Multiple benefits from free testing of farmed fish

The National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute (NFVRAI) is the assigned risk assessment institution in Lithuania providing scientific and technical assistance in the field of food safety and veterinary matters. It also functions as the national reference laboratory carrying out laboratory tests in the areas of food and feed safety, quality, and animal health (including aquatic animals). NFRVAI is a subordinate body of the State Food and Veterinary Service of the Republic of Lithuania.

Fish is a valuable source of nutrition and an essential component of the human diet. However, it is also prone to various risks and contaminants that pose potential health hazards. e NFVRAI plays a crucial role in assessing these risks. One of the primary responsibilities of the NFVRAI is conducting risk assessments related to sh health and shery products’ safety. is includes evaluating potential hazards such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc. pathogens in live sh and microbial contamination, chemical residues, and heavy metal concentrations in shery products. It also covers identi cation of sh species by DNA barcoding. By employing state-of-the-art laboratory techniques and scienti c methodologies, the institute identi es and quanti es these risks.

Specialised laboratories test for a wide range of sh health in uencing factors

e veterinary risk assessment unit performs risk assessment on animal health, animal welfare, animal products, animal nutrition and feed safety. It also stores, organizes, analyses data and scienti c information, and provides scienti c and technical assistance to ensure feed safety, animal health, and animal welfare. Under sh health the institute’s laboratories look for viruses, bacteria, and other diseases, as well as parasites that can a ect the main sh species in the country. Fish can be treated either as animals or as food. If the samples come from the market the target is often chemical residues or microbiological contamination, while if the samples are from the farms the tests are intended to uncover parasites or bacterial or viral infections. Five units—bacteriology, serology, virology, anatomy and histology, molecular biology and GMO—are involved in diagnosing infectious animal diseases. ese units have fully equipped laboratories capable of performing a variety of sophisticated tests. e NFVRAI thus plays a signi cant role in monitoring and surveillance of sh-related risks. is enables the institute to monitor compliance with regulations, detect potential hazards, and helps the State and Food Veterinary Service to take appropriate actions to prevent the distribution of unsafe sh products. By actively engaging in surveillance activities, the NFVRAI acts as a safeguard against potential foodborne illnesses and protects the health of consumers.

Project for laboratory equipment and free testing supported by EMFF

e institute is currently implementing a project (Capacity building in aquaculture animal health and welfare) approved by the Ministry of Agriculture under which primarily sh farmers, and also sh enthusiasts who maintain a pond of sh for recreational purposes, can bring samples to the laboratory to be tested without having to pay for the tests. e project is part of an e ort to build capacity and competencies within sh health and welfare and is funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries

Fund 2014-2020 (EMFF). Fish welfare is a new area of focus for the EU Member States and a lot of e orts are going into this eld, says Darius Nienius, deputy director of NFVRAI. e project will contribute to the development of an aquaculture sector that is competitive, resilient, and sustainable and that promotes animal and human welfare, health, and safety. e project ticks several buttons in relation to the European Commission’s 2021 strategic guidelines for aquaculture including the need to reduce prescriptions of veterinary medicines and pharmaceuticals such as antimicrobial and antiparasitic substances through prevention (rather than cure) of infections and infestations. It also addresses the lack of codes of good practice for the early detection, prevention and control of aquatic diseases not listed in relevant EU legislation and the need for more consistent and thorough investigation of aquatic diseases. In term of sh health and welfare the project will contribute to the dissemination and exchange of information and best practices regarding veterinary diseases in aquaculture and the appropriate use of veterinary medicines.

