Environment Agency Fish Health, Ageing and Non-Native Species Team
Joined February 2018
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We recently visited the team at Calverton @FishFarmEA to understand what it takes to produce high quality, healthy #fish to benefit #rivers and #fisheries nationwide. It was a fantastic tour to see and understand each stage of their fish production facility. #TeamEA
Topmouth gudgeon is a highly invasive non-native fish species and pose a significant threat to native biodiversity in our lakes and rivers. They can outcompete native species for food and resources. #INNSWeek @InvasiveSp
#INNS can be spread in many ways, with some being introduced deliberately, others accidentally with other species. At the @EnvAgency Fisheries Laboratory we have detected a number of invasive pathogens and work with fishery owners to protect the environment #INNSweek @InvasiveSp
This weekend we hosted @IFMFish2 for the IFM Diploma course and showcased what we do in the lab, as well as a fish dissection! A wonderful weekend sharing and learning about fish health with keen fish enthusiasts! #FishHealth
Now the diagnostic work begins to figure out what #bacterial #species it is! We start by classifying it through biochemical/phenotypical tests to indicate the characteristics of the #bacteria we've cultured. These include Gram staining and catalase, oxidase and motility tests🦠🐟
Here is some good #bacterial growth on a sub-culture agar plate from last week. Sub-culturing the original sample plates allows us to separate out individual #strains of #bacteria so that we get pure single-species #colonies of each bacteria from the original sample plate #TeamEA
ALT An agar plate ready to be sub-cultured.
We use swabs as a collection device to sample #bacteria from both organs and external lesions on #fish samples we see here at the @EnvAgency Lab where we suspect #bacterial infection. 🐟#TeamEA
ALT a colleague using a swab to sample bacteria lesions from fish
We start the process of #culturing and identifying #bacteria from #fish #lesions by using the items in the picture. Some of you may already know what they are? We should all be used to these by now!🦠 #TeamEA
ALT sterile lesion swabs
That’s it from the #histology department. We hope you enjoyed following us along with a sample! Pop back in a few weeks to find out the results #TeamEA
Now we have finished the process, and let the glue on the coverslips dry, the #histology slides are ready to be read by one of our external partners.
After letting the slides sit in the heated cabinet, we are ready to stain. We use the H&E method to stain the #nuclei a blueish purple, whilst the #cytoplasm and other structures various shades of pink. #histology #TeamEA
We are building our team. 3 x Technical and Scientific officer positions available, based @EnvAgencyAnglia Closing date 3rd July. Graduates welcome #FishSci #fishing environmentagencyjobs.tal.ne…
Today we've sectioned the blocks from yesterday and these sections are just 3um thick! We do this using a machine called a microtome, and very sharp blade. They then go into a water bath to 'relax', and onto a slide to dry. Pop back tomorrow to see us stain some slides #TeamEA
ALT a 'ribbon' of tissue
ALT a team member using a microtome to section wax blocks
Welcome to day 2 of the #histology takeover! Yesterday we trimmed the #tissue and put it into the hypercentre. Today we are #embedding the tissue in paraffin wax, we need to make sure that the tissue is flat and there are no bubbles in the wax when solidifying #TeamEA @EnvAgency
The first step in #histology, is to trim the tissue of interest that has been fixed in NBF. This creates a freshly cut, flat surface for #sectioning. #TeamEA
ALT skin sample taken from a lesion
That was a tricky one, even we find them hard! If you guessed 8+, you’re correct! That’s it from us in the @EnvAgency #fish ageing takeover. Don't forget, our fish ageing kits can aide you in #fishery management. Thanks everyone who took part in our quiz this week! #TeamEA
