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Projects

Objectives

• Provide National Fish Health Policy Guidance to Service hatcheries
• Provide fish health technical services to Service hatcheries
  • Certification and pathogen surveys
  • Diagnosis and troubleshooting of fish health problems
  • Investigate disease and pathogen control measures
  • INAD coordination and monitoring
  • Provide recommendations to prevent and control diseases
  • Provide fish health training and prepare fish health courses
• Fish health technical assistance to other entities
  • Other Federal agencies and offices (NMFS, BPA, BOR, etc.)
  • Tribes - Yakama and Colville – Others on a case-by-case basis
  • States - On case-by-case basis or if State does not have capability
  • Private commercial aquaculture - If no fish health provider is available
• National Wild Fish Health Survey
  • Working with Partners to test wild populations for important pathogens

Capabilities 

• Microbiology:  Infectious agent isolation and identification
  • Virology: Isolation using tissue culture, serological and genetic identification tools
  • Bacteriology: Isolation and identification by biochemistry, serology and genetic tools.
  • Parasitology:  Microscopic and morphological identification; selected genetic testing 
  • Specialized capabilities: Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays; DNA-probe analysis; fluorescent antibody testing; PCR and QPCR testing; antibiotic sensitivity testing and tissue residues.
• Histology:  Infectious and noninfectious agent identification by specialized histochemical and microscopic examination of tissues
  • Morphologic characterization of pathogens and tissue changes due infectious agents.
  • Pathology of tissues and cells due to toxins, environment or nutritional causes.
  • Specialized capabilities:  Paraffin and plastic embedding and sectioning; access to electron microscopy; specialized biological staining techniques
• Physiology:  Blood serum chemistry testing to determine physiological health and/or fitness for anadromy.
• On-site examinations and inspections of fish populations
  • Diagnostic microscopic examinations for specific fish health problems
  • Disease surveys and/or certifications for regulatory pathogens
  • Specialized capabilities: Extensive knowledge and experience in fish culture and related fish health problems