The Oyster Disease Research Project mission is to develop and perform
laboratory assays for detection of aquatic animal pathogens, diseases, and toxic agents in
finfish and shellfish tissues and environmental samples, to promote and monitor the health of
aquatic animal resource populations. Two subprojects with complementary objectives
and distinct specialized tools currently comprise the Oyster Disease Research Project.
The Diagnostics & Histology Laboratory subproject conducts
microbiological and histopathological assays to provide regular and timely information on the disease status of
Maryland Chesapeake Bay oyster populations, feral and hatchery juvenile oyster production lots,
and out-of-state oysters proposed for introduction into Maryland waters. This subproject also
produces stained histological slides from tissue samples submitted by four NOAA (Federal) and
two MDDNR (State) intramural investigators conducting studies on crab, shrimp, clam, oyster,
finfish, sea turtle, and marine mammal health questions, as well as for various extramural
investigators from MDDNR and academic institutions whose efforts support State and Federal
government research initiatives.
The Immunoassay Development subproject adapts existing biomedical tools to basic research
into the biology and physiology of protozoan oyster and clam pathogens and their and invasion of
bivalve
hosts. Novel immunoassays are developed to expand and enhance available tools for sensitive
and specific detection, identification, and enumeration of oyster pathogens in both host tissues
and environmental waters. In vitro methods for protozoan pathogen propagation and
experimental manipulation are developed to facilitate diagnostic antibody reagent development,
DNA probes development,
and pathogen physiology and biochemistry studies.
Fish and Wildlife Health Program
A Fish Health Program was established at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
(COL) in the late 1980's to address fish health concerns in Maryland. The Marine
Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding Network was established in the fall of 1990. In
response to the increasing incidence of wildlife disease outbreaks, a wildlife
component was added to the existing program in 1999, creating the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources' Fish and Wildlife Health Program (FWHP). The
FWHP consists of a wildlife veterinarian, several highly trained fish and
wildlife biologists and enthusiastic volunteers.
The current program consists of four elements:
1) Response to morbidity and mortality events
2) Monitoring health of selected species
3) Research to address management questions
4) Outreach to the scientific community and public
Biologists respond to morbidity and mortality events such as fish kills,
marine
mammal and sea turtle strandings, and wildlife die-offs. Routine monitoring and
research are conducted to assess the health of a variety of species including:
striped bass, menhaden, marine mammals, deer,
sea turtles, black bears and
American crows. Data are disseminated through outreach materials and
presentations to the scientific community and the general public. FWHP staff
cooperate with other state, federal and private agencies to investigate common
research interests.
