Professor Margaret Crumlish

Professor

Institute of Aquaculture Stirling,

Professor Margaret Crumlish

Contact details

About me

My research interests are in the fields of aquatic microbial diseases, particularly bacterial infections of economic importance in global aquaculture. I study the identification and pathogenesis of bacterial infections that cause clinical disease outbreaks within a wide range of fish and shrimp farming systems. My current research activities include: vaccine development in farmed Pangasius catfish as an alternative to antibiotics, identification of Group B Streptococcal infections in fish and as food borne infections, development of rapid diagnostics for detection of viral, bacterial and parasitic infections in farmed seafood. The bacteria I am currently working on include motile Aeromonads, Vibrios, Streptococci, and Edwardsiella. My overall approach is to provide efficacious solutions to tackle infectious diseases within global aquaculture systems.

My research interests focus on aquatic bacterial pathogenesis, so I am keen to identify and understand the mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens can cause disease in aquatic animals. I use a range of methods including, field (quantitative) and laboratory (analytical) based techniques as well as qualitative-based research tools in my projects. This approach enables practical and efficacious disease prevention strategies to be developed and presented to the final end-user in a way they can understand and adopt. My research spans all vertebrate and invertebrate farmed species in global aquaculture with specific expertise in Tilapia, Catfish species (Pangasius and Clarias), warm water shrimp and farmed salmonids. My recent interests have expanded to improve microbial safety in our farmed seafood.

Event / Presentation

Past, Present and Future Diseases of Asian Catfish species Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

An oral presentation in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam at the international Diseases of Asian Aquaculture Conference.

Conference Chair and Invited Speaker

Conference Chair for Health session and invited speaker at Vietnamese conference International Conference on Aquaculture 2024: Panoramic View of Innovations, 17-19th October Vietnam.

Other Academic Activities

FAO Risk Profile Report Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb5067en

Other Project

OP Funded Research Project: PERCEPTIONS OF FARMED FISH WELFARE BY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, MKD VIETNAM

This project will provide insights of knowledge, practices and attitudes related to farmed fish welfare within the small-scale aquaculture supply chain in the Mekong Delta Vietnam. Snakehead aquaculture will be used as a model for small-scale aquaculture in the region. The outputs of the project will provide the current status with respect to attitudes toward and understanding of fish welfare by small-scale farmers and the downstream supply chain, indicating potential areas to be addressed in future projects. The sampling of water quality and information from snakehead aquaculture will also provide initial evidence of whether current practices adequately incorporate considerations of fish welfare. Overall, welfare perception in small-scale aquaculture will be elucidated in order to contribute to the future improvement of fish welfare in the region.

Op Funded Research Project PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS FISH VACCINATION IN THAILAND
National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

The purpose of this study is to gain insights into the perceptions and attitudes of significant players in Thai fish aquaculture, including fish farmers, suppliers, government agencies, and scientists, with regard to fish vaccination. The understanding gained from this research can help identify barriers to the adoption of vaccination for farmed fish, as well as highlight areas for improvement and potential solutions to further encourage the use of safe and effective vaccines in fish farming. The welfare of fish populations can be improved by increasing the uptake of vaccinations in the country, which will reduce the likelihood of fish illness, mortality, and the need for potentially harmful treatments.

University Contribution

British Council PGT Scholarships for Women in STEM
The British Council

British Council Women in STEM Fellowships (ECR)
The British Council

Athena SWAN Bronze Award (Aquaculture)

This is the first Athena SWAN award for the Institute of Aquaculture in recognition of the equality, diversity and inclusion activities.

