Invited Speaker

Abstract: Intensification and diversification of the aquaculture practices made an opening to the emergence of new viral diseases daunting the farmers to achieve a sustained production. Viruses are obligatory parasites abundant in the aquatic environments and are being introduced in the sector directly or indirectly. Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV) is an emerging shrimp RNA virus causing the disease, infectious myonecrosis (IMN). The disease was reported first from Brazil and currently the geographical locations of infection span in Brazil and Indonesia. Research are centered on the viral pathogenesis, viral entry, disease prevention and epidemiology, diagnostics and molecular pathology. The recent developments in the synthetic and molecular biology techniques have paved way to explore IMNV at its molecular levels, yet further research has to be conducted to fully understand the virus as well as diagnostics of the disease with cause. This review covers all the aspects of the virus, IMNV and the disease IMN, research developments and emphasizes on the current progress and the future prospects of the research in control and prevention strategies.

Biography: • 25 years of experience in areas of aquatic animal health especially in areas of development and use of rapid disease diagnostics and control.
• Established the animal health lab at CIFE, Mumbai
• The core competence is in development of different immunodiagnostic kits for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of fish and shrimp diseases.
• National Consultant for an FAO, Rome and Dept. of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh project on the quality control at shrimp hatcheries and labs.
• More than 100 research publications in peer reviewed national and international Journals.
• Present projects as Principal Investigators:
• Aquatic disease surveillance project funded by NFDB, GOI
• Networking project on Fish Health funded by ICAR, New Delhi
• Network programme on assessment of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms associated with fisheries and aquaculture in India
• Completed 12 projects as Principal Investigator
• Research guidance: 12 Ph.D and 56 Masters’ in Fisheries Science in different aspects of health management
• Conducted 24 training programmes in different aspects of Aquatic animal health for stakeholders, farmers, teachers, trainers and students