Rapid Fish Tests Identify Risky Business

ARS researchers are helping the aquaculture industry with disease detection and management. Fish are known to suffer from a myriad of health problems during aquaculture production. Global losses to aquatic animal diseases exceed $6 billion USD annually. Multiple pathogens, poor water quality, and temperature stress cause health challenges for salmonoid fish. These factors can lead to decreased animal wellbeing and productivity. Fish farmers, or aquaculture farmers, need faster methods to assess important aquaculture traits.  ARS researchers in Leetown, WV, have addressed this by identifying new biomarkers, which are measurable indicators of health and disease. 

ARS researchers in Leetown, WV, partnered with St. George’s University and a private company to discover the best biomarkers and then evaluate rapid tests that work within 2 hours or less. The assays measure important traits that include bacterial and viral infection, tissue damage, innate disease resistance, appetite suppression, and heat stress.  Not only are these assays a fast way for fish farmers to assess their rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon health, but they are leading to an improved understanding of the mechanisms of disease resistance and strategies to select better fish. The tests are commercially available and can be ordered at https://lifediagnostics.com/aquaculture/.