Principles of Genetics and Breeding

15.1.7.9. Pre-border quarantine and temporary holding

Risks to the importing country posed by “high risk” species can be reduced by conducting quarantine and disease testing of the stock/consignment or aquatic animals to be imported in the exporting country, or in a third country having appropriate quarantine capacity.

Pre-border quarantine holding of “lower risk” aquatic animals in the exporting country can also allow time for any diseases or infections to become evident.

Australia, for example, requires that freshwater ornamental fish be held for a period of 14 days in the approved exporting country.

In quarantine situations involving “high risk” species, the use of co-habitation experiments in which key native species are held in contact with the exotic species or effluent waters from the quarantine holding tank can be performed to investigate pathogen presence and the susceptibility of native species.

Placing quarantined animals under increased stress may also assist in the overt expression of subclinical infections.