Fish health research at SEAFDEC/AQD

Abstract

Fish pathology as a discipline was of relatively minor importance in the early years of SEAFDEC/AQD because technologies for producing aquaculture commodities were still being developed and high-density fish rearing activities were minimal. With fast adaptation of technologies developed locally and elsewhere and their modification to suit industry needs, disease problems started to occur. Disease develops through the interaction of three important factors: the host, the pathogen or disease agent, and the environment. In most high-density aquaculture rearing units, the environment exerts pressure on the host and favors the pathogen. When the host's defenses are overwhelmed, a disease condition is created which may result in death. Mortalities are often equated to economic losses, and research in fish diseases then becomes significant. Research has the ultimate aim of preventing disease occurrence.