About
the RAP
The ability to accurately diagnose previously unrecognised disease conditions
is dependent on familiarity with a wide range of pathogens or potential
pathogens infecting hosts from a variety of sources. The capacity to refer to
archive material, including histological slides and images, as well as complete
specimens of affected tissues and parasites, can further facilitate this. As a
result, scientists in the Pathology and Parasitology team at the Centre for
Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have developed an
exclusive database and specimen archive system - the Registry of Aquatic
Pathology (RAP).
The Registry of Aquatic Pathology (RAP) has been developed providing access to
a large number of pathological specimens accumulated from a variety of sources
around the world. It is a unique reference collection of pathological
conditions caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and
parasites as well as environmentally induced pathologies. With a database at its
core consisting of hundreds of accessions started in 1977, the RAP includes
examples of disease conditions and parasites from aquarium, cultured and wild
fish and shellfish from freshwater and marine environments around the world.
New accessions are continually being added.
The RAP is arranged into seven sections:
1)
Salmonids
2)
Cyprinids
3)
Other Freshwater
4)
Flatfish
5)
Other Marine
6)
Shellfish
7)
Parasites
Each database entry contains information relating to that accession, including
common and Latin species names, the disease/condition, aetiology, geographical
origin, diagnostic techniques applied and a detailed description of the
pathological features present. In addition, many accessions contain images of
gross pathological lesions as well as those taken at the microscopic level.
Scientists who wish to visit the laboratory to utilise
the RAP collection may do so by prior arrangement with the administrator. Please contact us for further
information.