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| Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries |
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Presently located in Blacks Harbour NB, the Fish Health Laboratory provides diagnostic testing and screening for the different disease states affecting aquatic animals.
Current surveillance and screening programs aid the Government and Private veterinarians in determining the health status of not only a single farm but also the industry as a whole. Specimens submitted to the Fish Health Lab include live and moribund specimens of primarily Atlantic salmon but may also include Trout (all species), Arctic Charr, Lobster, Haddock, Flounder, and various other native species.
At the request of the attending veterinarian, or to comply with current Federal or Provincial regulations, samples are taken from the various organs in the fish sample and are checked for Viruses, Parasites and Bacteria that are known to affect the well being of the animal or its marketability.
The Fish Health Laboratory performs, the majority of this testing at the Blacks Harbour facility such as, Necropsy, Bacteriology, Parisitology, and Immunofluorescent antibody testing (Infectious Salmonid Anemia virus and Renibacterium salmoninarum).
Samples for viral culture or for RT-PCR and DNA testing are forwarded to private laboratories such as the Research and Productivity Council in Fredericton or to the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI.
The laboratory operates Monday to Friday 8:15 to 4:30 excluding statutory holidays under the direction of the Provincial Aquaculture Veterinarian located in the St George office. Samples must be submitted by a veterinarian, and as such, results will be forwarded to them only. Contact your Veterinarian for results and interpretation.