Molecular Tools for Monitoring Infectious Diseases in Aquaculture Species

The rapid detection and identification of pathogens in infected fish, both clinically and subclinically, and in environmental samples is essential for effective health management in aquaculture. Traditional diagnostic techniques have been very useful for the identification of infectious agents in cultured fish and shellfish; however, they are limited in their speed and sensitivity. For this reason, the application of molecular biology techniques in this field has offered a wide range of possibilities in terms of decreased time required for diagnosis, and increased specificity, sensitivity and quantification of the infectious agent. This review summarises the most relevant molecular tools which have been used in aquaculture species. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________