My Scientific Career

PERSONAL DETAILS:

            NAME:                                    (Dr) Brett Francis Edgerton (BSc, PhD)

EDUCATION:

James Cook University of North Queensland1994-1996

Doctor of Philosophy – Thesis title: Viruses of Freshwater Crayfish (PhD conferred 19 April 1997)

The results of my PhD studies were presented in 8 peer reviewed papers in internationally recognised journals.

James Cook University of North Queensland1992-1993

MSc Research – converted to PhD in December 1993

James Cook University of North Queensland1991-1992

MSc (Qualifying)

James Cook University of North Queensland1987-1990

BSc majoring in Marine Biology and Zoology.

Final year subjects: Aquatic Pathobiology, Crustacean Biology, Aquaculture, Freshwater Ecology, Benthic Ecology, Tropical Ichthyology, Fisheries Science, Population Biology and Evolution, Coral Reef Ecology.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

Retired September 10 2004

Honorary Research ConsultantJan 17 2003-Sept 10 2004

At the centre for Marine Studies, University of Queensland.

Aquatic Animal Health SpecialistApr 5 2004-Jul 5 2004

At Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand. Work involved liaising with aquatic animal health specialists, and government and intergovernmental personnel, and managing a number of projects including: preparation of quarterly aquatic animal disease reports for the Asia-Pacific, development of disease cards for emerging diseases, preparations for training workshops, and preparation of an import risk analysis manual.

Research FellowFeb 1 2002-Jan 31 2003

I was awarded a Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany, to work at the Institute of Zoology, Fish Biology and Fish Diseases in Munich for one year. Work involved preliminary health surveys on European freshwater crayfish populations (in France, Germany, Sweden and Finland).

Research FellowFeb 1 2001-Jan 31 2002

I was awarded a Research Fellowship from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientique, France, to work with Dr JR Bonami at Montpellier France for one year. Work involved preliminary studies on viral infections in European freshwater crayfish (minor health surveys and susceptibility to white spot virus (WSV)).

Acquired Skills: WSV transmission and histopathology, purification of crustacean viruses, characterisation of viruses via molecular virology techniques, histopathology of native European crayfish species.       

Quarantine Policy Officer/Senior Professional OfficerSep 28 1998-19 Jan 2001

At Animal Biosecurity Policy, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Australia, Canberra. Management of import risk analyses on non-viable prawns, non-viable freshwater crayfish and non-viable bivalve molluscs, and general involvement with matters related to aquatic animal quarantine and disease. Represented AQIS in the national and international arena in negotiations with domestic and overseas stakeholders such as quarantine and fisheries agencies.

Acquired skills: Project management, import risk analysis, risk assessment, analysis of scientific literature on crustacean and mollusc disease, government report writing, negotiation skills.

Temporary Research ScientistDec 9 1996-July 19 1998

At the Oonoonba Veterinary Laboratory, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, working with Dr Ian Anderson on the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation funded project “The Diagnosis and Prevention of Mid-crop Mortality Syndrome of Pond Reared Black Tiger Prawns (Penaeus monodon)”.

Acquired Skills: Prawn histopathology, purification of prawn viruses, transmission trials with prawn viruses, and use of genetic probes for diagnosis and study of viral infections in prawns.

Postgraduate Research ScholarshipJan 1 1994-Oct 30 1996

At Department of Biomedical and Tropical Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, on Australian Research Council large project “Characterisation of Cherax baculovirus and production of virus-free stocks”.

Acquired Skills: Crayfish histopathology, transmission electron microscopy, crayfish husbandry, viral transmission techniques, density gradient centrifugation for viral purification. Some experience at SDS-PAGE, DNA extraction, agarose gel electrophoresis, cell culture.

Visiting ScientistApr 30 1995-Jul 30 1995

At University of Kuopio, Finland, on Bilateral Science and Technology Research Collaboration Program (Australia) and Centre for International Mobility (Finland) funded project “A health survey of Astacus astacus in Finland”.

Acquired Skills: Histopathology of Astacus astacus and electron microscopy of a new virus, Astacus astacus bacilliform virus. I taught crayfish histopathology at the Nordic Academy for Advanced Study funded “Course on Disease and Immune Defence in Crustaceans” on May 8-16 1995 at Konnevesi and Jyväskylä, Finland.

