During the second week of April 2025, Dr. Jorge Cuellar-Anjel, professor and researcher of the Faculty of Maritime Engineering, Biological, Oceanic Sciences and Natural Resources (FIMCM) of ESPOL, represented Ecuador at an important meeting of the Ad hoc Group (AHG) of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE) in Paris, France.
The meeting, focused on the “susceptibility of crustaceans to notifiable diseases”, brought together a select group of five world experts in crustacean pathology from Australia, the United States, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and Ecuador. The session was moderated by Patricia Kelly, representative of WOAH.
The main objective was to analyze more than 200 recent scientific publications, which document more than 400 cases of susceptibility of crustaceans to the fungus Aphanomyces astaci, the causative agent of Crayfish Plague Disease. This fungus affects several species globally, so the group worked on revising and updating the criteria for inclusion in the WOAH Aquatic Code and Aquatic Manual.
As a result of this collaborative work, the HAG prepared a technical report with recommendations to WOAH on new crustacean species that should be recognized as susceptible to this disease. Currently, the document is in its final phase of review and approval by the members of the group.
This outstanding participation of Dr. Cuellar-Anjel reinforces the commitment of FIMCM and ESPOL to high impact scientific research and its contribution to animal and aquaculture health at the international level.
🔗 More information on FIMCM research projects: www.fimcm.espol.edu.ec
#FIMCM #ESPOL #WOAH #AquacultureResearch #AnimalHealth #ScienceOfExcellence.
