GENERAL NEWS
last updated:
28 May 2009

"Eddies: Reflections on Fisheries Conservation" The USFWS - Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Program's new quarterly publication is now available online.

The latest edition focuses on Native American fish and wildlife conservation efforts, several of which are in concert with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service . A permanent link for Eddies can be found under the "AADAP Newsletter" button above, as well as clicking on the image above or going directly to:
http://www.fws.gov/eddies/

New AADAP-published “Aquaculture Drug Update” series: It’s safe to assume we speak for all involved in the nitty-gritty world of aquaculture drug approvals in stating that quite a bit of excitement is generated following the infrequent announcements that a new drug has been approved for use in aquaculture or that a new claim has been added to an existing approval. This information has always been posted front and center on the AADAP website the same day it was announced by CVM, and in the very next issue of the AADAP newsletter. The information has been further disseminated by the efforts of the sponsor, CVM, the National Aquaculture New Animal Drug Application Coordinator, and groups like the USDA Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service’s Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture. That’s why we find it a little troubling that the “big news” does not appear to reach an important sector of our target audience, the end users. We consider end users those that, on occasion, actually use aquaculture drugs to help them hold, rear, or maintain healthy fish. Consequently, AADAP staff initiated an effort by enlisting the help of partner organizations and asked them to assist us more broadly disseminate information via their list serves. Our strategy is to (1) identify information that we think is of critical importance (e.g., new or expanded approvals, recently regulatory changes, etc.) to end users, (2) develop brief “Aquaculture Drug Updates” that describe this information concisely in plain, simple language, and (3) in a timely manner, disseminate the information as broadly as possible. For example, we recently sent out information about the revised Approved Drugs for Use in Aquaculture poster. With the help of our partners, we estimate that this information has now been sent out to over 5,000 individual computers. Although we acknowledge that some folks may have received this information from several sources, we are still delighted that this type of information is now being disseminated more broadly than ever before. Our plan is to limit the information being disseminated in this manner to try to instill an understanding that each Aquaculture Drug Update contains important information that should have value to the end user. All Updates will also be available (in several different text formats) on the following page on our website: http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/aadap/ Aquaculture_Drug_Update.htm

New AADAP news release series: AADAP just instituted an information series entitled "Aquaculture Drug Updates" to be placed online and distributed via email. It will be published as new substantive aquaculture drug information becomes available. Click here to view the inaugural Update and all Updates as they are published. A permanent link for the Aquaculture Drug Updates is provided above under the 'What's Shakin' button.

The 2009 Combined Fish Health Section & Western Fish Disease Conference scheduled for Park City Utah, USA: The 2009 joint meeting of the American Fisheries Society's Fish Health Section and the Western Fish Disease Conference is scheduled to take place on 8-10 June 2009 in Park City, Utah, USA. Detailed information, when it becomes available, can be accessed at the following AFS website:
http://www.fisheries.org/units/
fhs/meeting.htm

New information on the 15^th FWS Annual Aquaculture Drug Approval Coordination Workshop (2009) planned for Little Rock, Arkansas, USA: June 9^th through 11^th are the dates set for this year’s Workshop. It will be held at the La Quinta Little Rock Downtown Conference Center. The meeting will be hosted by USDA—Agriculture Research Service’s Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center, and will highlight regional aquaculture, including industry tours to a catfish hatchery, a baitfish farm and a hybrid striped facility. New information is now available, including a detailed draft agenda and online registration. Click here to view on information on the 2009 Aquaculture Drug Approval Coordination Workshop.

Genomics in Aquaculture; 5-7 July 2009; Bodø, Norway: The ‘Genomics in Aquaculture’ symposium will review the state-of-the-art of genomics research in aquaculture, its industrial applications and future perspectives, thus contributing to bridge the gap between fundamental genomics research and the needs of the aquaculture industry. The symposium will have the participation of several invited experts in aquaculture genomics, as well as attendants from feed companies and government representatives. For more information, click here to access the conference website.

