B-1027: Iridovirus Infections of Fish

More about this event

 This webinar will cover Iridoviridae that includes three genera of viruses relevant to fish health: Lymphocystivirus, Ranavirus and Megalocytivirus. Ranaviruses are emerging global pathogens that have a broad host range across reptile, amphibian and piscine hosts. These viruses have the potential for inter-class transmission and can have devastating ecological and food production impacts when introduced to naïve hosts and environments. Megalocytiviruses also cause high mortality disease characterised by systemic necrosis Biosecurity is a key disease control mechanism for iridoviral diseases and in the case of Red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV) and Epizootic Haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV), that includes the regulation of trade with a notifiable status listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). 

Learning Objectives - Participants will understand: 
1. A framework for diagnosis of diseases of fish caused by iridoviruses, and a taxonomic framework to differentiate disease-causing viruses; 
2. How to select and interpret the appropriate diagnostic laboratory tests results for iridoviruses; and, 
3. An approach to biosecurity for the control of iridoviral diseases in unique aquaculture settings. 

About the speaker: Dr. Paul Hick's career has included time as a general mixed practice veterinarian and in a government diagnostic virology laboratory. He earned a PhD in aquatic virology at the University of Sydney studying nodavirus infections of barramundi and is currently a lecturer in Veterinary Virology (Farm Animal, Aquatic and Ecosystem Health) with the Faculty of Veterinary Science. The University is a co-host for the OIE reference laboratory for EHNV and ranavirus infection of amphibians.