Producers moving fish between states are often required to test their fish for pathogens of concern. WADDL’s Aquatic Health Laboratory performs high-quality fish health certification testing for clients that meets the testing methods required by state fish health regulators.
Why perform fish health certification testing at WADDL?
Producers across the United States use WADDL for fish health certification testing. WADDL is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, which means that clients can have the highest confidence in the accuracy and interpretability of tests performed at WADDL. In addition, veterinarians on staff at WADDL can assist clients with determining the required tests and test methods for moving fish between states. WADDL performs certification testing following methods required by state regulators, most frequently from the American Fisheries Society-Fish Health Section Blue Book’s USFWS/AFS-FHS Standard Procedures for Aquatic Animal Health Inspections. WADDL can also perform certification testing that meets Aquatic Manual of the World Organization for Animal Health (formerly known as the OIE) standards, although this methodology is more commonly required when testing fish for international movement.
Which fish species can WADDL perform fish health certification testing for?
WADDL’s Aquatic Health Laboratory can perform certification testing on many different species of fish, including salmon and trout, tilapia, catfish, and warmwater species such as largemouth bass and baitfish.
What testing methods does WADDL offer?
WADDL offers fish health certification testing performed in accordance with the American Fisheries Society-Fish Health Section Blue Book’s USFWS/AFS-FHS Standard Procedures for Aquatic Animal Health Inspections for:
- Viruses, including Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNv), Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNv), Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus (ISAv), Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBv), Oncorhynchus masou Virus (OMv), Spring Viremia of Carp Virus (SVCv), and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSv).
- Testing methods include viral culture to detect cytopathic effect as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Bacteria, including Aeromonas salmonicida (furunculosis), Yersinia ruckeri (enteric redmouth disease, ERM), Edwardsiella ictaluri (enteric septicemia of catfish, ESC), Renibacterium salmoninarum (bacterial kidney disease, BKD), and Piscirickettsia salmonis.
- Testing methods include bacterial culture, direct fluorescent antibody testing (FAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), stained tissue impressions, and PCR.
- Parasites, including Myxobolus cerebralis (Whirling Disease), Ceratonova shasta (formerly Ceratomyxa shasta), and Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Asian tapeworm).
What is the turnaround time for test results?
WADDL has a turnaround time of 29 days for all certification tests because the American Fisheries Society-Fish Health Section’s Blue Book requires that samples submitted for viral screening are incubated on cells for a total of 28 days. There are several tests (including Myxobolus cerebralis testing) that clients can request a faster turnaround time on for an additional charge; there are other tests that cannot be expedited (including viral screening). Please contact us in advance to schedule certification testing or to request expedited test results.
What are some of the most commonly performed health certification tests?
A list of WADDL’s health certification tests performed using the American Fisheries Society-Fish Health Section’s Blue Book methods can be found here. Some of the most common tests requested by clients testing fish for interstate movement are viral culture, bacterial culture, Renibacterium salmoninarum (BKD) FA, and Pepsin Trypsin Digest for Myxobolus cerebralis (Whirling Disease).
If you have any questions about submitting fish to WADDL for health certification testing, do not hesitate to contact us.