SEAFDEC-OIE Seminar/Workshop on Disease Control in Fish and Shrimp Aquaculture in Southeast Asia-Diagnosis and Husbandry Techniques

This seminar/workshop was held at the Conference Room of Sarabia Manor Hotel in Iloilo City, Philippines on 4-6 December 2001. It was co-organized by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The meeting was financially supported by the Government of Japan (GOJ) Trust Fund through the Regional Fish Disease Project.

The objectives of the seminar/workshop were to (1) review the current research studies and diagnostic techniques on viral diseases of shrimp and marine fish in Southeast Asia; (2) review the current research studies on techniques in controlling shrimp vibriosis and give advice for on-going research studies of the project; and (3) identify an appropriate training program for the project.

In total, 55 participants attended the meeting coming from the Unites States (1), Norway (1), OIE (2), the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA, 1), the SEAFDEC Secretariat (1) and nine SEAFDEC member countries (2 from Brunei Darussalam; 1 from Cambodia; 1 from Indonesia; 8 from Japan; 1 from Myanmar; 30 from the Philippines; 1 from Singapore; 5 from Thailand; 1 from Vietnam).

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During the seminar, 13 resource persons presented a total of 14 reviews papers, which provided excellent information on the current research on fish and shrimp diseases and control measures. 

The participants discussed during the workshop the proposed training course on "Diagnosis of Shrimp and Fish Viral Diseases" under the Regional Fish Disease Project. This offering of a trainor's training was formulated differently from SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department's regular training course on fish health management. The proposed training would also harmonize with the OIE disease diagnosis standards.

The following criteria were used as a guide in identifying or prioritizing the diseases that will be included in the training: 
1. classified as OIE's notifiable and "significant" (i.e. iridovirus) diseases; 
2. socio-economic importance in the region;
3. with restricted geographical range and not prevailing or difficult to exclude; 
4. no known therapeutic and husbandry measurement to control; and 
5. could be diagnosed by more than one method.

The following criteria were used as guide in the selection of diagnostic manual and standards: 
1. should principally follow OIE diagnostic manual and standards;
2. should be practical, with chemicals and other tools needed available within the region; and 
3. should give reproducible results.

Taking into consideration the above criteria and the result of the discussions, the viral diseases and their diagnostic methods that would be considered in the training course are presented in Tables 1 and 2.

Other recommendations were as follows: 
1. There is a need to improve diagnostic laboratory facilities in the region;
2. There is a need to develop a standardized diagnostic kit based on OIE laboratory. The kit should also contain reference slides for each disease; 
3. Reference laboratories should be designated; and
4. Participants to this trainor's training should be directly involved in diagnostic work.

TABLE 1: Viral Disease of Shrimp

Program of SEAFDEC-OIE Seminar/Workshop on Disease Control in Fish and Shrimp Aquaculture in Southeast Asia - Diagnosis and Husbandry Techniques 
4-6 December 2001, Iloilo City, Philippines

4 December