CONSULTANCIES:

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – AustraliaNov 2001-May 2003

Laboratory trials to determine the susceptibility of Australian freshwater crayfish species to white spot virus.

Australian Quarantine and Inpection ServiceJul 6 1997-Jan 6 1998

Principal consultant in the preparation of an Import Risk Assessment for freshwater crayfish products.

Open Training and Education NetworkDec 1996-Jan 1997

Contract writer for course entitled “Health Management of Native Freshwater Crayfish”

COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED:

Research Fellow: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, GermanyFeb 1 2002-Jan 31 2003

Project Title: Studies on viruses in European freshwater crayfish.

Research Fellow: Centre National de la Recherche Scientique, FranceFeb 1 2001-Jan 31 2002

Project Title: Characterisation and taxonomy of bacilliform viruses of crustaceans.

Australian Research Council Large Grant ($90 000)1993-1996

Project Title: Characterisation of Cherax baculovirus and production of virus-free stocks.

I developed the research plan and wrote the proposal, with the named investigator, and I carried out the research and prepared the biannual progress reports.

BSTRCP (Australia – $4850) and CIMO (Finland – $5000)1995

Project Title: A health survey of Astacus astacus in Finland.

REFEREE AND EXAMINER ROLES:

In 2002 and 2004 I was an Expert Assessor of International Standing for the Australian Research Council. I have examined 1 Master of Science thesis, and I have reviewed scientific papers for publication in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, Journal of Fish Diseases, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, Aquaculture, Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists, Aquaculture Research, Bulletin Francais de la Peche et de la Pisciculture, and Aquatic Living Resources.

RELEVANT TRAINING COURSES OR WORKSHOPS:

Training Workshop on Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture for Sustainable Development: Wuxi City, China15 Oct-10 Nov 2000

AFFILIATION WITH PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND SOCIETIES:

Member of the International Association of Astacology1991-2004
Member of the Crayfish Farmers Association of Queensland1992-99, 2003-04
Member of the World Aquaculture Society1996-2004
Member of the Asian Fisheries Society1996-2004

ORAL PRESENTATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES:

Building Capacity to Combat Impacts of Aquatic Invasive Alien Species and Associated Trans-boundary Pathogens in ASEAN Countries, Penang, Malyasia, Jul 12-16, 2004 – “Trans-boundary aquatic animal pathogens in ASEAN and their management” (CV Mohan and BF Edgerton)

Building Capacity to Combat Impacts of Aquatic Invasive Alien Species and Associated Trans-boundary Pathogens in ASEAN Countries, Penang, Malyasia, Jul 12-16, 2004 – “Key aquatic animal pathogens of concern: freshwater crustaceans” (BF Edgerton and CV Mohan)

Keynote Presentation – Craynet Meeting: European native crayfish with a special focus on Astacus astacus: linking socioeconomics and conservation – “Crayfish Pathology in Europe: A perspective on the past, present and future”

Annual Meeting of the European Community Fish Disease Reference Laboratories, September 2002 – “Exotic Pathogens of Potential Threat to European Freshwater Crayfish”

International Association of Astacology, Queretaro, Mexico, August 2002 – “Pathology of Redclaw, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens)”

International Association of Astacology, Queretaro, Mexico, August 2002 – “Susceptibility of the native European crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes to white spot syndrome virus: information for assessment of the likely consequences if the virus were introduction into central European freshwaters”

Knowledge-based Management of European Native Crayfishes 2001 – “Exotic Pathogens of Potential Threat to European Freshwater Crayfish”

Diseases in Asian Aquaculture IV, Cebu, Philippines, November 1999 – “Viral Infections in Australian Freshwater Crayfish”

World Aquaculture ’99, Sydney, April 1999 – “Diseases of the Redclaw Crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus”

Third International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health, Baltimore, USA, August 1998 – “A Review of Freshwater Crayfish Viruses”

International Association of Astacology, Augsburg, Germany, August 1998 – “A Review of Freshwater Crayfish Viruses”

International Association of Astacology, Adelaide, April 1994 – “A Health Survey of Farmed Redclaw, Cherax quadricarinatus in Tropical Australia”

List of Publications

Books or book chapters

1.       Arthur JR, Bondad-Reantaso MG, Baldock FC, Rodgers CJ, Edgerton BF (2004) Manual on risk analysis for the safe movement of aquatic animals (FWG/01/2001). APEC/DoF/NACA/FAO, 52p.