Research projects (10)

Vaccines against AMR in Aquaculture
PI: Professor Margaret Crumlish
Funded by: International Development Research Centre
–

Curriculum Development for Sustainable Seafood and Nutrition Security
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)
–

SAICHatch Request for additional Resources
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Funding Council
–

SAIChatch - Research in support of the development of a commercial Mussel hatchery
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre
–

Improving Cleaner fish Vaccination methodology and technology
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre
–

Determination of the presence of lactobacillus L-forms.
PI:
Funded by: Agrarian Marketing Corporation
–

Safety test of an injectable vaccine intended for Tilapia
PI: Professor Margaret Crumlish
Funded by: PHARMAQ
–

A Study of the Prospects and Opportunities for Trout Farming in Scotland
PI: Professor Margaret Crumlish
Funded by: The Scottish Agricultural College
–

Investigation of bacterial candidates for potential vaccine against BNP infections
PI: Professor Margaret Crumlish
Funded by: PHARMAQ
–

PESCALEX 2
PI: Professor Margaret Crumlish
Funded by: Aqualex Multimedia Consortium Ltd
–

Outputs (60)

Book Chapter

Global Aquaculture systems

Norman R, Chivite Alcalde M, Bron J, Burke M, Crumlish M, Gheyas A, Little D, Malcorps W, Moss A, Newton R & Pounds A (2024) Global Aquaculture systems. In: Alexander P (ed.) Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food Systems. 3 ed. Elsevier. https://shop.elsevier.com/books/encyclopedia-of-agriculture-and-food-systems/alexander/978-0-443-15976-3

Edited Book

Aquatic Food Security

Crumllish M & Norman R (eds.) Aquatic Food Security. 5M books. https://5mbooks.com/product/aquatic-food-security

Book Chapter

Horizon Scanning For Aquatic Food Security

Norman R & Crumlish M Horizon Scanning For Aquatic Food Security. In: Crumlish M & Norman R (eds.) Aquatic Food Security. 5m books, p. Essex. https://5mbooks.com/product/aquatic-food-security

Book Chapter

Introduction To Global Aquatic Food Security

Norman R & Crumlish M Introduction To Global Aquatic Food Security. In: Crumlish M & Norman R (eds.) Aquatic Food Security. 1 ed. Essex: 5M publishing. https://5mbooks.com/product/aquatic-food-security

Article

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Streptococcal Species recovered from Clinical Infections in Farmed Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the Philippines

Legario F, Choresca Jr CH, Turnbull JF & Crumlish M (2020) Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Streptococcal Species recovered from Clinical Infections in Farmed Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the Philippines. Journal of Fish Diseases, 43 (11), pp. 1431-1442. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.13247

Project Report

EURASTIP Best Practice Case Studies: Aquaculture training and capacity building collaborations between Europe and Southeast Asia

Bostock J, Crumlish M, Myint O, Bosma R, Dhont J, Reuver M & Maher J (2019) EURASTIP Best Practice Case Studies: Aquaculture training and capacity building collaborations between Europe and Southeast Asia. Reuver M (Editor), Maher J (Editor), O Raifeartaigh P (Editor) & Tully O (Editor) European Commission. Liege, Belgium. http://eurastip.eu/education/capacity-building-collaboration-report/

Article

Galleria mellonella as an infection model for the multi-host pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae reflects hypervirulence of strains associated with human invasive disease

Six A, Krajangwong S, Crumlish M, Zadoks RN & Walker D (2018) Galleria mellonella as an infection model for the multi-host pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae reflects hypervirulence of strains associated with human invasive disease. Virulence, 10 (1), pp. 600-609. https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2019.1631660

Article

Population structure and virulence gene profiles of Streptococcus agalactiae collected from different hosts worldwide

Morach M, Stephan R, Schmitt S, Ewers C, Zschock M, Reyes-Velez J, Gilli U, Crespo-Ortiz MdP, Crumlish M, Gunturu R, Daubenberger CA, Ip M, Regli W & Johler S (2018) Population structure and virulence gene profiles of Streptococcus agalactiae collected from different hosts worldwide. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 37 (3), pp. 527-536. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-017-3146-x

Article

Environmental and socio-political shocks to the seafood sector: What does this mean for resilience? Lessons from two UK case studies, 1945-2016

Graziano M, Fox C, Alexander K, Pita C, Heymans JJ, Crumlish M, Hughes AD, Ghanawi J & Cannella L (2018) Environmental and socio-political shocks to the seafood sector: What does this mean for resilience? Lessons from two UK case studies, 1945-2016. Marine Policy, 87, pp. 301-313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.10.014

