Fish Disease Measurement Programme 2008/09

The use of fish diseases in biological effects monitoring programmes as an integrative endpoint of historic exposure to stressors, including contaminants has been established for more than 20 years and provides an excellent indication of the overall health status at the population level. More recently, disease assessments have become integrated with other types of biological effects measurements as well as analytical data from biota, sediments and water under the recommended OSPAR JAMP suite of techniques used in environmental monitoring. Externally visible diseases such as lymphocystis, acute and healing ulceration, hyperpigmentation and epidermal hyperplasia/papilloma are recorded.

In addition, the use of liver pathology has now also become routine and histological assessment of liver nodules and microscopic lesions is now also established for the flatfish (dab- Limanda limanda and flounder- Platichthys flesus) in European waters.

Since the early 1980's the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has contributed to the development of standardised methodologies through sea-going and laboratory workshops. This ongoing process has continued under BEQUALM and the overall objective of this BEQUALM work package is to produce a formal quality assurance infrastructure to validate the data obtained from field studies on the occurrence of externally visible diseases and liver histopathologies in flatfish.

This programme also aims to provide members with the medium to introduce assessments using different fish species and disease measurements such as parasite prevalence and multi-organ histopathology. This allows individuals from regions where dab and flounder are absent to participate.

Work programme for 2008/09

Year 4 of the Fish Disease Measurement programme broadly follows:

1. Distribution of reference materials- these will consist of training CD-ROM, images of histopathological lesions at different magnifications with explanatory text. This will form the basis of a portfolio that participants can build upon with their continued participation in BEQUALM.

2. Inter-calibration exercise as precursor to liver histopathology ring test (optional).

3. Liver histopathology ring-test: using "Virtual Slide" technology (see Aperio Technologies for more information), participants will receive a DVD/CD-ROM of interactive histology slides to diagnose, in accordance to BEQUALM criteria (click here to see an image of a virtual liver slide in action on Aperio)

4. External fish disease ring-test: images will be distributed to participants in order to diagnose and grade diseases in accordance to BEQUALM criteria.

Scheduled Timetable of Events

Registration Package

On payment of the annual registration fee, participants will receive:

• The latest training CD-ROM for fish disease measurement
• Reference materials couriered to their laboratory
• Virtual slide DVD/CD-ROM ring test to keep for their collection*
• Relevant protocols
• Confidential statement of performance

*Please note: Failiure to complete ring tests within the specified deadline will release the lead laboratory from all obligations (feedback, results, etc.) as set out in the terms and conditions.

Please read the detialed description of the functions of the Lead Laboratory and Participating Laboratories.

Registration Fees 2008/09 Programme

Fees are subject to VAT, where applicable, (see below).

Fees are subject to postage (per distribution) at the following rates

Registration and Payment

Cefas Technology Ltd (CTL) is a wholly owned company of Cefas, and will manage registration and payment administration of the whole organism component of the BEQUALM QA/QC programme using the on-line ordering and payment system available on the CTL website

This is to keep administration to a minimum and costs to participants as low as possible. Payment is required in advance of the start of the Programme Year. No materials will be dispatched until payment has been received in full. A booking receipt is generated by the on-line ordering system automatically once you have placed your order.

Various payment options are available (see below).

BEQUALM WHOLE ORGANISM COMPONENT - PAYMENT OPTIONS and VAT LIABILITY

The following payment options are available:

Credit card payments are acceptable for payments in £GB

BACS payments and bank credit transfers are acceptable. Please ensure that your payment includes all bank charges incurred for transferring fees. Cefas Technology Ltd will not be liable for these charges and will aim to recover costs incurred from participants.

The liability for Value Added Tax (VAT) on the services provided is as follows:

UK & The Isle of Man: participants are liable to UK VAT

EU (not UK) participants who are not registered for VAT are liable for UK VAT. Participants who are registered for VAT and who receive the supply for business purposes are not liaible for UK VAT and should account for any tax locally. You will be asked to supply your VAT number during the on-line ordering process.

CANCELLATION No refunds are available on cancellation.

CONFIRMATION. Your order will be confirmed via the on-line ordering system.

BEQUALM WHOLE ORGANISM COMPONENT - Terms and Conditions

Laboratories participating in the scheme do so on the basis of accepting the Special Terms and Conditions for the Products and Services provided by CTL, acting through Cefas under the Whole Organism Component of the BEQUALM QA/QC programme, and should be read in conjunction with the CTL Standard Website Terms and Conditions of Sale.

In order to register for the BEQUALM whole organism component each Participating Laboratory ("Buyer") will be asked to confirm their agreement to these terms and conditions as provided by CTL ("The Seller")

To place an order to participate please register on the Cefas Technology Limited website.

Reproduced with kind permission of Bernard E. Picton Ulster Museum, Belfast, UK © 2003.

Reproduced with kind permission of Bernard E. Picton Ulster Museum, Belfast, UK © 2003.

Remaining images © Crown Copyright 2003