Understanding emerging and remerging diseases in Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) aquaculture through integrated diagnostic approaches

Supervisor: Prof. Marco Galeotti
Co-supervisor: Prof.ssa Donatella Volpatti

The field of animal disease investigations has been significantly advanced by novel techniques, greatly enhancing the ability of researchers and veterinarians to diagnose, monitor, and manage diseases in animal populations. These techniques span various areas, including histology and immunohistochemistry, genomics, immunology, and bioinformatics. However, it is important to acknowledge that despite these recent advancements, research on fish pathology through integrated approaches, which combine standard techniques with novel diagnostic tools, is still in its early stages. Examples of such innovative diagnostics that can integrate standard pathology approaches include Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Whole-Genome Sequencing, proteomics and bioinformatics. These novel techniques rapidly advance our understanding of fish diseases, their causes, and the interactions between hosts and pathogens. By enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses, improved surveillance, and the development of targeted treatment strategies, these techniques contribute to the overall management and conservation of fish populations in aquaculture and natural environments. However, further research and advancements are necessary to fully exploit the potential of integrated approaches in fish disease investigations. In addition to the novel tools mentioned above, standard molecular diagnostics such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and its variants (e.g., qPCR, RT-PCR, ddPCR), as well as immunohistochemistry and situ hybridization methods, have become fundamental in detecting and identifying fish pathogens. These techniques allow for the determination of tissue tropism, the localization of infection sites, and the characterization of the host immune response at the cellular level. This is particularly relevant for emerging and re-emerging diseases involving uncultivable organisms. Trout Granulomatous Virus (TGV) and Red Mark Syndrome (RMS) are typical examples of such conditions, where fulfilling Koch's postulates proves challenging. Expected outcomes of the Ph.D. will be as follows:

• Development of new tools for fish disease diagnostics, including novel PCR techniques, proteomics and biomarker analysis and immunohistochemistry.
• Identification and characterization of potential co-factors in infective diseases
• Insights into the pathogenesis of RMS and TGV and the immune response mechanisms involved.
• Advance knowledge outputs on emerging and remerging diseases in freshwater fish species.

Biography and Contacts

Born in 1990 in Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh. Graduated from Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh in 2014. Obtained first M.Sc. in Fish Health Management from Sylhet Agricultural University in 2016.

A second M.Sc. obtained in 2023 from Ghent University, Belgium entitled International Master of Science in Health Management in Aquaculture funded by Erasmus Mundus.

Working as a faculty in the Department of Fish Health Management at Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh since 2018. Started Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology (Veterinary Pathology) in the Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A), University of Udine, Italy from January 2024. Contact details:

Email: sumon.tofaelahmed@spes.uniud.it, tofael.fhm@sau.ac.bd

Mobile: +39 350 961 2952