Epidemiological cut off values for aquatic bacteria
The use of robust, internationally agreed, harmonised testing methods when generating data on the antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens that affect aquatic animals is vital. The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) have developed such approaches that can be used for many of these pathogens against a wide range of antibiotics.
The next step is to establish agreed methods for interpreting the resulting data for many important pathogens, as outlined in Smith (2020; Dis Aquat Org 139:87–92). Such methodological guidelines are needed to ensure reliable comparison of data generated by different laboratories. The aim of this Special Issue is to collect relevant research and to publish proposed interpretative criteria for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of aquatic bacteria. A group of international laboratories has been assembled for this purpose, aiming to undertake harmonised testing of a range of significant aquaculture pathogens, using standard EUCAST and CLSI methods. Relevant contributions from other laboratory assemblages are welcome and encouraged. The submitted data will be reviewed to develop agreed interpretive criteria (epidemiological cut-off values, abbreviated as ECOFFs [by EUCAST] or ECVs [by CLSI]), to be presented as final contribution to the Special Issue.
Status: open for submissions. Submission deadline: 1 September 2024
Organizers: Andrew C. Barnes, Peter Smith, David W. Verner-Jeffreys
Editor: Andrew C. Barnes
Contact for questions: Christine Paetzold (Managing Editor)
Important notice to authors:
If you wish to contribute your work to this Special, please follow the regular Guidelines for Authors as well as the ECOVAB-specific guidelines to prepare and submit your manuscript.
Articles belonging to this Special are published upon completion in the respective issue of DAO. They are listed below as well as on the contents page of the respective issue of publication.
Smith P
OPINION PIECE: Eight rules for improving the quality of papers on the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria isolated from aquatic animals
Dis Aquat Org 139:87-92 | Full text in pdf format 
Smith P, Cortinovis L, Pretto T, Manfrin A, Florio D, Fioravanti M, Baron S, Le Devendec L, Jouy E, Le Breton A, Picon-Camacho S, Zupičić IG, Oraić D, Zrnčić S
Setting epidemiological cut-off values for Vibrio harveyi relevant to MIC data generated by a standardised microdilution method<br/>