Indicator 4.4.10

It is recommended that bioassays are carried out prior to the start of any antiparasitic treatment:
- Test results should be used to assist the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional in selecting the most adequate antiparasitic.
  - Test results should be combined with clinical and postmortem examinations of the animals.
- Other laboratory tests should be considered if deemed appropriate.
  - Awareness of the epidemiological situation at a regional level may be relevant.
In acute cases, treatment might need to be started immediately to avoid animal suffering or the spread of infection. It is still advisable to collect samples immediately prior to the start of treatment:
- The results can be used to validate the choice of antiparasitic, treatment, epidemiological follow-up and future treatments.
- In some cases, the relative lack of standardised and validated methods for culture and testing for a significant number of parasite species of aquatic importance might mean this is not possible.
  - In such cases, efforts should be placed towards developing alternative monitoring processes.

Health reports.
Testing results.
Revision and discussion of disease surveillance and monitoring programmes.
Especially for those parasitic infectious where limited laboratory tests are available or where parasites are fastidious and difficult to grow.
For recurring parasitic infections, the site should demonstrate efforts to characterise and test them periodically (at least on a cyclical basis) for antiparasitic resistance.

Existence of health reports and testing results.
Disease surveillance and monitoring programmes.
- Especially for those parasites where limited laboratory tests are available or where parasites are fastidious and difficult to grow.
- For recurring parasitic infections, the site should demonstrate efforts to characterise and test them periodically (at least on a cyclical basis) for antibiotic resistance.