FlavobacteriumFlavobacterium psychrophilumpsychrophilum

A Holistic Management ApproachA Holistic Management Approach

Presented by: Sherry MeadPresented by: Sherry MeadFreshwater Fisheries Society of BCFreshwater Fisheries Society of BC

The HistoryThe History

Prior to 2004 yellow pigmented bacteria Prior to 2004 yellow pigmented bacteria outbreaks at FFSBC facilities were reported out outbreaks at FFSBC facilities were reported out as ‘systemic as ‘systemic myxobacteriamyxobacteria infections’infections’Once agglutination confirmation test was Once agglutination confirmation test was available outbreaks were identified as available outbreaks were identified as FlavobacteriumFlavobacterium psychrophilumpsychrophilum

HistoryHistory

The following 4 slides are excerpts from an The following 4 slides are excerpts from an update I presented at our 2002 fall planning update I presented at our 2002 fall planning meeting. meeting. What was then known as ‘What was then known as ‘MyxobacteriaMyxobacteria’ ’ infections (and what we now identify as the infections (and what we now identify as the ‘cold water disease’ form of ‘cold water disease’ form of FlavobacteriumFlavobacteriumpsychrophilumpsychrophilum) ) were just starting to appear in our were just starting to appear in our hatchery facilitieshatchery facilities

““Ken’s 2n/3n study”Ken’s 2n/3n study” (FVTH 2002)(FVTH 2002)

““Some interesting fish Some interesting fish came in near the end of came in near the end of the study. It is amazing the study. It is amazing that these fish were still that these fish were still alive as some of the alive as some of the lesions had eroded into lesions had eroded into the body cavity and the body cavity and internal organs were internal organs were exposed”exposed”

Taylor 3n pitted lesions on dorsalTaylor 3n pitted lesions on dorsal (RPU area 2002)(RPU area 2002)

Pitted lesions appeared to be a form of coldwater disease; only saw through one season.

Skin scraping of pitted areaSkin scraping of pitted area (RPU area 2002)(RPU area 2002)

Gram stain of kidney smearGram stain of kidney smear extensive ‘systemic extensive ‘systemic MyxobacteriaMyxobacteria’’

(2002)(2002)

Fraser Valley 3N in RPUFraser Valley 3N in RPU (2003)(2003)

20052005

By 2005 we were experiencing heavy losses By 2005 we were experiencing heavy losses between swim up and fry stagebetween swim up and fry stage3 out of 5 major production facilities were 3 out of 5 major production facilities were taking substantially heavy lossestaking substantially heavy lossesConducted a facilities tour/ workshop on Fish Conducted a facilities tour/ workshop on Fish Health and the correlation between stress and Health and the correlation between stress and disease outbreaksdisease outbreaks

SubSub--committee formationcommittee formation

After initial attempts to eliminate the problem were After initial attempts to eliminate the problem were unsuccessful the Freshwater Fisheries Society formed a unsuccessful the Freshwater Fisheries Society formed a subsub--committee to:committee to:

Identify problem areasIdentify problem areasFocus research needsFocus research needsDevelop management tools to combat bacteriaDevelop management tools to combat bacteria

SubSub--committee was comprised of representatives from committee was comprised of representatives from the following areas:the following areas:

Fish HealthFish HealthResearch and DevelopmentResearch and DevelopmentHatchery StaffHatchery StaffManagementManagement

Problem areas initially identified Problem areas initially identified included: included:

Disinfection techniquesDisinfection techniques Developed a disinfection Developed a disinfection apparatus which would apparatus which would allow circulation of the allow circulation of the IodophoreIodophore to all surfaces to all surfaces of the egg with minimal of the egg with minimal egg movementegg movement

New upwelling disinfection system New upwelling disinfection system for eggsfor eggs

Well water testingWell water testing

Still being implemented Still being implemented but have done some but have done some initial screening of well initial screening of well water at two facilities to water at two facilities to test for presence of test for presence of F. F. psychrophilumpsychrophilum in water.in water.Hope to implement a Hope to implement a consistent screening consistent screening process in 2008process in 2008

Well water testing using Well water testing using basic filtration system, basic filtration system, gridded filter papers and gridded filter papers and Sheih’sSheih’s mediamedia

