinate legislation.
Aquatic notifiable diseases in NSW
- Biosecurity Act, 2015: Prohibited matter - diseases not established in NSW
- Biosecurity Regulation, 2017: Notifiable biosecurity matter. Diseases considered to be established in NSW
Aquatic notifiable diseases: Prohibited matter: Finfish Diseases
| Bacterial kidney disease Channel catfish virus disease Enteric redmouth disease Enteric septicaemia of catfish European catfish virus European sheatfish virus Furunculosis Grouper iridoviral disease Gyrodactylosis HPR-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus Infectious haematopoietic necrosis of finfish Infectious pancreatic necrosis of finfish Infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus-like viruses (ISKNV) Koi herpesvirus disease Piscirickettsiosis Red sea bream iridoviral disease Salmonid alphavirus Spring viraemia of carp Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia of finfish Whirling disease |
Aquatic notifiable diseases: Prohibited matter: Crustacean and Mollusc Diseases
| Crustacean Diseases Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) of crustaceans Candidatus Hepatobacter penaei Crayfish plague Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei Infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis of crustaceans Infectious myonecrosis of crustaceans Monodon slow growth syndrome Necrotising hepatopancreatitis of crustaceans Taura syndrome of crustaceans White spot disease of crustaceans White tail disease of crustaceans Yellowhead disease/Yellowhead virus |
| Mollusc Diseases Abalone viral ganglioneuritis Bonamia exitiosa Bonamia ostreae Iridoviroses of molluscs Marteilia refringens Marteilioides chungmuensis Mikrocytos mackini Perkinsus marinus Xenohaliotis californiensis |
Aquatic notifiable diseases: Notifiable biosecurity matter
| Finfish: Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis of fish (EHN virus) Epizootic ulcerative syndrome of fish (Aphanomces invadans) Goldfish ulcer disease (Aeromonas salmonicida atypical strains) Viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER; betanodavirus) |
| Crustaceans: Gill-associated virus disease (GAV) Thelohaniosis |
| Mollusc: Bonamia sp. Ostreid herpesvirus-µ variant—OsHV-1 µvar (OsHV1) that causes Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) Perkinsosis (Perkinsus olseni) QX disease (Marteilia sydneyi) Winter mortality (of Sydney Rock Oysters) |
Types of Aquatic Submissions to EMAI
Submissions of suspected disease events are received at EMAI through Aquatic Biosecurity. These include suspect notifiable disease reports, emerging disease issues including reports from concerned members of the public and mortality investigations from NSW DPI facilities. In these cases, laboratory charges covered by Aquatic Biosecurity. These cases also include occasional submissions made through LLS District Veterinarians.
EMAI also receives submissions direct from producers. These are generally production diseases where costs charged directly to submitter, or health certification prior to translocation of stock.
If you suspect an aquatic disease event
Aquatic disease events may involve wildlife, farmed aquatic organisms or hobbyist collections. In each case, the first principles of disease investigations apply, including good history taking, observations of environment, gross abnormalities and signalment patterns. Working with the laboratory staff can assist in sample collection, storage and sending requirements, to maximise diagnostic return.
EMAI has significant capability and capacity for the investigation of aquatic disease events. Aquatic Biosecurity is involved in co-ordinating submissions from notifiable and emerging aquatic disease events, and can assist field veterinarians in the initial sampling and triage process.
Aquatic disease investigations involve extensive collaboration between submitting veterinarians, Aquatic Biosecurity and laboratory staff in veterinary pathology, microbiology & parasitology and virology. LLS staff can also play a significant role in investigating and submitting samples from aquatic disease events.
Contacts
Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute:
P: 1800 675 623
E: laboratorydotservices@dpi.nsw.gov.au
8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays)
To report suspect notifiable animal pests and diseases phone: Animal Biosecurity Emergency Hotline 1800 675 888 (available 24-hours a day)