Development of diagnostic procedures against unknown and emerging crustacean and fish diseases
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Viral and bacterial diseases have caused major constraints in crustacean and fish farming around the world. Hence, the need to develop disease diagnostic protocols for unknown and emerging diseases is the most efficient response to implement immediate and appropriate interventions for the prevention and control of diseases. Surveillance and monitoring for unknown and emerging diseases were done through reports of mass mortalities coming from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Provincial Fisheries Office, or the Private Sector. Then, assessment and scheduled in situ sampling are conducted. A series of diagnostic tests are performed, which include bacteriology, histopathology, molecular biology, and water-soil analyses. The results are then consolidated and interpreted. Based on the test results, possible interventions were formulated and given to affected farms as recommendations. A total of ten (10) cases were conducted during the years 2020–2024. There were eight (8) cases processed in Panay Island, one (1) in Guimaras Island, and one (1) in Alabel, Sarangani. Both finfish and crustaceans were sampled during the study period, which included marine, brackish, and freshwater culture systems. Specifically, eight (8) cases pertain to crustacean mortalities, while two (2) were finfish. The results of the cases show that there were two (2) recurrences of known viruses in shrimp, such as the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), identified in P. vannamei grow-out farms. Meanwhile, in M. rosenbergii, the recurrence of M. rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra-small virus (XSV) which cause white tail disease (WTD) has been detected in wild and farmsourced breeders and postlarvae. Also, there was a single recurrence of a known microsporidian parasite in shrimp, Enterocytozoon hepatopenei (EHP), detected in P. vannamei grow-out farms. Meanwhile, there were three (3) crustacean cases wherein the most prevalent bacteria were isolated and identified to be Vibrio spp. Additionally, Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas spp. were also isolated and identified from the two (2) finfish mass mortalities. Pathogenicity tests were conducted, and these bacterial species resulted in more than 50 % mortalities, proving Koch’s postulate that these bacteria were the possible causative agents. In conclusion, surveillance and proactive monitoring are highly recommended so that timely interventions can prevent significant losses from disease outbreak(s).
Institution: Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7172565799