Recent Issues on Infectious Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region
Fan Lee
Abstract
Animal health issues in Asia and Pacific region have been complicated and changing due to the variety in geography, climate, and livestock production system between countries. Differences in governance, finance, and infrastructures between the countries also influence the animal health status of them. In the present presentation, the status of a few infectious animal diseases of concern, notably foot-and-mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, and avian influenza, in this area will be discussed.
First Report of the Protozoan Parasite Perkinsus olseni Infection of Meretrix taiwanica in Taiwan
Chieh-Hao Wu
Abstract
Protozoan parasites of Perkinsus olseni are important pathogens in numerous wild and farmed bivalve species. The infection of P. olseni is listed by WOAH, and can result in mass mortality and economic losses. Perkinsus sp. contain the species of P. olseni, P. marinus, P. beihaiensis, P. chesapeaki etc. These species of Perkinsus can infect many different mollusks and cause high mortality, chronic infection or no clinical signs. In this study, P. olseni was detected in farmed M. taiwanica from Changhua County. The clinical signs showed that the stunted growth, and the mortality rate was 5% after heavy rain in April. There was no gross lesion in the case. The histological examination revealed protozoan trophozoites in the gill, and the connective tissues of digestive gland and gonads. Protozoan cells were infiltrated by inflammatory cells with increased connective tissues. PCR screening of the tissues using specific primer pairs detected the P. olseni. Analyzed by the Basic Local Alignment Search Technique (BLAST), the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence was most identical with P. olseni discovered in Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) (the shared identity was 99.87%). This is the first report of Perkinsus olseni infection in farmed clams (Meretrix taiwanica) in Taiwan.
The 16th Asian Society of Conservation Medicine (ASCM) Conference in Korea
Shu-Chia Hu，Yen-Wen Chen
Abstract
Two researchers from Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Ministry of Agriculture attended the 16th Asian Society of Conservation Medicine (ASCM) Conference in Jeju Island, Korea from October 9th to 13th, 2023. The conference covered three major topics: strengthening partnership for wildlife health and conservation, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation (restoration), and wildlife conservation: biosurveillance and forensic. Researchers from different fields shared their experiences and research by keynote lectures, oral presentations, and poster presentations. In this conference, VRI’s participants provided the following presentations entitled “Identification of paramyxoviruses in bats, Taiwan”, “Pathological findings of the lower respiratory tracts in Formosan Pangolins in Taiwan”, and “Epithelial tropism of canine distemper virus in Siberian weasel” by two oral presentations and one poster. They also participated the avian necropsy workshop held at Jeju National University and visited the Jeju Wildlife Rescue Center. The ASCM conference provided many opportunities for the collaborative communication of information and experiences between researchers from different countries and organizations, as well as for discussions on the latest developments in the wildlife conservation, rehabilitation, disease surveillance, and forensic pathology. Through these activities, this conference built up the regional consensus and strengthened cooperation. Participants comprised industry, governmental, and research units from different fields and countries, which highlighted the importance of the ‘One Health’ approach advocated by the WOAH and WHO.