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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212646
Title: Strategies for Field Sampling When Large Sample Sizes are Required

Author
item Bebak, Julie
item Shoemaker, Craig
item ARIAS, COVADONGA - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Klesius, Phillip

Submitted to: Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2007
Publication Date: 6/20/2007
Citation: Bebak, J.A., Shoemaker, C.A., Arias, C.R., Klesius, P.H. 2007. Strategies for Field Sampling When Large Sample Sizes are Required. Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop. June, 2007. p. 25.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Estimates of prevalence or incidence of infection with a pathogen endemic in a fish population can be valuable information for development and evaluation of aquatic animal health management strategies. However, hundreds of unbiased samples may be required in order to accurately estimate these parameters on a catfish farm, which is an especially inhospitable environment. The high ambient summer air temperatures, lack of shelter and electrical power, and the large number and size of the ponds contribute to the challenging conditions. One strategy that can be employed to reduce the number of samples needed is the use of the "herd", or epidemiological unit, concept. Even with the use of the epidemiological unit, however, hundreds of samples will most likely be needed, so it will be impractical to process each fish at the pond side. Quick freezing fish on dry ice and storage at -70 degrees C for assay at a later time may be a viable option, but should be validated before use in the field. The "herd" concept and the validation of the use of frozen fish as samples for pathogen assay will be discussed during this presentation.