FISH HEALTH NOTES by Rod Getchell
ATLANTIC BEACH, NC – The subject of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing vs. traditional methods of detecting fish pathogens always leads to a lively discussion among fish health professionals. The arguments often revolve around the good aspects of PCR testing, like rapid results and high levels of sensitivity, vs. the perceived problems of too many false positives and distinguishing live from dead organisms.
Culture-based and antibody-based tests have for years served their purpose for detecting pathogens in infected fish tissues. Fish health specialists have followed procedures from the American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section (AFS-FHS) “Blue Book” or the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals and have relied on these types of tests.
Read the rest and much, much more in Issue 4, 2012 of Fish Farming News. Download now for immediate access and keep the .pdf for future reference.
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