Water SterilizationWater Sterilization

UV water sterilizationUV water sterilization To date has been To date has been unsuccessfulunsuccessfulWill be moving the Will be moving the sterilization unit to sterilization unit to another location where another location where more time can be more time can be focused on working with focused on working with the unitthe unit

BioBio--SecuritySecurity

Review and upgrade Review and upgrade BiosecurityBiosecurity procedures at procedures at facilitiesfacilities

In spring of 2007 In spring of 2007 hatchery facilities tourhatchery facilities tourIdentified areas where Identified areas where needing needing biosecuritybiosecurityupgrading: minors and upgrading: minors and majorsmajors

MinorsMinors

Traffic patterns within Traffic patterns within facilitiesfacilitiesSegregation of equipmentSegregation of equipmentPass through windows from Pass through windows from out side into incubationout side into incubationDedicated boots, nets, Dedicated boots, nets, brooms and buckets on all brooms and buckets on all rearing containersrearing containers

Coro-plast dividers between stacks

Pass thru windows from outside into incubations

Minors cont.Minors cont.

Brushes and sieves mounted up off ground

Dedicated boots for entering incubation area

Segregation of equipment

Separate trolleys and feed buckets for each rearing unit

Individual siphons and buckets for picking eggs and alevins

Disinfection areas: Rinse organic matter, disinfect, rinse and dry

Containers, Buckets and individual brooms and nets for each rearing area plus several sets of sampling equiptment

MajorsMajors

Incubation room reIncubation room re--vampvamp

Remove archive files to another location and move benches to create a boot and apron exchange area

Trough room reTrough room re--vampvamp

Small troughs have:Small troughs have:Spacing issuesSpacing issuesAre shallowAre shallowHold smaller numbers of Hold smaller numbers of fishfishIntensive husbandry Intensive husbandry

Replace some trough Replace some trough with larger troughs for with larger troughs for large groups of rainbowslarge groups of rainbows

Converting storage containers into mobile spawning sheds and storage facilities

Building special areas to create drying rooms for field gear

Removable flooring in incubation to allow better cleaning and disinfection of area

Clear signage

Isolation incubation areas

Keeping areas clean and organized during shut down periods

Converting step down troughs to isolated single pass troughs

Fish Husbandry Practices ChecklistFish Husbandry Practices Checklist

Developed as an annual Developed as an annual review tool for hatcheriesreview tool for hatcheriesDeveloped as an orientation Developed as an orientation tool for new and returning tool for new and returning auxilliaryauxilliary employeesemployeesFocus: to reduce prevalence Focus: to reduce prevalence and spread of and spread of FlavobacteriumFlavobacteriumpsychrophylumpsychrophylum

2007 2007

FlavobacteriumFlavobacterium continues to be an issue in two of continues to be an issue in two of our production facilitiesour production facilitiesEx: % survival from swim up to fry Ex: % survival from swim up to fry (1 facility(1 facility))

20022002

20072007NRTNRT

92%92%

69%69%2n RBT2n RBT

92%92%

78%78%3n RBT3n RBT

86%86%

80.5%80.5%

Positive outcomesPositive outcomes

Kootenay trout hatchery has had minimal production Kootenay trout hatchery has had minimal production loss to loss to FlavoFlavo for two yearsfor two yearsHave identified carrier stocksHave identified carrier stocksHave identified susceptible stocksHave identified susceptible stocksStaff are more conscience of modes of horizontal Staff are more conscience of modes of horizontal transmission and try to minimize stressful eventstransmission and try to minimize stressful eventsStaff have accepted changes in production methodsStaff have accepted changes in production methodsStaff actively participate in identifying areas needing Staff actively participate in identifying areas needing improvement and developing new techniques improvement and developing new techniques

Activities for 2008Activities for 2008

Starter diet comparison studyStarter diet comparison studyStrain variance and drug sensitivity workStrain variance and drug sensitivity workStudy comparisons in hatching out and larval Study comparisons in hatching out and larval cleanclean--up methodsup methodsFacility disinfectionFacility disinfection-- including pipesincluding pipesMore structural bioMore structural bio--security related upgradessecurity related upgradesDevelopment of BioDevelopment of Bio--standards for specific standards for specific stocks and genotypes.stocks and genotypes.

We invite other We invite other organizations to share organizations to share

there ideas in their there ideas in their management approach to management approach to

this bacteria.this bacteria.Thank you!Thank you!