The role of OIE aquatic standards and OIE Reference Laboratories in aquatic animal disease prevention and control.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) develops normative documents relating to rules that Member Countries and Territories can use to protect themselves from diseases without setting up unjustified sanitary barriers. For aquatic animal disease, the Aquatic Animal Health Code and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals are prepared by the Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission, with the assistance of internationally renowned experts, the other Specialist Commissions of the OIE, and in consultation with OIE Members. The role of these standards in aquatic animal disease prevention and control is described in detail. There are currently 27 OIE Reference Laboratories and one Collaborating Centre for aquatic animal diseases, providing a network of expertise in aquatic animal health. These laboratories play a key role in aquatic animal disease prevention and control through providing diagnostic services and expert advice that is particularly useful in emergency situations.

National aquatic animal health plans: the Australian experience.

Following a major pilchard (Sardinops sagax) mortality event in 1995, Australia recognised the need for a national approach to aquatic animal health, particularly with respectto disease response. Cooperation between industry and government led to the development of AQUAPLAN, Australia's National Strategic Plan for Aquatic Animal Health. Under AQUAPLAN, institutional arrangements for the national technical response to aquatic animal health emergencies were developed based on existing arrangements for terrestrial animal health. The number and range of Australian Aquatic Veterinary Emergency Plan (AQUAVETPLAN) manuals are rising steadily; these are manuals that outline Australia's approach to national disease preparedness and propose the technical response and control strategies to be activated. Additional resources include standard diagnostic techniques and a disease field identification guide. Simulation exercises provide training to respond to aquatic emergency animal disease events. While resource issues and addressing governance remain priorities for the further implementation of AQUAPLAN, the highest priority is the development of a formal arrangement between governments and private sectors on the response to an aquatic emergency animal disease event.

Survey for the presence of White Spot Syndrome virus in Australian crustaceans.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia, GPO Box 858, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2611.

Approaches to managing aquatic animal health in Australia.

Despite a rapid and continuous expansion in aquaculture industries, Australia has not experienced significant disease emergencies in farmed aquatic animal populations. However, recent events in relation to wild, farmed, native and introduced aquatic animals have provided warning signals. The development of a national response mechanism for fisheries and aquaculture emergencies became a high priority following the pilchard mortality outbreak in 1995. In terms of more general policy, a special Task Force has provided a framework for managing exotic pests, weeds and diseases and identifying key principles and issues. This Task Force also recommended closer consultation between relevant industry organisations and government agencies. The authors describe the framework of the comprehensive five-year national strategic plan for aquatic animal health ('AQUAPLAN') developed by Australia, and the aquatic animal disease veterinary emergency plan developed within this framework ('AQUAVETPLAN').

Identification of a cyprinid fish, the tench Tinca tinca L., as a carrier of the bacterium Aeromonas salmonicida, causative agent of furunculosis in salmonids.

A typical, pigment-producing strain of Aeromonas salmonicida (A. sal.), the causative agent of furunculosis in salmonid fish species, was isolated from a cyprinid species, the tench Tinca tinca L. with papilloma-like skin alterations. Histopathology of the papilloma-like skin alterations in tench revealed "round holes", distinctly lined by thick layers of epithelial cells, but no bacteria. The organism was isolated from skin, gills and fins, but not internal organs. The isolate proved highly virulent for both juvenile tench and brown trout Salmo trutta L. in experimental infection, but it did not reproduce the clinical picture. The causative role of A. sal. for the surface lesions remains questionable. However, there is a perceived risk of the organism's transmission between tench and other susceptible species of fish, especially farmed trout.

[Intensive culture of fresh water fish]. / Intensivhaltung von Süsswasserfischen.

Recently, eel recirculation systems have provoked increasing attention in intensive fish culture, especially concerning animal welfare. "Aquaculture", "Intensive Culture", and "Recirculation Systems" are often confused with each other. This study, first of all, differentiates among these terms. The economic relevance of aquaculture in the Federal Republic of Germany is demonstrated by figures. A tendency towards intensive methods can only be seen in trout and eel culture. The problems of recirculation systems are explained comprehensively. Particular emphasis is laid on the conflict between theoretical suitability of intensive fish production and the absence of commercially working systems. At present, intensive fish culture does not pose a serious animal welfare problem in Germany. However, it is necessary to define the biological requirements of fish concerning their optimal accommodation in aquaculture facilities. According to the Law for the Protection of Animals, these requirements have to be laid down in an ordinance. Only then control is possible as to whether aquaculture systems fulfill fish welfare demands.

