Information on Aquatic Animal Diseases

OIE Collaborating Centre Reports

Activities in 2012

Title of Collaborating Centre: / Information on aquatic
animal diseases
Address of Collaborating Centre: / Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
Weymouth laboratory, The Nothe,
Weymouth, DT4 8UB, UK
Tel.: / (+44-1305 ) 206600
Fax: / (+44-1305 ) 206601
e-mail address: /
website: / www.cefas.defra.gov.uk
Name of Director of Institute (Responsible Official): / Dr Stephen Irving
Name (including Title and Position) of Head of the Collaborating Centre (formally OIE Contact Point): / Dr Stephen W. Feist
Name (including Title and Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above)


Summary of activities specifically related to the mandate of
OIE Collaborating Centres

1. Activities as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of techniques within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE

Cefas hosted a visit from the Animal, Plant and Fisheries Quarantine Inspection Agency (QIA), Republic of Korea to Cefas Weymouth on the 10th and 11th September 2012. The delegation visited Cefas to discuss aquatic animal diseases control, and potential for collaboration. Specifically, they were provided a description on the current quarantine system in place for imported and exported aquatic animals, the relevant Competent Authorities in charge of these matters and quarantine facilities. In addition, we provided information on OIE and EU reference laboratory functions and ISO 17025 accreditation procedures. The delegation was particularly interested in the resource required for achieving accreditation. We provided written feedback on supplementary questions received after the visit. Contact has been maintained to investigate the possibility of follow-up training at Cefas.

Specific requests for opinion and diagnosis on aspects of fish pathology were provided during 2012 for the following:

·  The nature of pathology found in cultured sturgeon was provided to Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Latvia.

·  Pathological changes associated with low level mortalities in cultured rainbow trout in South Africa.

·  We were also contacted by the Research Institute for Aquaculture, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam regarding unusual pathology associated with pale gill/liver on Pangasianodon hypophthalmus.

·  A request for assistance was received from the National Veterinary Institute, Sweden, concerning a condition affecting rainbow trout fry for which the aetiology remains elusive.

·  A further request concerned the possible occurrence of rosette agent in sea bass from Spain. Advice was provided on the cytological and histological features which suggested that this was not the agent involved and further investigations have so far confirmed this.

The IDAAD page on cefas.defra.gov.uk http://www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/our-science/animal-health-and-food-safety/aquatic-animal-disease/oie-collaborating-centre-for-information-on-aquatic-animal-diseases.aspx attracted 990 unique visitors during 2012.

The front page of the database http://www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/idaad/ had 3,603 unique visitors. The top 10 countries for these were:

1.  UK (570)

2.  US (470)

3.  India (245)

4.  South Korea (115)

5.  Australia (112)

6.  Vietnam (108)

7.  Canada (100)

8.  Turkey (95)

9.  Thailand (91)

10.  Indonesia (87)

2. Proposal or development of any procedure that will facilitate harmonisation of international regulations applicable to the surveillance and control of animal diseases, food safety or animal welfare

We would like to propose production of an ‘Atlas of Aquatic Animal Diseases’ which would include a major component of diagnostic histopathology. This would in effect be a companion atlas to that produced on ‘Transboundary Animal Diseases’ which was published in 2011. The scope will be restricted to OIE listed diseases and contain a significant amount of histological information which is generally lacking elsewhere. A rationale for the book, a brief summary and table of contents will be prepared for consideration by the OIE.

3. Networking

a) Maintenance of a network with other OIE Collaborating Centres designated for the same specialty, and

None this reporting period.

b) Should the need arise, maintenance of a network with Collaborating Centres in other disciplines

None this reporting period.

4. Placement of expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE

The Collaborating Centre continued to provide the expert services of Dr Feist and the Centre’s library for screening the published scientific literature on a regular basis for sound and relevant information on the occurrence of OIE-listed diseases for adding to the International Database on Aquatic Animal Diseases (IDAAD). Dr Feist answered, by electronic communication, requests from OIE member countries for aquatic animal disease information.

Dr David Stone (Cefas Weymouth Laboratory) participated in an independent evaluation of the OIE Reference Laboratory for Infectious Salmon Anaemia, Canada, 31st July - 2nd August 2012.

Dr D. Stone is OIE expert for Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC).

Dr B. Oidtmann (Cefas Weymouth Laboratory) is OIE expert for crayfish plague.

Mr K. Way (Cefas Weymouth Laboratory) is OIE expert for koi herpesvirus (KHV).

Dr G. Stentiford (Cefas Weymouth Laboratory) is Director of the European Reference Laboratory (EURL) for crustacean diseases.

5. Provision of scientific and technical training, within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE, to personnel from OIE Member Countries

None this reporting period

6. Organisation of scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE

None this reporting period

7. Coordination of scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories, organisations or collaborating centres

Some small scale activities are indicated in section 1.

Data on the host and location occurrence of the new list of diseases are being extracted from the published scientific literature and entered into the database in the ‘non-OIE data’ section. The Collaborating Centre continues to make available the information in the database on the diseases that have been removed from the official OIE list, in the category of ‘previously listed diseases’. Access to the database is available on-line to OIE member countries via the Aquatic Animals Commission pages on the OIE web site, and the web site of the OIE Collaborating Centre for Information on Aquatic Animal Diseases at http://cefas.defra.gov.uk/idaad .

OIE-published information on the geographical and host ranges of the OIE-listed fish, mollusc and crustacean diseases published in the Aquatic Animal Health Codes of 2010 and 2011 was entered into the database to add to the annual data entered previously for 1994 – 2010. All relevant data on occurrence of the diseases as reported by Member Countries and published on-line in the OIE weekly ‘Disease information’ or ‘Disease alerts’ was also entered. Occurrence data was also entered for the 19 member countries and territories submitting returns to the OIE Asia-and Pacific Region Aquatic Animal Disease Reports of 2010 and 2011.

A search of the published scientific literature for new information on the geographical and host ranges of all the diseases of fish, molluscs and crustaceans listed in the database was carried out continuously during the year and all relevant data entered, together with details of the journal reference to add to the existing information in the “non-OIE data” section. Data entry was carried out as soon as possible after the information became available, to ensure that the epidemiological picture continues to be as complete and up-to-date as possible. The average update frequency was monthly. The page listing “recent additions” shows the new scientific references and associated data that have been added in the past month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year, to make it easy for users to see what new data has been added. A total of 68 new references were added during 2012.

8. Publication and dissemination of any information within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE that may be useful to Member Countries of the OIE

A large number of scientific papers on aquatic animal disease research were published by the collaborating centre during 2012. These can be obtained via the various search engines available or on request if a specific paper is required.

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Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2012 3