International Aquaculture Biosecurity Conference; 17-18 August 2009; Trondheim, Norway: The theme of the conference, to be held in conjunction with Aqua Nor 2009, is “Practical Approaches for the Prevention, Control, and Eradication of Disease.” The goal of the conference is to provide expert opinions and tools for implementing practical, economic and effective biosecurity plans and programs. Planned topics include: economic impact of disease and biosecurity programs; components of ideal biosecurity plans and programs; international, regional and national strategies; identifying and prioritizing hazardous diseases and evaluating risks; determining and mitigating hazardous disease critical control points and risks; disease epidemiology, surveillance and monitoring; determining disease status and freedom; control and eradication contingency plans and programs; disease diagnostics, medical and farm record keeping; and implementing, auditing and certifying biosecurity programs. For more detailed information regarding accommodations, registration, etc. visit the conference website: http://www.iabconference.org.

The 2009 14^th International Conference on Diseases of Fish and Shellfish planned for Prague, Czech Republic: Next year's conference, organised by the European Association of Fish Pathologists (EAFP) will be held at the Clarion Congress Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic on the 14^th through the 19^th of September. Scientific and technical sessions consisting of poster presentations, invited talks, keynotes, oral presentations, workshops and an EAFP General Assembly will take place during the Conference. The EAFP will welcome suggestions for potential topics for scientific sessions and workshops. Planned social events include a Welcome Cocktail, Civic Reception and the traditional Conference Banquet. For more information visit the official conference website:
http://eafp2009.org/.

Update on the search for a new candidate “zero-withdrawal” (henceforth referred to as “immediate-release”) anesthetic: Since the last update in the previous edition of the AADAP Newsletter (October 2008), substantive progress has been made. Although the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ (AFWA) Drug Approval Working Group (DAWG) is still in the process of selecting one of two candidate drugs upon which to focus, the DAWG has moved closer to being able to make that decision. Progress has been made on several different fronts, all but the last three of which the DAWG, through the AFWA, has provided the necessary seed money.

1. Coordinated by the USGS’s Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC), all the parties have been identified, the division of labor determined and progress has been made on establishing a postsedation catchability timeframe for each of the two candidate drugs (benzocaine and eugenol). Such criteria are essential to determine if either drug will potentially meet requirements for an “immediate release” claim for food fish. Final reports on this work should be available for submission to CVM by the fourth quarter of this year.
2. UMESC has begun the planning and background work to complete residue chemistry studies needed to address unresolved issues related to total residue depletion of eugenol, as well as developing the determinative/confirmatory methods for eugenol and benzocaine. Bench-top work is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
3. USFWS’s Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Coordination Partnership (AADAP) program has solicited and received quotes from six private labs to conduct the genotoxicity battery of studies for benzocaine. A contract is planned to be let by 1 April 2009, and a final report will be ready for submission to CVM by
   1 August 2009.
4. AADAP has obtained all available study reports and data sets generated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health - National Toxicology Program’s study battery on eugenol. The data package was submitted on
   2 February 2009 to CVM requesting it be reviewed with respect to its applicability and acceptability to fulfill the toxicological portion of the Human Food Safety Technical Section requirements for eugenol. CVM’s review completion is expected within 6 months.
5. The U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Portland, Oregon, USA; AADAP and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho organized and convened a workshop to address the Pacific Northwest’s (PNW) pressing need for an immediate release anesthetic/ sedative. Invited participants included representatives from numerous PNW Native American tribes, nearly all PNW state and federal agencies involved in salmon recovery and representatives from the DAWG and AADAP. The workshop focused on the pro’s and con’s of current sedation procedures being used, DAWG– related activities underway to obtain an “immediate release” sedative, and potential involvement of “user” organizations. A task force was formed to provide oversight of action items and to assist in identifying potential new funding sources.
6. A Norwegian pharmaceutical company ACD Pharmaceuticals AS, has begun to actively and aggressively pursue a U.S. NADA for their benzocaine product, Benzoak^®, already approved in some European countries. Minor Use Minor Species (MUMS) designation is being sought for several claims.
7. Related to their Aquafrin^® (a topical microbiocide) development program, Frontier Scientific, Inc., from Logan, Utah USA, likewise is actively pursuing MUMS designation for several benzocaine claims.
8. The New Zealand company AQUI-S New Zealand LTD, in January 2009, announced that its eugenol-based
   AQUI-S E^® product, has received MUMS designation in the U.S. for eight separate claims. Consequently, they too are actively and aggressively pursuing a U.S. NADA. AQUI-S E^® either has pending or currently has an aquaculture approval for use in several countries.

