2. • SPF are designated to be free from specified
pathogens. They have been raised in bio secure
facilities and their health status is monitored on
an ongoing basis using sensitive diagnostic
methods.
• The SPF status simply provides an assurance to
the buyer that the stock is not infected with the
specified pathogens at the time of purchase. The
SPF status is lost when animals are removed from
biosecure facilities
3. • SPF including animals are not disease free nor
are they disease resistant. They may well carry
other pathogens for which their health status
has not been assessed.
• SPF animals are extremely useful for basic and
applied science research especially to
immunological studies and vaccine trials since
the listed interfering pathogens can be ruled
out.
4. • SPF are special stock of animals that are kept
in specific pathogen free facilities under
rigorous monitoring system, which are
subjected to sensitive and accurate diagnostic
methods. The animals are repeatedly bred
under controlled conditions to maintain their
freedom from specific pathogens and the SPF
designation itself is tested on a regular basis
over an extended period of time.
5. • The SPF are not innately resistant to the
specified pathogens or infections, although
they can possibly be developed as specific
pathogen resistant (SPR) species.
6. SPF for which pathogens
• The specific list of pathogens the SPF stock are
free from varies between suppliers.
principally, those pathogens must be a
significant threat to the industry and possibly
to international trade. All the OIE listed
pathogens are normally considered. The
pathogens affecting any life cycle stage of
animal should be included.
7. • These pathogens must be detectable with
reliable diagnostic methods that can evaluate
the animal health status. Moreover, they must
be physically excluded from the animal culture
facility.
8. What are the importance
• SPF animals are extremely useful for basic and applied
science research especially to immunological studies
and vaccine trials since the listed interfering pathogens
can be ruled out.
• SPF animals offer an importance to a country
introducing a species for the first time as it offers some
assurance that the imported animals will not introduce
the listed pathogens to native species. However, SPF
stocks may harbor other (non‐specified) pathogens,
and this should be taken into an account as it can pose
a risk when the animals are under stress.
9. SPR
• Specific pathogen resistant
• Specific pathogen resistant (SPR) it refers to
resistant to infection by a specific pathogen.
• It describes a genetic trait of a species that
confers some resistance against one specific
pathogen.
• SPR are usually result from a specific
breeding programme designed to increase
resistance to a particular virus.
10. Importance
• Ready, year-round availability of disease-free
broodstock.
• Better adaptability of domesticated shrimp to
captive environments, leading to reduced
stress and better mating and reproductive
success.
11. Quarantine methods and its
importance
• Quarantine means keeping a group of aquatic
animals in a separate place without direct or
indirect contact with other aquatic animals,
which is performed for monitoring for a
certain period of time and, if necessary,
testing and treating fish or disinfecting the
effluent.
12. • Quarantine as per OIE is a process of
maintaining a group of aquatic animals in
isolation with no direct or indirect contact
with other aquatic animals, in order to
undergo observation for a specified length of
time and, if appropriate, testing and
treatment, including proper treatment of the
effluent waters (OIE).
13. • Generally, a minimum period of quarantine,
termed as quarantine period as specified in an
aquatic animal import health standard or
other legally binding document prepared by a
state or nation is mandatory for any new stock
arriving in a location before release of the
same to the farm or ponds allowing it to mix
with the existing stock/environment.
14. • Quarantine or quarantine measures are
enforced to reduce or minimize the risk of
introducing pathogens into the territory of the
importing country or new location and their
transmission to susceptible species.
15. Imortance/ prevent
• Adequate physical infrastructure appropriate
to the level of containment required in terms
of holding tanks, secure intake and discharge
of water, disinfection measures, sanitation and
prevention of movement of articles, material
and personnel.
• Established operating protocols and adequate
facilities for carrying out traceability, diagnosis
of pathogens, containment measures etc.
