Marteilioides Chungmuensis: agente causante de la enfermedad de los parásitos de los huevos de las ostras del pacífico (Gigas del Crassostrea) debe ser listado por la OIE Está ahora confinado a Japón y Korea. Causa significantes pérdidas de condición, perdida de fecundidad (>40%) y el producto se torna poco comerciable. Por lo tanto reúne los criterios para el listado de la OIE. Presenta un riesgo significativo para las ostras del pacífico y posiblemente para otras especies de Chile a través de América Central y de Canadá y la producción de ostras del pacífico de Estados Unidos.

La enfermedad viral del Olmo, no debe ser considerada para el listado de la OIE en este momento. Hay muy poca evidencia que la pérdidas de Olmos son causadas por un virus. Hay muy poca evidencia que es muy equívoca. Probablemente las pérdidas son un síndrome que tiene muchas causas, muchas de las cuales pueden ser ambientales. Más información es necesaria antes de que tal agente de la enfermedad pueda ser confirmado y considerado para ser listado por la OIE.

El parásito de sabellid del olmo no debe ser considerado para el listado de la OIE porque está ahora muy difundido mundialmente, debido a las actividades de la acuacultura, incluyendo la distribución en Sud Africa, Norte y Sud América.

El Grupo Ad hoc para las Américas apoya fuertemente el actual listado de olseni Perkinsus del olmo (previamente también considerado como Perkinsus atlanticus) porque este parásito no ocurre en las Américas.

Marteilioides Chungmuensis causative agent of egg parasite disease of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea Gigas) should be listed by OIE. It is now confined to Japan and Korea. H causes significant loss of condition, loss of fecundity (>40%) and the product is unmarketable. H therefore meets OIE listing criteria. H presents a significant risk to Pacific oysters and possible other species from Chile through Central America and to Canada and United Status production of the Pacific oyster.

Abalone viral disease, should not be considered for listing by OIE at this time. There is very limited evidence that abalone losses are caused by a virus. There is only few evidence which is very equivocal. Most likely the losses are a syndrome that has many causes, most of which may be environmental. More information is needed before such a disease agent can be confirmed and considered for OIE listing.

The sabellid parasite of abalone should not be considered for OIE listing because it is very widespread throughout the World now, due to aquaculture activities, including distribution in South Africa, North and South America.

The Group Ad hoc for the Americas strongly supports the current listing of Perkinsus olseni (previously also considered Perkinsus atlanticus) because this parasite does not occur in Americas

Canadian Comments for the OIE Regional Commission of the America's Ad hoc Working Group on Aquatic Animal Health

Jack Taylor and Brian Jamieson
National Aquatic Animal Health Program, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario

Sharon McGladdery
National Aquatic Animal Health Science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

Cyr Couturier
Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, Ottawa, Ontario

Canada greatly appreciates the support of the Regional Commission of the America's (RCA) initiative to enhance technical exchange between member countries with aquatic animal production industries with export interests. Development of consistent, transparent and harmonized implementation of the OIE standards outlined in the Aquatic Animal Health Code and Manual of Diagnostic Tests is very timely, as many countries, including Canada, are in the process of enhancing their official aquatic animal programs.

Canada particularly appreciated the outstanding organisation and hospitality provided by the Ministry of Agriculture for Panama and, in particular, by Dr. Carmen Sousa, for the inaugural meeting of the Working Group in Panama City.

The emphasis on explaining the role of OIE standards in development of national animal disease control programs and the focus on recent advances made by the Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission (AAHSC) was very valuable. This was particularly important for countries starting to address aquatic animal health management as well as for industry who, traditionally, have had limited direct exposure to OIE activities - particularly the aquaculture and seafood production sectors. Canada notes the great effort put into this approach by Drs. Barcos (Regional Representative for the Americas) and Dr. Enriquez (AAHSC).

The action items and sub-groups generated from the two day discussions, along with solid timelines for these activities, provide a realistic approach for generating collaborative and achievable advances in regional aquatic animal health management program development. This will form a strong foundation for building programs that can address rapidly evolving standards that reflect the rapid globalization and diversification of aquatic animal trade and disease issues - at both a technical and policy level.

As Canada builds its own new program on veterinary authority and aquatic animal science infrastructures, it is reassuring to know that the challenges faced in doing this are shared by other countries of the America's. Under the OIE RCA ad hoc working group initiative, these shared experiences should help accelerate the implementation process throughout the region, as well as proactively address potential problems before they become entrenched in inflexible policy or regulation.

Canada notes its agreed upon responsibility to lead coordination of the Laboratory Infrastructure and Training Opportunities sub-group and will provide a list of members and draft Terms of Reference and Action Items for the team by January 30 th , 2006.