2026 MSU Aquatic Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop

Location

Bost Conference Center

Begins
October 08, 2026
Ends
October 09, 2026

Maroon background with geometric wave design. Text reads "REGISTER TODAY! October 8–9, 2026. Mississippi State University Aquatic Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop. Share and discover the latest advances in combating antimicrobial resistance for improved aquatic health. Bost Conference Center | 190 Bost Drive, Starkville, MS. https://tinyurl.com/register2026AMR"

Mississippi State University Aquatic Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop

October 8–9, 2026

Bost Conference Center

REGISTER TODAY

Join participants to share research and learn about the latest advances in combating antimicrobial resistance for improved aquatic health.

The event will be held in person. Registration fees: $100 for non-students; $50 for graduate students. (Information on local hotels is provided at the bottom of this page.)

The workshop is sponsored by the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine, the Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security, and the FAO Reference Center on AMR and Aquaculture Biosecurity.

October 7 Continuing Education Event

Sustainable Warmwater Aquaculture: Science-Based Approaches to Fish Health and Production

A Continuing Education event will be organized the day before the workshop, on October 7, 2026. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of current research, production strategies, and emerging health challenges in U.S. catfish aquaculture, with a focus on systems and practices relevant to the Mississippi Delta, which is the heart of the U.S. catfish industry. Presentations by experts from the United States Department of Agriculture and Mississippi State University will highlight science-based advances in fish health, genetics, nutrition, water quality management, disease diagnostics, parasite control, pond management, and molecular disease surveillance.

The CE event will take place at the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center in Stoneville, MS, and will include lunch and a tour of the facilities. Roundtrip transportation will be provided from Starkville, MS.

Registration fee: $100 (CE registration is an optional add-on through the workshop registration page linked above)

Additional Details

Topics will include selective breeding and genetic improvement of catfish stocks, water quality and pond management practices, nutritional approaches and functional feed development to enhance fish health and disease resilience, implementation of oral vaccination strategies, diagnostic laboratory surveillance and disease trends, investigations into emerging bacterial pathogens, parasite vector biology and mitigation strategies, and the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies for disease monitoring and management.

Collectively, these presentations will emphasize integrated approaches to improving fish health, production efficiency, sustainability, and biosecurity in commercial catfish aquaculture. The session is designed for veterinarians, aquaculture professionals, extension specialists, researchers, producers, and allied industry stakeholders seeking current, practical, and research-driven information relevant to modern warmwater aquaculture systems.

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe key water quality management principles that influence fish health and production performance in commercial catfish aquaculture systems. 
  2. Explain the goals and outcomes of selective breeding programs in catfish aquaculture, including development and performance characteristics of selectively bred strains. 
  3. Discuss the development, validation, and field implementation of oral vaccination strategies used to control bacterial diseases in catfish aquaculture. 
  4. Interpret current diagnostic laboratory trends and major disease challenges affecting catfish aquaculture in the western Mississippi Delta region. 
  5. Recognize the significance of emerging Streptococcus strains affecting catfish production and summarize current investigative and management approaches. 
  6. Describe the biology of molluscan parasite vectors impacting catfish aquaculture and evaluate current control and mitigation strategies. 
  7. Recognize management practices related to pond fertilization, pond preparation, and fry nursery pond management to improve production outcomes. 
  8. Explain how environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance approaches can be used to monitor and manage proliferative gill disease risk in catfish aquaculture systems. 
  9. Discuss how nutritional management and functional feed strategies can improve fish health, disease resistance, growth performance, and production efficiency in commercial catfish aquaculture systems

Featured Speakers and Presentation Areas

  • Brian Ott — Water quality management and environmental factors influencing catfish production and health. 
  • Brian Bosworth — Advances in selective breeding and genetic improvement programs in U.S. catfish aquaculture. 
  • David Wise — Disease prevention strategies and implementation of vaccination approaches in commercial catfish production. 
  • Lester Khoo — Regional fish health trends, diagnostic laboratory findings, and emerging disease patterns in catfish aquaculture. 
  • Taylor Heckman — Investigations into emerging bacterial pathogens and their impact on catfish health and production. 
  • Brad Richardson — Parasite biology, vector ecology, and integrated parasite management strategies in aquaculture systems. 
  • Chuck Mishke — Pond preparation, fertilization practices, and nursery pond management for improved fry production and survival. 
  • Fernando Yamamoto — Functional feed development and nutritional strategies to improve fish health, performance, and disease resilience in catfish aquaculture.
  • Matt Griffin — Application of molecular surveillance and environmental DNA (eDNA) tools for aquatic animal disease monitoring and management.

This program will be submitted for RACE approval (but is not yet approved) for 4.5 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

AREA HOTELS

Starkville offers several hotels within a short distance from campus and the Bost Extension Center:

Courtyard by Marriott Starkville MSU at The Mill Conference Center

Hampton Inn Starkville

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Starkville by IHG

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Starkville at MSU

Hilton Garden Inn Starkville