Modelling applications for aquatic animal health

Prevention is essential in order to fight against disease propagation and their consequences, in particular because curative methods are less efficient in the open and marine environment. Modelling as a predictive tool is in this case particularly accurate. A bibliographic review of published models in aquatic health was made for the European project DIPNET. Quantitative risk assessment is made for some diseases of salmonids of north European countries, in order to protect transfers, to make risk-based surveillance, and to prevent from emerging diseases. Dynamic models have begun to be used for risk management, for salmonids and shellfish (USA) but are depending on their complexity, data- and time-consuming. Dynamic models are, however, necessary for evaluating the effects of measures predictively, with a complex system of causality. Classical rigorous epidemiologic studies are not numerous in aquatic health, however they are of particular interest for risk management of health problems. For aquatic animal health, there are few models that take into account spatial analysis, economic or ecologic consequences . This is surprising because of the strong well-known interactions between the host and environment in aquatic systems, and because of the interest for the risk manager. Modelling work needs multidisciplinary skills, which are sometimes difficult to share for aquatic productions.Original Abstract: La lutte contre la propagation des maladies infectieuses et les consequences de celles-ci de maniere preventive est particulierement importante en sante des especes aquacoles, du fait des difficultes d'eradication des maladies une fois qu'elles sont introduites, notamment en milieu marin. Par consequent, la modelisation en tant qu'outil predictif est particulierement justifiee. Une revue bibliographique a ete menee dans le cadre du projet europeen DIPNET en vue de dresser l'inventaire des modeles utilises dans le domaine de la sante des especes aquacoles. L'appreciation quantitative des risques commence a se developper pour certaines maladies des salmonides d'Europe du nord, visant a garantir les transferts, aider les programmes, surveiller et prevenir l'apparition de maladies emergentes. Les modeles dynamiques de maladies commencent a etre utilises pour la gestion du risque, pour les salmonides et pour les coquillages (USA) mais sont, suivant leur complexite, couteux en donnees et en temps d'elaboration. Les modeles dynamiques sont indispensables cependant,