 

Update on the planned 16^th Annual Aquaculture Drug Approval Coordination Workshop to be held in Bozeman, Montana: Although it may be a long way off, for those of you who like to plan ahead the Workshop will be returning home to Bozeman, Montana in 2010. As has always been the case when it takes place in Bozeman, the Drug Approval Coordination Workshop will be scheduled for the last week in July or the first week in August, or more accurately, the week immediately before the Sweet Pea Festival weekend. So mark it on your 2010 calendar (if you have one) or just don‘t forget to check the AADAP website for news of upcoming workshops.

 

 

DRUG UPDATES
last updated:
7 November 2008

Copper sulfate (Triangle Brand Copper Sulfate^®) update:

Report on channel catfish egg studies: The following is an abbreviated write-up of recent studies conducted on channel catfish eggs provided by Dr. Dave Straus (USDA—Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center; Stuttgart, Arkansas).

The safety and effectiveness of CuSO₄ to control fungus on intact egg masses in channel catfish hatcheries.

David L. Straus, Andrew J. Mitchell,
Ray R. Carter, Matthew E. McEntire, Andrew A. Radomski and
James A. Steeby.

Harry K. Dupree – Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center, Agricultural Research Service,
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture,
Stuttgart, Arkansas, USA.

Copper sulfate (CuSO₄) is widely used by the catfish industry as an economical treatment to control fungus (Saprolegnia spp.) on channel catfish eggs. This is an overview of our effectiveness and safety studies for the proposed indication “...to control egg mortality associated with Saprolegniasis infecting channel catfish eggs."

Channel catfish were spawned on-site and spawns were moved to the hatching lab within 24 - 48 hrs. Similar portions of a single spawn were placed into mesh baskets of individual compartments of a customized hatching trough and acclimated for 1 hr in 23.5°C well water. Egg counts on smaller samples were also determined for each spawn to estimate number of eggs in each compartment. The effectiveness range-finding study consisted of five CuSO₄ concentrations (2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 ppm) and an untreated control. Eggs were treated daily until the embryos developed eyes. Chemistry of the well water was pH 7.5, 220 ppm alkalinity, and 90 ppm hardness. When hatching was complete for all viable eggs, fry were siphoned into individual jars containing 70% ethanol and counted within a few days to determine the percent of fry that hatched in each treatment. Fungus was severe in the untreated controls (2% survival) and the most effective treatment of 10 ppm CuSO₄ controlled fungus (63% survival). Very little fungus was present in treatments receiving 10 ppm CuSO₄ or higher except in 1 replication (1 spawn) that had numerous unfertilized eggs. Two dose-confirmation studies have been completed to verify the optimum dose of 10 ppm both in the lab and at a commercial hatchery.

The purpose of this second study was to access the safety of CuSO₄ to channel catfish eggs when treated at the therapeutic rate (10 ppm) determined in the above noted effectiveness study, and also at 30 (3x the therapeutic dose) and 50 ppm (5X) CuSO₄. Channel catfish were obtained as described above and eggs were treated daily until the embryos developed eyes; exchange rate of the 26ºC water was 90 minutes (3X the normal rate) during treatments. When hatching was complete, the percent hatch in each treatment was determined. Some fungus developed in the controls at this temperature and mean percent hatch was 40.8%. The percent hatch of the 10, 30, and 50 ppm CuSO₄ was 80.1, 64.2 and 80.2%, respectively. The difference between the 10 and 30 ppm CuSO₄ treatments was statistically significant, while the difference was not significant between the 10 and 50 ppm CuSO₄ treatments. The lower hatch-rate of the 30 ppm treatment is attributed to the random sampling within the original egg masses and the range of hatching rates that are common in the industry. A separate experiment looked at the hatching success when eggs were treated daily until the embryos developed eyes with 100 ppm CuSO₄. The water temperature was 24ºC and the exchange rate during the treatment was 30 minutes. The individual percent hatch of each replication was 62.7, 94.9, 59.7 and 64.8%.

Florfenicol (Aquaflor^®) update:

Rainbow trout/systemic columnaris study: AADAP‘s long-awaited pivotal field efficacy trial to confirm that florfenicol is effective in controlling mortality due to systemic columnaris in a salmonid species, other than coho salmon, has finally been completed! With help from our good friends Dr. Jed Varney and Kevin Clark (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife), along with on-site assistance from two students from the Bellingham Technical College (Jason Radany and Faith Sandretzky), a study was conducted at the Bellingham FH (Bellingham, Washingto, USA) using rainbow trout as the test species. Moribund fish from each test tank were diagnosed with columnaris by Dr. Varney, the 10-d treatment period began, and after the 14-d posttreatment period mean percent cumulative mortality in treated tanks (18.4%) was lower than that in control tanks (30.4%).