2.       Evans L, Edgerton BF (2002) Pathogens, parasites and commensals. In: Biology of Freshwater Crayfish (ed. DM Holdich), Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp. 377-438

Refereed papers

3.       Shi Z, Wang H-L, Zhang J, Xie Y, Li L, Chen X, Edgerton BF, Bonami JR (2005) Response of crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, haemocytes infected by white spot syndrome virus. Journal of fish diseases 28(3): 151-156

4.       Edgerton BF, Henttonen P, Jussila J, Mannonen A, Paasonen P, Taugbol T, Edsman L, Souty-Grosset C (2004) Better understanding the causes of disease in European freshwater crayfish. Conservation Biology, in press

5.       Edgerton BF, Jussila J (2004) Keynote Presentation and Roundtable Discussion: Crayfish pathology in Europe: past, present and a programme for the future. Bulletin Francais de la Peche et de la Pisciculture, in press

6.       Edgerton BF (2004) Susceptibility of the Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor albidus, to white spot virus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, in press

7.       Edgerton BF (2004) Pathology of redclaw, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens). Freshwater Crayfish 14, in press

8.       Edgerton BF (2004) Studies on the susceptibility of the European white-clawed freshwater crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet), to white spot virus for analysis of the likelihood of introduction and impact on European freshwater crayfish populations. Freshwater Crayfish 14, in press

9.       Edgerton BF (2003) Further studies reveal that Austropotamobius pallipes bacilliform virus (ApBV) is common in populations of native freshwater crayfish in south-eastern France. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists 23(1): 7-12

10.       Edgerton BF (2002) A review of international biosecurity policy development in relation to movements of freshwater crayfish. Bulletin Francais de la Peche et de la Pisciculture 367(4): 805-812

11.   Edgerton BF (2002) Hazard analysis of exotic pathogens of potential threat to European freshwater crayfish. Bulletin Francais de la Peche et de la Pisciculture 367(4): 813-822

12.   Edgerton BF (2002) Viral infections in Australian freshwater crayfish. In: Diseases in Asian Aquaculture IV, C R Lavilla-Pitogo and ER Cruz-Lacierda (eds), Fish Health Section, Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, pp 173-184

13.   Edgerton BF, Watt H, Becheras J-M, Bonami J-R (2002) An intranuclear bacilliform virus associated with near extirpation of Austropotamobius pallipes from the Nant watershed in Ardéche, France. Journal of Fish Diseases 25: 523-531

14.   Edgerton BF, Evans LH, Stephens FJ, Overstreet RM (2002) Review of freshwater crayfish diseases and commensal organisms. Aquaculture. Annual Review of Fish Diseases 206: 57-135

15.   Edgerton BF (2000) A compendium of idiopathic lesions observed in redclaw freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens). Journal of Fish Diseases 23(2): 103-114

16.   Edgerton BF, Webb R, Anderson IG, Kulpa EC (2000) Description of a presumptive hepatopancreatic reovirus and a putative gill parvovirus in the freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 41(2): 83-90

17.   Edgerton BF (1999) A review of freshwater crayfish viruses. Freshwater Crayfish 12: 261-278

18.   Edgerton BF, Owens L (1999) Histopathological surveys of the redclaw freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus in Australia. Aquaculture 180: 23-40

19.   Edgerton BF, Prior HC (1999) Description of a hepatopancreatic rickettsia-like organism in the redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 36: 77-80

20.   Paasonen, P., Edgerton, B.F., Tapiovaara, H., Halonen, T. and Henttonen, P. (1999) Freshwater crayfish virus research in Finland: state of the art. In: Freshwater Crayfish, Research, Management, (Taugbøl, T., Ed.) pp. 177-187. Ko Pinor, Oslo.

