Current: Associate Professor, School of Aquaculture; 2001- current Aquafin CRC Health Program Leader, 2001 - 2006 Senior Lecturer, School of Aquaculture, University of Tasmania; 1991 - 2001 Lecturer, School of Aquaculture, University of Tasmania
Research Interests
My area of research is aquatic animal health, specifically finfish; with research projects involving species in the aquaculture and wild harvest industry. My research background is aquatic toxicology (in particular biological significance of chemical residues in fish) and fish biology. My research focuses on health of farmed fish, in particular interactions between host, pathogen and environment. Understanding these relationships is important for health management, improving aquaculture production and ensuring sustainable development. I am interested in sustainable fish culture through disease control and investigation of fish mortalities.
Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD)
AGD occurs in farmed fish species worldwide, causing gill epithelial hyperplasia, lamellar fusion and inflammatory changes in gills. AGD increases fish production costs associated with treatment and fish losses. Current research include immune response (Dr Richard Morrison, PhD students Benita Vincent and Neil Young), molecular markers for selective breeding (PhD student James Wynne, collaboration with CSIRO), performance and genetic characterization of salmon in selective breeding programmes (PhD student Richard Taylor, collaboration with CSIRO), factors affecting AGD challenge (Dr Phil Crosbie), Neoparamoeba spp. taxonomy (PhD student Neil Young, Dr Richard Morrison, Dr Phil Crosbie).
Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) Health
We have described a new species of copepod that parasitises SBT skin and recorded another skin copepod for the first time from SBT. We have identified all common SBT parasites and shown that the platyhelminths are the same species as those infecting other tuna species. We have a baseline for SBT microbiology, identifying bacteria associated with SBT as well as investigating effects of time post-mortem on changes in microbial populations. Current research focuses on epidemiology of blood fluke Cardicola forsteri (PhD student Hamish Aiken), residues in SBT (PhD student David Padula) and interactions between stress, health and performance of SBT (PhD student Daryl Evans).
Striped Trumpeter Health
Striped trumpeter immune response is being investigated (PhD student Jen Covello, Dr Richard Morrison, Dr Stephen Battaglene). Two new species of copepod parasites from striped trumpeter held in tanks, pathology, epidemiology of the infection and treatment against the parasites are being investigated (PhD student Melanie Andrews, Dr Stephen Battaglene, Dr Jenny Cobcroft).
Bacterial Diseases
Vibriosis, one of the most prevalent causes of marine aquatic animal disease and affects a diversity of farmed aquatic species including finfish, crustacea and shellfish. This disease occurs in temperate and tropical environments. No single genus or species is associated with Vibriosis; there is a gap between practical identification of Vibrios and taxonomic framework of the family (PhD student Melissa Higgins, collaboration with DPIW). Epitheliocystis affects the gills and skin of than 50 freshwater and marine species, it is caused by intracellular Gram negative bacteria. Mortalities are associated with epitheliocystis in cultured fish. Four epitheliocystis agents from different fish species, characterised using molecular analysis, belong to the order Chlamydiales, in a lineage separate from Chlamydiaceae, they are distinct organisms - confirming high diversity and host-specificity of the pathogen. To date the pathogen has not been cultured, making experimental studies difficult. High stocking densities, nutrients, season, temperature and fish age are potential risk factors.
UnitsSelected Publications:- Morrison R.N., Cooper G.A., Koop B.F., Rise M.L., Bridle A.R., Adams M.B., Nowak B.F., 2006, 'Transcriptome profiling of the gills of amoebic gill disease (AGD)-affected Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) - A role for the tumor suppressor protein p53 in AGD-pathogenesis?', Physiological Genomics, 26, pgs. 15-34
- Meijer, A., Roholl, P.J.M., Ossewaarde, J.M., Jones, B., Nowak, B.F., 2006, 'Molecular evidence for association of Chlamydiales bacteria with epitheliocystis in leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques), silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) and barramundi (Lates calcarifer). ', Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72, pgs. 284 - 290
- Bridle, A., Morrison, R., Cupit Cunningham, P.M., Nowak, B. , 2006, 'Quantitation of immune response gene expression and cellular localisation of interleukin-1β mRNA in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., affected by amoebic gill disease (AGD).', Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 114, pgs. 121-134
- Nowak, B.N., La Patra, S., 2006, 'Epitheliocystis in teleost fish - a review.', Journal of Fish Diseases, 29, pgs. 573-588
- Nowak, B.F., Dawson, D., Basson, L., Deveney, M., Powell M.D. , 200, 'Gill histopathology of wild marine fish in Tasmania – potential interactions with gill health of cultured Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.', Journal of Fish Diseases, 27, pgs. 709-717
Full Publication List Current and Supervised Project/s:
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