We anticipate that CVM will accept this study. The Final Study Report was submitted to CVM in late October along with a letter requesting that the effectiveness technical section for the following claim be considered complete: “...to administer Aquaflor^® in feed at a concentration of 10 mg florfenicol per kg fish body weight for 10 consecutive days to control mortality due to columnaris disease in all freshwater-reared salmonids."

If CVM agrees with this request, the expanded label claim for Aquaflor^® will cover use to control mortality in freshwater-reared salmonids due to coldwater disease, furunculosis, and columnaris disease. Check the AADAP website for updates.

Largemouth bass/systemic columnaris study: In our world, too sick is not necessarily a bad thing. Mike Matthews (Richloam Fish Hatchery, Florida, USA) experienced a columnaris outbreak in some largemouth bass that quickly became systemic. He called and asked us if we would mind if he tried to conduct a field effectiveness trial using Aquaflor^® to control mortality. How could we refuse?

With assistance from Dr. Roy Yanong (University of Florida‘s Tropical Aquaculture Lab; Ruskin, Florida, USA), the crew at Richloam successfully completed a study to demonstrate the effectiveness of Aquaflor^® when administered at a dose of 10 mg florfenicol per kg fish body weight per day for 10 days to control mortality due to columnaris disease in largemouth bass.

At the end of the 14-d posttreatment period, mean percent cumulative mortality in treated tanks (6.6%) was significantly lower (P = 0.0171) than that in control tanks (14.3%). The Final Study Report was submitted to CVM in September requesting review, and we anticipate that it will be accepted (at a minimum) as providing supportive evidence for this effectiveness claim.

Target Animal Safety Research Study Protocols: AADAP recently submitted two research study protocols to CVM for review. The protocols were developed to describe procedures to evaluate the safety of Aquaflor^® to 1) yellow perch, and 2) sunshine bass. Although the protocols are very similar, the study on yellow perch will be conducted in its entirety at AADAP‘s GLP lab in Bozeman, Montana, USA and the in-life phase of the sunshine bass study will be conducted at USDA-ARS‘s Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center (SNARC; Stuttgart, Arkansas, USA).

AADAP staff will travel to SNARC to help launch the sunshine bass study, and return again to assist with study termination and the collection of fish tissues for histological evaluation. During AADAP‘s absence during the remainder of the in-life phase of the study, Dr. Dave Straus (SNARC) will be responsible for all day-to-day study activities. We anticipate that successful completion of these two studies, along with "data-mining" of existing TAS data on freshwater-reared salmonids, will satisfy all target animal safety data requirements to allow for the use of Aquaflor^® at a concentration of
15 mg florfenicol per kg fish body weight in all freshwater-reared finfish.

Key researcher moving on: Dr. Vaughn Ostland, the current Director of Aquatic Pathology at Kent SeaTech Corp., has for many years played a key role in adding to the aquatic animal health knowledge base. In particular, Dr. Ostland has focused considerable attention and effort on the development of finfish biologics and effectiveness testing of prospective drugs. Although not an official member of AADAP, Dr. Ostland (OK….let‘s just call him Vaughn) is probably about as close as one could (or would choose to?) get. Vaughn is practically a founding principal of the FWS/AADAP‘s Annual Aquaculture Drug Approval Coordination Workshop, having attended 12 out of 14 Workshops. During the last 10 years or so, AADAP and Vaughn have "hooked-up" numerous times on a plethora of drug approval-related ventures (also known as pivotal studies). Some worked, and some didn‘t. None-the-less, Vaughn always gave the best he, and Kent SeaTech, had to offer...and together we accomplished a lot! Most recently, AADAP and Vaughn were laying the groundwork necessary to conduct a pivotal Aquaflor^® target animal safety study on hybrid striped bass. Unfortunately for all of us, Kent SeaTech Corp. is undergoing significant restructuring and Vaughn will soon be leaving their employ. Hence, part of the reason for the aforementioned sunshine base target animal safety study being now planned for SNARC. AADAP would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Vaughn for his valuable contributions to the field of aquatic animal drug approval research. We also thank him for his friendship. Although there has been no word as to where Vaughn will hang his hat next, we are certain our community of researchers will continue to gain from his contributions. Good luck Vaughn!