Project to improve epidemiological understanding of aquaculture sector

e project will facilitate an improvement in the epidemiological status on the sh farms and in the country as a whole, says Egidijus Pumputis, the director of NFVRAI. e message about the free-of-charge testing is disseminated through the institute’s website and also through the state Food and Veterinary Service’s network of o ces around the country. An earlier part of the project completed in 2022 involved the purchase, installation, and validation of the equipment necessary to perform the tests. is enhanced the institute’s diagnostic capabilities by a factor of 3 and also signi cantly increased the scope of tests performed and reduced the time to obtain results. In 2023 tests were carried out on sh and water samples taken from Lithuanian aquaculture farms for pathogens and for physical and biochemical anomalies. In addition, the presence of chemical residues was also tested for. After the testing and diagnosis, the medicines and measures needed to treat the disease and prevent recurrences are covered by the farmers. e most common problems a ecting carps which remains the main farmed species in Lithuania (62 of total farmed and sold aquaculture production in 2022) are not only parasites and bacteria. For example, infections with carp edema virus cause serious problems for farmers. e role of NFVRAI in such a case is to test and con rm or deny the presence of the disease.

Testing is for self-monitoring only and results are kept con dential

When testing samples, diagnosing, and recommending treatment the laboratory offers complete confidentiality. If the farmer knows that testing and treatment can be done discreetly thereby protecting their commercial interests, they are more likely to bring the fish to the laboratory to be tested when a disease is suspected. The incidence of disease is not necessarily a reflection of poor farm management as diseases can be carried by birds or other natural vectors over which the farmer has no control. With the dissemination of information about the programme and the benefits it offers the institute has been getting calls from farmers seeking help. The programme also enables monitoring the farms more closely; rather than waiting until a disease is suspected, fish and water samples can be tested, say in the spring when pathogens typically increase, to try and prevent an outbreak. The freeof charge testing service will be offered for five years from 2023.

Climate change has in uenced patterns of disease on Lithuanian sh farms, says Mr Pumputis. But, in general, the impacts on sh farmers are less in this part of the world than in others. Good quality water, for example, is still available to farm sh. Diseases that a ect sh calls for specialised knowledge that many veterinarians do not have. ey are familiar with viral diseases that a ect sh, but for other kinds of diseases the institute is where the expertise lies. For disease prevention and management strategies farmers approach the institute for advice. Even for the institute identifying a disease is not straightforward as there could be di erent reasons behind sh falling ill. e problem may be in the water or may be caused by some other factor. In this regard the existence of data plays an important role. With its new equipment and the tests that it is carrying out the institute is gathering information that will help in diagnosis and treatment of sh diseases. Using the information we receive from the farmers we are creating an epidemiological picture that will aid us in the future, Mr Pumputis states. To be able to help the aquaculture sector by enhancing public capacities and knowledge in this area was the main idea behind this project, says Loreta Brazinskaite from the Fisheries Department in the Ministry of Agriculture. Treating sh diseases is not always easy as the range of drugs that can be used is limited. Antibiotics against sh diseases are not always available so alternatives have to be found. e institute with its connections to other laboratories and research institutes in other countries is far better suited to nding these alternatives than sh farmers. Vaccination is not practiced in Lithuania at all, partly because of the expense, but also because there are legislative barriers. In addition, there may be negative reactions from the market, which producers do not want to risk. rough its risk assessment, testing, surveillance, regulatory, and communication activities, the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute in Lithuania works to mitigate risks associated with sh production, processing, and consumption.

The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) system is used for rapid, sensitive, and accurate determination of a wide variety of chemical organic compounds such as pharmaceuticals, hormones, steroids, feed additives, etc. in sh and shery products (as well as in all other products of animal origin). It should be noted that this system detects minimal amounts or only traces of already known chemical substances, and also identi es unknown chemical compounds.

By collaborating with industry professionals and governmental authorities, the NFVRAI helps establish and enforce standards that protect consumers and support the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry in Lithuania.

National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute (NFVRAI)

J. Kairiūkščio g. 10, LT-08409, Vilnius

Tel.: +370 52 78 0470 info@nmvrvi.lt https://nmvrvi.lt

Director: Egidijus Pumputis

Deputy director: Darius Nienius

Key activities: Laboratory analysis, risk assessment, scientific activities

Important partners: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), food safety authorities in Germany, France, Finland, Latvia, and other countries

Employees: 288 including veterinarians, chemical engineers, biologists, and microbiologists

Project (Capacity building in aquaculture animal health and welfare) value: EUR1.6m of which 96% was for laboratory equipment

EMFF support: 100%