The Webinar Fish Diseases & Parasitology: Perspectives in Malaysia and Zoonotic Implications

The webinar Fish Diseases & Parasitology: Perspectives in Malaysia and Zoonotic Implications was successfully held on 2nd December 2024, gathering around 160 participants from across the globe. The event attracted representatives from 14 international and 33 local institutions/organizations, providing a platform for discussions on fish health, emerging diseases, and zoonotic risks. The webinar aimed to enhance knowledge sharing and strengthen collaborations among researchers, industry players, and policymakers in the field of fish parasitology and aquatic disease management.

The webinar was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Hafiz Borkhanuddin, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Science & Marine Environment, UMT. He facilitated engaging discussions on current challenges, research gaps, and future directions in fish parasitology – and ensured a dynamic exchange of ideas, allowing participants to actively contribute their perspectives and experiences in the field.

The first panel, delivered by Prof. Emeritus Dr. Faizah Sharoum, an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Tropical Aquaculture (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), provided an in-depth analysis of fish parasitology in Malaysia. She highlighted key research findings on fish health, parasite-host interactions, and aquaculture sustainability. She also emphasized the importance of early detection and preventive measures in managing fish diseases effectively to ensure the sustainability of the aquaculture industry.

The second panel featured Dr. Kua Beng Chu, Senior Deputy Director at the Fisheries Research Institute, Department of Fisheries Malaysia, who shared valuable insights on disease management strategies in Malaysian aquaculture. Her presentation focused on surveillance programs, biosecurity measures, and sustainable control strategies implemented by the government to mitigate disease risks. She stressed the need for continuous research, policy integration, and collaboration among key stakeholders to strengthen disease management in the fisheries sector.

Key topics covered during the webinar included the prevalence of fish parasites in Malaysian aquaculture, zoonotic risks associated with fish parasites, challenges in disease management, advancements in aquaculture health technologies, and the role of government agencies and research institutions in ensuring effective disease control. The discussions underscored the importance of early detection, sustainable treatment methods, and improved biosecurity measures in tackling fish health issues.

The local participants featured government agencies, public and private universities, industry players, aquaculturists, fish farmers, and fisheries-related companies. Key representatives included the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, Institute For Medical Research (IMR), National Institute of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM) and Biosekuriti Perikanan Kuala Lumpur. Leading universities like Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), were represented alongside private companies such as Dindings Soya & Multifeeds Sdn Bhd, Lay Hong Berhad, and ALS Technichem Biotech Department.

The webinar also brought together international institutions and governmental bodies, included Sylhet Agricultural University (Bangladesh), INVE Aquaculture, Universitas Airlangga, Diponegoro University, Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan Republik Indonesia and Department of Fisheries (Brunei Darussalam). The University of Southern Mindanao and University of the Philippines Visayas represented the Philippines, while the Saudi Aquaculture Society highlighted interest from the Middle East. European representation came from HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute (Hungary), and regional hubs such as Temasek Polytechnic and Mandai Wildlife Group (Singapore) added valuable insights.

In conclusion, the webinar successfully facilitated knowledge exchange and collaboration among local and international experts in fish parasitology and aquaculture health. The event highlighted the need for strengthened partnerships between universities, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to enhance research efforts and disease management strategies. Future recommendations from the discussion emphasized the importance of enhancing disease surveillance programs, increasing awareness on zoonotic risks, adopting advanced diagnostic technologies, and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices.

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2024 MSPTM Mid-Year Seminar Emerging Trends in Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Current Situations in Malaysia

On June 19, 2024, the Centre for Toxicology and Health Risk Studies (CORE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), in collaboration with the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM), organized a mid-year seminar titled “Emerging Trends in Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Current Situations in Malaysia.” The event was held at Lecture Hall 3 of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Kuala Lumpur Campus, and was attended by approximately 130 participants in person, with an additional 124 participants joining online. The attendees included academics, researchers, students, and health officers from various agencies. Additionally, there was international participation from the US, China, Pakistan, and Indonesia, with attendees joining the seminar online.

This seminar is an annual event of MSPTM, and for the first time, the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM, hosted the seminar. The primary aim of the seminar was to raise awareness about mosquito-borne diseases, which are increasingly becoming a public health threat in Malaysia and globally. Moreover, the seminar sought to address the challenges faced in controlling these diseases and introduce the latest innovations in vector control in disease transmission. Diseases such as dengue and malaria were the main topics of discussion.