Marketing authorisation of fish drugs--current status and future intentions.

The main purpose of the German drug law (August 24, 1976) is to guarantee quality, efficacy and safety of drugs for use in man and animals. The present particular situation for fish is as follows: 1. Several drugs (including antibiotics and antiparasitics) have been authorised before 1978. An application for prolonged authorisation has to be made before the end of 1989. For decisions on these applications, the Federal Health Office requires further scientific data of the active ingredients as a basis. 2. Certain chemicals (including malachite green) are subject to a simplified standard procedure for authorisation. Requirements concerning quality, restrictions of use etc. are published in monographs. 3. New drugs will be authorised according to the present national drug law until the establishment of EEC regulations. 4. Future decisions under EEC legislation shall consider potential risks for the environment (proposals to be included in the EEC directive 81/852) and more data specific for fish.

[The occurrence of bacteria pathogenic for humans in freshwater fish]. / Zum Vorkommen humanpathogener Bakterien in Süsswasserfischen.

Freshwater fish are of minor importance as vectors of food-borne disease in humans. These diseases can only rarely be traced back to bacterial pathogens. However, there is a number of bacteria with facultative pathogenicity for man, which are part of the natural aquatic environment. Among these bacteria, the motile aeromonads (A. sp.) have become more and more important. A review is presented on A. sp. infections which have been traced back to contact with fish or water. Critical discussion of these cases reveals that the etiological relevance of A. sp. remains unclarified. However, bacteria of this group can be associated with sometimes fatal infections in humans after contact with fish or water. As A. sp. are ubiquitous in water and can survive even in chlorinated tap water, infections are not necessarily restricted to contact with fish. Persons at risk (patients with chronic or malignant diseases, immunocompromised hosts, children, people with frequent contact with water) should be informed about the perceived risks of aeromonads and how to avoid infection. Preventive measures are the wearing of gloves for work which may easily lead to skin abrasions (f. i. gutting of fish) and total abstinence of raw seafood. As their occurrence is independent of the common indicator bacteria, A. sp. are to be included in hygienic monitoring programmes for any water.

[Animal welfare aspects of the killing of fish]. / Tierschutzaspekte bei der Tötung von Fischen.

According to the Animal Protection Law (1986) fish are to be killed by methods which do not cause pain. However, the regulations do not cover the killing of non-food fish. A questionnaire, conducted among 85 fish scientists, revealed that single fish should be killed by a blow on the head, and larger numbers by electrical methods or by use of chemicals. Decapitation was proposed for eels. A regulation from 1936 stipulates the methods for the slaughtering of food fish. Mechanical or electrical stunning is compulsory except for eel and flatfish. The questionnaire showed that in general the present legal regulations are sufficient for the slaughtering of fish with the exception of eels. The commercially available apparatus for stunning and killing do not always fulfill the requirements of animal protection, slaughtering technology and safety for the user. Official testing of these apparatus as well as the evaluation of new methods--like CO2-stunning--are necessary in order to prevent the use of methods which are feasible, but do not fulfill animal welfare, especially for eel.

[Injury to fish by turbine plants]. / Schädigung von Fischen durch Turbinenanlagen.

In the Federal Republic of Germany, 7% of the electric power is generated by Hydro-electric plants. A water current is used to drive a turbine, to generate electricity. Fish are passively drawn into the turbines by the water flow, or they migrate actively downstream (eels). Fish then may be injured or even killed. The national Countries' Fishery Acts are not sufficient to compel the prevention of fish gaining access to the turbines. To compensate for losses to the fishery, the owners of Hydro power plants can re-stock their water supplies. Superior to the Fishery Acts of the various Countries is the Federal Animal Protection Law. According to its principle, it is not allowed to cause pain, suffering or damage to an animal without a reasonable cause. It cannot be the intention of either the Fishery Acts or the Animal Protection Law to compensate losses in the fish population by re-stocking. On the contrary, the damage has to be prevented in advance. A suitable means to achieve this is the combination of electrified barriers with a bypass for fish.