21.   Edgerton BF, Owens L (1997) Age at first infection of Cherax quadricarinatus by Cherax quadricarinatus bacilliform virus and Cherax Giardiavirus-like virus, and production of putative virus-free crayfish. Aquaculture 152: 1-12

22.   Edgerton BF, Webb R, Wingfield M (1997) A systemic parvo-like virus in Cherax destructor. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 29: 73-78

23.   Owens L, Edgerton BF (1997) A review of recent information on diseases of freshwater crayfish. In Diseases in Asian Aquaculture III, TW Flegel and IH MacRae (eds), Fish Health Section, Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, pp 219-223

24.   Edgerton BF (1996) A new bacilliform virus in Australian Cherax destructor (Decapoda: Parastacidae) with notes on Cherax quadricarinatus bacilliform virus (=Cherax baculovirus). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms  27: 43-52

25.   Edgerton BF, O’Donoghue P, Wingfield M, Owens L (1996) Systemic infection of freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus by hymenostome ciliates of the Tetrahymena pyriformis complex. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 27: 123-129

26.   Edgerton BF, Paasonen P, Henttonen P, Owens L (1996) Description of a bacilliform virus from the freshwater crayfish, Astacus astacus. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 68: 187-190

27.   Edgerton BF, Owens L, Harris L, Thomas A, Wingfield M (1995) A health survey of farmed redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens), in tropical Australia. Freshwater Crayfish 10: 322-338

28.   Edgerton BF, Owens L, Glasson B, De Beer S (1994) Description of a small dsRNA virus from freshwater crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 18: 63-69

Unreviewed publications

1.       Edgerton BF (2004) Freshwater crayfish production for poverty alleviation. World Aquaculture, in press

2.       Edgerton BF (2004) Disease in Redclaw aquaculture. Proceedings of the Queensland Crayfish Farmers Association of Queensland: 5th Annual Redclaw. 17-18 October 2003. MJ Wingfield (ed), Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. pp. 48-54.

3.       Edgerton BF (2002) Analysing the risks associated with translocating freshwater crayfish. Crayfish News 24(3): 13-15

4.       Edgerton BF (2002) IAA resolution and discussion paper on import risk analysis. Crayfish News 24(2): 10

5.       Edgerton BF (2002) First virus discovered in Austropotamobius pallipes. Crayfish News 24(2): 4-5

6.       Edgerton BF (2002) New homepage on crayfish disease. Crayfish News 24(2): 3

7.       Chen  X, Edgerton BF (2001) Crayfish Aquaculture in China. Aquaculture Magazine 27(6):

8.       Edgerton BF (1999) Feature article: Diseases of the redclaw freshwater crayfish. Aquaculture Magazine 25(6): 26-38

9.       Edgerton BF (1997) An update of diseases in Australian freshwater crayfish. Freshwater Farmer 5(2): 12-15

10.   Edgerton BF (1995) Several new viruses found in freshwater crayfish. Crayfish News 17(4): 8

11.   Edgerton BF (1995) Crayfish virus update from Australia. Crayfish News 17(1): 4

12.   Edgerton BF, Owens L (1993) Diseases relevant to crustacean aquaculture in tropical Australia. In: Osborne HG (ed)Vet Update 93. University of Queensland, Brisbane, B14 – B36

Consultancy reports

1.       Edgerton, BF (2003) Study to determine the susceptibility of Australian freshwater crayfish species to white spot virus (WSV). Prepared for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Australia.

2.       Evans L, Edgerton BF, Stephens FJ, Cabalu HJ, Overstreet RM (1998) Scientific Review of Freshwater Crayfish Diseases, Pests and Commodities. Prepared for Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Curtin University, Perth, 156 p.

Government reports co-authored

1.       OIE (2001) Spawner-isolated mortality virus. In: Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases. Office International des Epizooties.

2.       Edgerton BF, Owens L (2000) Case Study: Choroen Pokphand Prawn Feed Mill in Samut Sakorn Province, Thailand. AQIS, Canberra, 8 p.

3.       AQIS (2000) Prawns and Prawn Products Import Risk Analysis: Draft Report. AQIS, Canberra, 185 p.

4.       Quads Working Group on Aquatic Animal Disease Concepts (2000) Issues Paper on Aquatic Animal Disease Categorisation and Notification Submitted to the OIE Fish Diseases Commission for Consideration

5.       Edgerton BF, Lyon A (1999) Worms, abalone and quarantine. AQIS Bulletin 12(8)

6.       AQIS (1999) Non Viable Freshwater Crayfish Import Risk Analysis: Technical Issues Paper. AQIS, Canberra, 48 p.

© Copyright Brett Edgerton 2019

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