NACA: 5th Asia regional advisory group meeting on AAH

The advisory group was established by the Governing Council of the Network of Aquaculture Centres (NACA) to provide advice to NACA members in the Asia-Pacific region on aquatic animal health management through review and evaluation of quarterly regional aquatic animal disease reporting, and through review, evaluation and revision of guidelines, procedures and diagnostic guides. Members of the advisory group included invited aquatic animal disease experts, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE), the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and collaborating regional organizations. This year, AGM-5 was held from November 22 to 24.

Members of the fifth Asia Regional Advisory Group Meeting on Aquatic Animal Health (AGM-5) was held at the Headquarters of NACA in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Lauke Labrie is 5th from the left.

Staff of Intervet Norbio Singapore (INS) have been members of the Advisory Group since the inception of the programme in 2002 and, as such, represent the private sector. Dr. Lauke Labrie from INS attended AGM-5 and gave a presentation on emerging bacterial diseases in finfish. Data from epidemiological investigations in the region were presented as well as data on emerging bacterial diseases caused by pathogens such as E. tarda, S. dysgalactiae, Francisella sp. and Big Belly (due to a new Vibrio species). Unknown diseases described as visceral toxicosis in catfish (VTC) and loss of mucus and septicemia in eel (LMSS) were brought on the agenda. However, emphasis was equally placed on diseases which are and remain of important economic concern in the region, such as S. iniae, T. maritimum, N. seriolae, F. columnare and S. agalactiae. An official report will soon be issued by NACA.