Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System
PADLS User Guide Tests Aquaculture
Next \| Previous

9.1 Aquaculture

PADLS offers these services to aid the aquaculture industry in meeting the interstate and international export regulations, and isolation and identification of target pathogens established by the International Committee of the Office International Des Epizooties. PVL does Whirling Disease testing. PSU does virology testing for export certification. Contact your regional veterinarian for coordination of specimen collection.

Dead fish are not generally suitable for a complete necropsy.

The following information is requested for proper collection and submission of specimens to the laboratory:

The name, address and phone number of the owner and the submitting veterinarian must be indicated.
Live fish delivered or shipped to the laboratory are essential for accurate diagnostic investigation.
Fish not submitted alive should be iced immediately after death, placed in a plastic bag, wrapped in newspaper and packed in a styrofoam shipping box with 2 to 3 frozen ice packs and delivered to the laboratory IMMEDIATELY or shipped to the laboratory by an overnight courier.
A detailed history should include the pH of the water, dissolved oxygen levels, feed source (manufacturer), any changes in the fish management, mortality numbers, symptoms and information regarding treatment already given. A description of the waterflow and layout of the facility is very helpful.
The laboratory reserves the right to determine the suitability of a specimen for testing. If a specimen is unsuitable because of deterioration, the laboratory will request that you resubmit another sample.
When in doubt, or if you have any questions, contact the appropriate laboratory for assistance: PSU 814.863.0837 or PVL 717.787.8808.

The methods of shipment to the diagnostic laboratory for fish disease diagnosis are listed from most desirable to least desirable. The impact of fish handling and preservation on disease diagnosis can be summarized:

Shipment method	Parasitology	Histology	Toxicology	Virology
Live	+++	+++	+++	+++
Iced	+	+/-	+++	+++
Frozen	-	-	+++	+++
Formalin	+/-	+++	-	-

Legend
+++	no effect, excellent specimen for examination
++	negligible effect, good specimen for examination
+	moderate effect, specimen may be usable
+/-	substantial effect, specimen may not be useful
-	dramatic effect, specimen not useful

Aquaculture - Bacteriology

Test/ Agent	Site	Procedure	Species	Tissue/ Specimen	Container	Shipping	Setup	Turn- Around	Remarks
Bacterial Kidney Disease, Renibacterium salmoninarum	PVL	FA	Fish (Salmonid spp.)	live fish, fixed posterior kidney, frozen posterior kidney	LIVE: aerated container of their original water FIXED: leak-proof formalin approved container FROZEN: insulated container with refrigerant packs	LIVE: drop off FIXED: mail FROZEN: overnight courier	M-F	1-3 days	Fish that have died must be delivered to the laboratory within 2-3 hours after death or they are of no value for testing.
Enteric redmouth Yersinia ruckeria	PVL	Bacterial culture	Fish	live fish, fish iced immediately after death	LIVE: aerated container of their original water ICED: plastic bags in waterproof Styrofoam container with refrigerant packs	LIVE: drop off ICED: overnight courier	M-Th	5 days	See above remarks.
Furunculosis Aeromonas salmonicida	PVL	Bacterial culture	Fresh water and marine fish	live fish, iced immediately after death	LIVE: aerated container of their original water ICED: plastic bags in waterproof Styrofoam container with refrigerant	LIVE: drop off at PADLS-PVL ICED: overnight courier	M-Th	5-20 days for atypical strains	See above remarks.

Aquaculture - Parasitology

Test/ Agent	Site	Procedure	Species	Tissue/ Specimen	Container	Shipping*	Setup	Turn- Around	Remarks
Ceratomyxa shasta	PSU	Direct examination, Histopathology Test performed at NBC or PVL	Fish (Salmonid spp.)	Live fish, fish iced immediately after death	LIVE: aerated container of their original water ICED: plastic bags in waterproof Styrofoam container with refrigerant	LIVE: drop off ICED: overnight courier	M-F	1-3 days	See general aquaculture information
Whirling Disease, Myxobolus (Myxosoma) cerebralis	PVL	Plankton Centrifuge Method	Fish (Salmonid spp.)	Sixty (60) Fish heads	Whirl bags and deliver to laboratory or freeze and deliver to laboratory.	Contact laboratory	By arrangement	28 days	See above REGULATORY TEST FOR EXPORT. Requires collection and site inspection by PDA personnel. Contact laboratory for collection date and site visit.

* If shipping to PSU, do not use the US Postal Service

[ PADLS Home | User Guide - Contents | E-mail info ]