Roy Yanong
· Fish Health and AquacultureVerifiedUniversity of Florida · Forest Resources and Conservation
Active 1969–2026
About
Roy Yanong is a Professor at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida. His career in fish veterinary medicine was inspired by his longstanding interest as a tropical fish hobbyist. After completing his undergraduate studies in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University in 1986, he earned his V.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1992, with a focus on aquatic animal medicine. Following veterinary school, he worked as a staff veterinarian at 5-D Tropical, Inc., an ornamental fish farm in Florida, for over four years before joining the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin in 1996. There, he provides extension, research, and educational programs in fish health management, including veterinary assistance and disease diagnostics for aquaculturists across Florida. Yanong’s research is industry-driven and primarily concentrated on ornamental fish species, focusing on diseases of production, drugs, chemicals, biologics, and their applications in fish health management. He has contributed to the development and FDA approval of various drugs and biologics for ornamental fish, including Ovaprim, Aquacalm, SLICE, florfenicol, and others. Yanong actively participates in professional organizations, serving as Chair of the Aquatics Working Group for the AVMA’s Panel on Euthanasia, Past President of the American Association of Fish Veterinarians, and holding memberships in multiple aquaculture and fish health organizations. His work aims to reduce disease-related losses in Florida’s tropical fish industry and advance aquatic animal medicine through research, extension, and education.
Research topics
- Biology
- Zoology
- Ecology
- Virology
- Microbiology
- Endocrinology
- Fishery
- Animal science
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Selected publications
Tracing a Decade of Tilapia Lake Virus Research: Breakthroughs, Challenges, and Projections
Reviews in Aquaculture · 2026-04-05
articleABSTRACT Tilapia are one of the most farmed fish groups worldwide, with global production exceeding 6.55 million tons in 2022, generating an estimated market value of approximately USD 20.9 billion. Tilapia are favored for their fast growth rate, adaptability to various farming environments, and high nutritional value as a protein source. However, the tilapia industry has encountered a significant challenge with the emergence of tilapia lake virus (TiLV), first noted in 2014. This highly contagious virus has the potential to devastate tilapia populations, leading to substantial economic losses and raising serious concerns about food security in countries reliant on this fish for livelihoods and sustenance. The rapid spread of TiLV and its significant impact on the tilapia industry have led to widespread concerns among stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers. In response, there has been an increasing focus on research and development of effective strategies to control and manage TiLV infections. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the substantial advancements in the understanding of TiLV, delving into its genetic variation and manipulation, molecular pathogenesis, epidemiology, transmission pathways, clinical signs, diagnosis, and the underlying pathogenesis of the virus. Additionally, we summarize the current knowledge on the potential impact of TiLV on the global tilapia industry and the measures being implemented to control its spread. Finally, we discuss ongoing scientific efforts toward the development of vaccines and other innovative strategies for effectively managing TiLV infections, highlighting the importance of continued research to secure the future of tilapia aquaculture on a global scale.
Journal of Fish Diseases · 2025-11-28 · 1 citations
articleOpen accessTilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) is a significant threat to global tilapia aquaculture, highlighting the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic methods to manage outbreaks and minimise economic losses. This study presents the development and partial validation of a one-pot assay integrating RT-LAMP with the CRISPR/Cas12b system for sensitive and specific TiLV detection. This assay amplifies viral RNA using RT-LAMP, while CRISPR/Cas12b enables a real-time detectable signal. Targeting a conserved region in TiLV segment four, the assay achieves results within 75 min at 62°C, with easy visualisation using a portable fluorescence viewer. It demonstrated high sensitivity, with a 95% limit of detection of 79.6 copies (95% CI: 48-132 copies), and high specificity, with no cross-reaction to other fish RNA or DNA viruses. Based on a validation panel of 261 samples from 9 source populations, the assay exhibited 92% diagnostic sensitivity (95% CI: 87%-96%) and 100% diagnostic specificity (95% CI: 97%-100%). When assessed as a non-lethal sample, gills provided a reliable and less invasive alternative despite lower viral loads compared to internal organs. Therefore, this partially validated one-pot assay is potentially practical for enhancing TiLV detection and disease management in aquaculture systems, especially in field settings and resource-limited laboratories.
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms · 2025-11-11 · 1 citations
articleThis study explores the phenotypic, genotypic, and serological differences among Edwardsiella ictaluri isolated from farm-raised catfish Ictalurus spp. and ornamental fish (Danio spp. and Puntius tetrazona) in the USA. Plasmid analyses revealed diverse plasmid profiles, with varied antimicrobial resistance genes indicating diverse resistance and virulence mechanisms. Analysis of complete genome sequences revealed multiple virulence factors, including the Type III and Type VI secretion systems, with varied presence between the catfish and ornamental derived strains. Molecular analyses, including multi locus sequence analysis (MLSA) and repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR, identified discrete genotypic differences, identifying an optimally informative MLSA scheme for demonstrating intraspecific relationships among E. ictaluri conspecifics. Serological assessments revealed marked differences between catfish and ornamental isolates, indicating distinct antigenic profiles and suggesting that E. ictaluri vaccines derived from catfish isolates may have limited efficacy against ornamental isolates, supporting anecdotal reports from the industry. This research advances our understanding of this important bacterial fish pathogen, laying a foundation to help guide approaches in vaccine design and disease mitigation in catfish and ornamental fish moving forward.
2024-03-05
book-chapter1st authorCorresponding2024-03-05
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingAquarium Fish Families and Species
2024-03-05
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingAquarium Systems and Water Quality
2024-03-05
book-chapter1st authorCorresponding2024-03-05
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingEuthanasia, Anesthesia, and Sedation
2024-03-05
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingHealth Certificates/Certificates of Veterinary Inspection
2024-03-05
book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
Frequent coauthors
- 52 shared
Deborah B. Pouder
University of Florida
- 50 shared
Ruth Francis‐Floyd
- 33 shared
Allen Riggs
University of Florida
- 31 shared
Esteban Soto
University of California System
- 26 shared
Andrew E. Goodwin
University of Bristol
- 26 shared
John P. Hawke
Louisiana State University
- 25 shared
Oscar Illanes
Long Island University
- 25 shared
Maziel Arauz
Awards & honors
- Chair of the Aquatics Working Group for the American Veterin…
- Past President of the American Association of Fish Veterinar…
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