Article

VIBRIO 2014 meeting report

Mazel D, Colwell R, Klose K, Oliver J, Crumlish M, McDougald D, Bland MJ & Austin B (2014) VIBRIO 2014 meeting report. Research in Microbiology, 165 (10), pp. 857-864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmic.2014.10.009

Article

Differential characterization of emerging skin diseases of rainbow trout - a standardized approach to capturing disease characteristics and development of case definitions

Oidtmann B, LaPatra SE, Verner-Jeffreys DW, Pond M, Peeler EJ, Noguera PA, Bruno DW, St-Hilaire S, Schubiger CB, Snekvik K, Crumlish M, Green D, Metselaar M, Rodger HD, Schmidt-Posthaus H, Galeotti M & Feist SW (2013) Differential characterization of emerging skin diseases of rainbow trout - a standardized approach to capturing disease characteristics and development of case definitions. Journal of Fish Diseases, 36 (11), pp. 921-937. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12086

Book Chapter

Quality assurance in aquatic disease diagnostics

Crumlish M (2012) Quality assurance in aquatic disease diagnostics. In: Austin B (ed.) Infectious disease in aquaculture: Prevention and Control. Oxford: Woodhead Publishing, pp. 147-159. http://store.elsevier.com/Infectious-Disease-in-Aquaculture/isbn-9780857090164/

Article

Intraspecific diversity of Edwardsiella ictaluri isolates from diseased freshwater catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage), cultured in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Bartie K, Austin FW, Diab A, Dickson C, Dung TT, Giacomini M & Crumlish M (2012) Intraspecific diversity of Edwardsiella ictaluri isolates from diseased freshwater catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage), cultured in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Journal of Fish Diseases, 35 (9), pp. 671-682. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2761.2012.01376.x

Article

Review of climate change impacts on marine aquaculture in the UK and Ireland

Callaway R, Shinn A, Grenfell SE, Bron J, Burnell G, Cook EE, Crumlish M, Culloty S, Davidson K, Ellis RP, Flynn KJ, Fox C, Green D, Hays GC, Hughes AD, Johnston E, Lowe CD, Lupatsch I, Malham SK, Mendzil AF, Nickell T, Pickerell T, Rowley AF, Stanley MS, Tocher DR, Turnbull J, Webb G, Wootton E & Shields RJ (2012) Review of climate change impacts on marine aquaculture in the UK and Ireland. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 22 (3), pp. 389-421. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2247

Article

A comparative molecular study of the presence of "Candidatus arthromitus" in the digestive system of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), healthy and affected with rainbow trout gastroenteritis

del Pozo J, Turnbull J, Ferguson H & Crumlish M (2010) A comparative molecular study of the presence of "Candidatus arthromitus" in the digestive system of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), healthy and affected with rainbow trout gastroenteritis. Journal of Fish Diseases, 33 (3), pp. 241-250. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2761.2009.01117.x

Conference Paper (published)

Study of the bacterial loading in macrophage cells of hybrid catfish

Somsiri T, Crumlish M, Dumrongphol Y, Panbanpeaw A & Thompson K (2002) Study of the bacterial loading in macrophage cells of hybrid catfish. In: Lavilla-Pitogo C & Cruz-Lacierda E (eds.) Diseases in Asian Aquaculture IV: Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture, 22-26 November 1999, Cebu City, Philippines. Diseases in Asian Aquaculture, 4. Fourth Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture, Cebu City, Phillipines, 22.11.1999-26.11.1999. Quezon City, Phillipines: Fish Health Section: Asian Fisheries Society, pp. 249-354.

Teaching

I am the Director for Learning and Teaching within the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling.

I am the Senior Advisor of Studies for the IoA undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

I am the Programme Director for the PG Cert in Aquatic Animal Health and module co-ordinator for the following modules:

AQUU6AF - Aquaculture Field Course AQUU7ED - Environment and Disease AQUU7AP/MP - UG Research Dissertation Module

I Teaching on the following modules:

AQUU1BP, AQUU2TP, AQUU6AF, AQUU7ED, AQUU7MM, AQUU7AP/MP, AQUPGA1, AQUPGA2, AQUPGV2, AQUPGV4 and BIOU5MB

Research programmes