The seminar began with a welcoming address by the Chair of the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Associate Professor Dr. Low Van Lun. The event continued with an opening speech by the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Dr. Suzana Shahar, who emphasized the importance of collaboration among various parties in combating mosquito-borne diseases. She also expressed her gratitude to MSPTM for their close cooperation in organizing the seminar. The Dean and the Chair of the Society jointly officiated the seminar with a simple opening ceremony.

The seminar’s opening ceremony was held at Lecture Hall 3, Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM. From left to right: Prof. Dr. Hidayatulfathi Othman (Chair of the Centre for Toxicology & Health Risk Studies, CORE), Prof. Dr. Suzana Shahar (Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM), Associate Prof. Dr. Low Van Lun (Chair of the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, MSPTM), and Dr. Nantha Kumar Jeyaprakasam (Chair of the MSPTM Mid-Year Seminar Organizing Committee)

Following the opening ceremony, the first lecture was delivered by Prof. Datin Dr. Indra Vythilingam, a leading expert in medical entomology from Universiti Malaya (UM). She discussed the epidemiology of the current status of zoonotic malaria in Malaysia and some of the possible effective control strategies. Prof. Indra also emphasized the potential for transmitting zoonotic malaria caused by parasites other than P. knowlesi, such as P. cynomolgi and P. inui. She also highlighted those activities like logging and unplanned land development could further increase the risk of zoonotic malaria transmission in the future.

Prof. Datin Dr. Indra Vythilingam’s talk was titled “Zoonotic Malaria: A Threat to Malaria Elimination”

The second speaker was Prof. Dr. Hidayatulfathi Othman, a professor of medical entomology from UKM. She delivered a lecture on approaches to enhancing community health literacy for controlling the spread of dengue. Prof. Hidayatulfathi discussed strategies for educating and empowering communities to better understand dengue prevention, vector control measures, and the importance of collective action in reducing dengue cases in Malaysia. By improving health literacy, it is hoped that communities will take proactive steps to control and prevent the spread of dengue.

The lecture by Prof. Dr. Hidayatulfathi Othman, titled “Nudging Health Literacy: Empowering Communities in Dengue Control,” focused on strategies to enhance community health literacy in the fight against dengue

The final lecture was delivered by Mr. Hairin B. Mhd. Noh from CASA Chemical Sdn. Bhd. He discussed Sumitomo Chemical’s latest innovations in vector control. One of the products introduced was MIRAKN, a unique formulation based on a blend of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with active ingredients and free from solvents. Unlike conventional spraying technologies, it disperses ultra-fine particles that move through the air to reach every corner of a premises, effectively controlling various types of insects, including Aedes mosquitoes, which are vectors of dengue fever.

Talk by Encik Hairin B. Mhd. Noh by from CASA Chemical Sdn. Bhd. entitled “Innovation and latest technology in dengue vector control”

The seminar concluded with a forum session chaired by Dr. Nantha Kumar Jeyaprakasam, a senior lecturer in parasitology and medical entomology at the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM. During the forum, experts discussed the growing threat of diseases such as dengue and malaria in Malaysia. The forum emphasized the importance of continuous vector monitoring and control, as well as collaboration between public health agencies and communities. Additionally, the latest innovations in vector control technology and the importance of health education in raising public awareness about mosquito-borne disease prevention were highlighted. Participants were also given the opportunity to ask questions and exchange views with the speakers.

An engaging forum session chaired by Dr. Nantha Kumar Jeyaprakasam

The seminar concluded around 12:00 PM with a thanks remark from Dr. Nantha Kumar Jeyaprakasam, the chair of this year’s seminar organizing committee. He expressed gratitude to MSPTM for covering the costs of organizing the event and to the CORE UKM committee members who worked tirelessly to ensure the seminar’s success. Overall, the seminar successfully met its objectives of raising awareness and disseminating the latest information on mosquito-borne diseases. It is hoped that programs like this will better prepare Malaysia to address these health threats in the future.

This event was also published in one of the local magazines, Dewan Kosmik by Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka: https://dewankosmik.jendeladbp.my/2024/06/20/12302/

Written by:

Nantha Kumar Jeyaprakasam

A portion of the participants at the MSPTM Mid-Year Seminar, organized by the Centre for Toxicology & Health Risk Studies (CORE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), in collaboration with the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM)

                                                                        The poster of the event