Reportable Diseases, Immediately Notifiable and Annually Notifable Diseases for Aquatic Animals

Aquatic animal diseases have the potential to seriously impact aquatic animal health, international trade, and the economy. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for preventing the introduction of or spread of aquatic animal diseases of finfish, molluscs and crustaceans.

Reportable diseases

These diseases are of significant importance to aquatic animal health or to the Canadian economy. Anyone who owns or works with aquatic animals and knows of or suspects a reportable disease is required by law to notify the CFIA. If a reportable disease were to be detected, the CFIA would begin an investigation.

Crustacean

• Taura syndrome
• White spot disease
• Yellow head disease

Finfish

• Ceratomyxosis (Ceratomyxa shasta)
• Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis
• Infectious haematopoietic necrosis
• Infectious pancreatic necrosis
• Infectious salmon anaemia
• Koi herpesvirus disease
• Spring viraemia of carp
• Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia
• Whirling disease (Myxobolus cerebralis)
• White sturgeon iridoviral disease

Molluscs

• Disease caused by Bonamia ostreae
• Disease caused by Haplosporidium nelsoni
• Disease caused by Marteilia refringens
• Disease caused by Marteiliodes chungmuensis
• Disease caused by Mikrocytos mackini
• Disease caused by Perkinsus marinus
• Disease caused by Perkinsus olseni

Immediately notifiable (for laboratories only)

These diseases do not exist in Canada. If an immediately notifiable disease were to be detected, the CFIA would begin an investigation. Only laboratories are required to contact the CFIA regarding the suspicion or diagnosis of these diseases.

Crustaceans

• Crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci)
• Infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis (Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus)
• Infectious myonecrosis (Infectious Myonecrosis Virus)
• Necrotizing hepatopancreatitis
• White tail disease (White Tail Virus)

Finfish

• Epizootic ulcerative syndrome (Aphanomyces invadans)
• Gyrodactylosis (Gyrodactylus salaris)
• Oncorhynchus masou virus disease (Oncorhynchus Masou Virus)
• Red sea bream iridoviral disease (Red Sea Bream Iridovirus)

Molluscs

• Abalone viral mortality (Abalone Herpes-like Virus)
• Disease caused by Bonamia exitiosa
• Disease caused by Bonamia roughleyi
• Brown ring disease (Vibrio tapetis)
• Disease caused by Marteilia sydneyi
• Withering syndrome of abalone (Xenohaliotis californiensis)

Annually notifiable diseases (for laboratories only)

These diseases are present in Canada and are a concern to some of Canada’s trading partners. Only laboratories are required to contact the CFIA regarding the suspicion or diagnosis of these diseases.

Finfish

• Bacterial kidney disease (Renibacterium salmoninarum)
• Enteric red mouth disease (Yersinia ruckeri)
• Furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida)
• Streptococcosis (Streptococcus iniae)

Molluscs

• QPX disease (Quahog parasite unknown)
• Seaside organism (Haplosporidium costale)

Importation of aquatic animal pathogens

The importation and use of aquatic animal pathogens is regulated by the Health of Animals Act and Regulations. Facilities working with animal or zoonotic pathogens must comply with the Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Animal Pathogens.