Halamid^® (chloramine-T) update:

Largemouth bass/external columnaris efficacy study #2: With the help of the crew at Richloam Fish Hatchery (Webster, Florida, USA), a study was conducted in which chloramine-T was administered on three consecutive days to control mortality due to external columnaris in fingerling largemouth bass. After review by CVM, we were asked to revise the Final Study Report and address one issue that had not been adequately described in the original submission, and to reanalyze the data using a "worst-case scenario" approach. With the help of CVM‘s Biometrics Team, we were able to revise our fish mortality database and reanalyze the data. The revised FSR was submitted to CVM on
11 July 2008 with a request to consider the effectiveness technical section for the following claim to be complete “...to administer chloramine-T at a concentration of 20 mg per L in a flow through or static bath for 60 min per day on three consecutive days to control mortality due to external columnaris in largemouth bass.” We await a response from CVM.

Bluegill/external columnaris study: Again, with the help of the crew at Richloam FH (thanks Mike Matthews, Kathy Childress, Josh Sakmar, and Justin Elkins), another chloramine-T study was successfully completed. After sampling moribund bluegills from the reference population, columnaris was presumptively diagnosed as causing the mortality and morbidity. Fish were transferred to test tanks, and fish in three tanks received 20 mg per L chloramine-T for 60 min per day on three alternate days, and fish in three control tanks received a sham water treatment. At the end of the 14-d posttreatment period, mean percent cumulative mortality in treated tanks (12.9%) was significantly lower (P = 0.0304) than that in control tanks (26.9%). The ensuing Final Study Report was submitted to CVM in July 2008 summarizing the study conduct and results. We anticipate that CVM will agree that results from this study demonstrate the effectiveness of chloramine-T to control mortality due to external columnaris in bluegill when administered on three alternate days. However, official CVM review is still outstanding.

Largemouth bass/external columnaris study #3: With very little prodding, the gang at Richloam FH conducted one more study with chloramine-T to control mortality due to external columnaris in fingerling largemouth bass. This time, treatments were administered on three alternate days. At the end of the 14-d posttreatment period, mean percent cumulative mortality in treated tanks (45.5%) was significantly lower (P = 0.0034) than that in control tanks (62.3%). All other study parameters were considered acceptable, and we anticipate that CVM will agree that results from this study demonstrate the effectiveness of chloramine-T to control mortality due to external columnaris in largemouth bass when administered on three alternate days.

The Final Study Report was submitted to CVM in early October 2008 along with a letter requesting that the effectiveness technical section be considered complete for the following claim be considered complete “… to administer chloramine-T at a concentration of 20 mg per L in a flow through or static bath for 60 min per day on three alternate days to control mortality due to external columnaris in all warmwater finfish.”

If CVM agrees with this request, the initial label claim for chloramine-T will cover use to control mortality due to 1) bacterial gill disease in all freshwater-reared salmonids, and 2) external columnaris in walleye and all warmwater finfish. Stay tuned.

Oxytetracycline (OTC) update:

OTC medicated feed for marking pivotal study scheduled: In previous AADAP Newsletters, we‘ve discussed our efforts, using INAD-generated data, to expand the current OTC skeletal-marking label claim from Pacific salmon to all freshwater-reared salmonids. CVM‘s response to our original submission basically stated that the INAD data were acceptable as supportive, but one pivotal effectiveness study on a representative freshwater-reared salmonid would be required to expand the label to all salmonids. AADAP, in coordination with the drug‘s sponsor Phibro Animal Health, has begun the work to complete the required study.

This fall, AADAP will submit to CVM for review a pivotal study protocol designed to evaluate the efficacy of Terramycin^® 200 for Fish (oxytetracycline dihydrate) Type A Medicated Article (TM200; 200 g OTC per lb) for the following new indication “… to administer TM200 orally in feed at 2.5 to 3.75 g OTC per 100 lbs fish per day for 10 consecutive days for the skeletal marking of all freshwater-reared salmonids for subsequent identification."

If the review process goes smoothly (i.e., few substantive changes), AADAP will conduct a single study in which TM200-treated feed will be administered to test tanks of large fingerling/small juvenile rainbow trout (a representative salmonid) using the above-described treatment regimen. The in-life phase will comprise a 1-d acclimation period, 10-d treatment period, and 21-d posttreatment period. During the
10-d treatment period, TM200-treated feed will be administered to treated tanks and control feed (nontreated) will be administered to control tanks. During the 21-d posttreatment period, control feed will be administered to all tanks. On posttreatment day 21, test fish will be euthanized and vertebrae will be removed for OTC mark evaluation.

