K Pani Prasad
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, India
Title: Biotechnological tools in aquatic animal health management
Biography
Biography: K Pani Prasad
Abstract
Managing the health of aquatic organisms has proven to be one of the greatest challenges and opportunities for expansion of sustainable aquaculture. Effective disease control is paramount within aquatic farming systems to stop the spread of infectious pathogens. Implementation of an effective health management program consisting of well organized management and husbandry practices, efficient biosecurity and hygiene measures and improved resistance to disease through vaccination can all help to reduce and control disease at farm sites. The rapid detection of pathogens in infected fish, both clinically and sub-clinically, is desirable for effective health management in aquaculture. The methods available for the diagnosticians include, analysis of the history of disease, gross and clinical signs; direct microscopy; histopathology; routine culture and isolation of bacterial isolates on artificial media and identification using biochemical reactions on unique substrates; serological methods, hematology and clinical toxicology analysis, PCR and tissue culture; Real Time PCR, Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), Lateral flow, LAMP with lateral flow, are more advanced among the molecular techniques. Egg yolk antibodies (IgY) for developing immunodiagnostic kits or use in passive immunotherapy are in vogue. Advances in micro-technologies led to the development of new miniaturized supports for the analysis of nucleic acids and proteins. Chips or microarrays offer the advantage of being able to detect in parallel multiple targets. Among the micro/nanotechnologies one of the most promising techniques is the bio-barcode assay which ensures the ultrasensitive amplification and detection of nucleic acids and proteins. The article explains the above mentioned emerging techniques in the field of fish health management and diagnosis. With the ever increasing pathogens and diseases, there is always a requirement of more sensitive and rapid tests for disease diagnosis.