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This course covers a variety of health topics primarily finfish and may include mollusks, crustaceans, and amphibians.  Instruction will be provided on basic and advanced methodology of diagnosis of parasites, bacteria, and viruses.  Nutritional and environmental diseases and/or contaminants will also be covered.  Current legal disease treatment regimes and potential future treatments under research will be presented.  Diagnostic test interpretations will be used as a tool along with the knowledge of State and Federal Aquatic animal regulations and programs to determine risk assessment levels in the movement of aquatic animals.  The range of topics on the care and use of animals including ethical treatment, recognizing stress, anesthesia and euthanasia are included.  Both lecture and laboratory sessions will be used to instruct diagnostic test interpretation.  College Credit:  3 semester credit hours.

Who Should Attend:  Personnel from Fish and Wildlife Service (including fishery biologist, fish and wildlife biologist, environmental contaminants specialists, fish health biologists,), other Department of the Interior Federal and State personnel working on conservation projects, requiring a practical understanding of aquatic animal health principles. 

Pre-requisite:  A bachelor’s degree

Length:  5 days/38 hours (as well as pre and post course assignments)

Objectives:  By the end of this session, the participant will be able to:

• Discuss the standard diagnostics techniques and interpretation of the tests;
• Collect tissue samples for molecular analysis and interpretation;
• Evaluate risk assessment tools used in the movement of aquatic animals from place to place;
• Identify new emerging diseases and potential zoonotics;
• Identify effects of organic and inorganic environmental contaminants;
• Review the policies, guidelines, and regulations defined and utilized by AVMA, AFS, FWS, and APHIS;
• Practice non-lethal anesthesia, diagnostic tests, and venipuncture techniques; and
• List the concepts to ensure animal welfare needs using the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”.