Evaluation of OTC marks (absence/presence and quality of a yellow fluorescent ring on a vertebral centrum) will be conducted in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and accomplished by viewing vertebrae under ultraviolet light and a dissecting scope. The null hypothesis to be tested is that the mean percentage of fish with marked vertebrae in Terramycin^® 200-treated test tanks is equal to the mean percentage of fish with marked vertebrae in control test tanks. The alternative hypothesis to be tested is that the mean percentage of fish with marked vertebrae in Terramycin^® 200-treated test tanks is not equal to the mean percentage of fish with marked vertebrae in control test tanks. The difference between treated and control tanks will be considered significant if P < 0.05.

35% PEROX-AID^® (hydrogen peroxide) update:

Successful studies conducted on largemouth bass and bluegill: Not being able to keep the Richloam FH (Florida, USA) gang from forging ahead, two pivotal field efficacy studies were successfully conducted that will assist to complete the data requirements needed to fulfill the following label claim “...administer 35% PEROX-AID^® at a concentration of 50–75 mg per L in a flow through or static bath for 60 min per day on three alternate days to control mortality due to external columnaris in all warmwater finfish fingerling and adults (50 mg per L for fry)."

The first study was conducted on largemouth bass, and at the end of the 14-d posttreatment period mean percent cumulative mortality in treated tanks (49.0%) was significantly lower (P = 0.0085) than that in the control tanks (74.1%).

The second study was conducted on bluegill, and at the end of the
14-d posttreatment period mean percent cumulative mortality in treated tanks was lower (10.3%) than mortality in control tanks (20.0%). Preliminary analysis indicates that a significant difference will be detected.

If CVM agrees with this request, the expanded label claim for 35% PEROX-AID^® will cover use to control mortality due to 1) bacterial gill disease in all freshwater-reared salmonids, and 2) external columnaris in all cool- and warmwater finfish. Stay tuned.

FINS & TAILS, BITS & BOBBERS
last updated:
7 November 2008

2009 INAD Sign-up Forms are now available: Once again it is that time of year for renewal of your facility‘s INADs for Calendar Year 2009. Please send in the completed sign-up forms to the AADAP Office by 31 December 2008. Invoices will be mailed out the end of February. All 2009 sign-up forms are available on our website, click here to access.

Examples of completed INAD forms are now available on the AADAP website: A completed example of every INAD Form is now available on the appropriate INAD drug fact sheet. These forms have been "mocked up" in order to aid Investigators in completing their INAD paperwork. Please use these forms as a guideline, and if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Bonnie Johnson at 406-994-9905.

End of the Year INAD Forms due: If you have not already done so, please send in all Form 2‘s (Drug Inventory Form) and Form 3‘s (Results Report Form) for each of the INADs that were used at your facilities for INAD Year 2008. For the 17-α methyltestosterone medicated feed participants, Form 6 (Year End Efficacy Report) will also need to be submitted.

AFS-AADAP "Aquaculture Drug-use Guidance" Poster statistics and its use in the field: Earlier this summer, the AADAP Program, in coordination with American Fisheries Society (AFS) Fish Culture and Fish Health Section, produced and distributed a quick reference guide poster "Approved Drugs for Use in Aquaculture." The request for this outreach tool was deemed a huge success. A total of 485 posters were distributed nationwide. Provided below is a breakdown of distribution:

• 44 states, 3 foreign countries (Brazil, England, Spain)
  
  
• 73% were requested by state/federal employees
  
  
• 15% were requested by private entities
  
  
• 12% were requested by private sector organizations, students, and retirees

As noted in the 'What‘s Shakin‘ section of this edition of the AADAP Newsletter (as well as above), plans are already underway for the printing of an updated version of the Poster. Check AADAP‘s website for news of its publication and information on how to obtain copies.

Just a heads up to all of you participating in the National INAD Program: Bonnie Johnson will be on leave for 3 months starting around mid-October 2008. Please fax study worksheets to the AADAP Office instead of emailing or mailing them during this time. Please note if you have any pressing matters during this three month period to call Dave Erdahl at 406-994-9904.