Dr Stephen Pyecroft
Senior Lecturer
School of Animal and Veterinary Science
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
My main areas of expertise and interest are in the fields of aquatic animal health and veterinary pathology. As a graduate I worked as a veterinary practitioner in semi-rural areas and then discovered my passion for aquatic animal health management and veterinary pathology. I then continued my post graduate study successfully fulfilling the requirement of a veterinary honours degree by research and course work and subsequently a PhD studying the identity and epidemiology of Systemic Granulomatosis in common goldfish.
Throughout my career I have maintained my passion for comparative pathology and the pathogenesis of disease in all production animal species but have focused some research work on the molecular diagnosis of fish pathogens, epidemiology and control of fish diseases, fish nutrition and fish management practices effects on disease control.
Whilst working as the head of the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Tasmania I was until November 2012, the Program leader of the Diagnostic Services Branch component of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease research group). This enabled me to lead and direct aspects of the diagnostic and research response to this emerging disease in an iconic Australian Dasyurid , the Tasmanian Devil, and attempt to help maintain this important apex carnivore in the wilds of Tasmania.
As a result of working in this global multidisciplinary research group I now also have a keen research interest in oncology and the genetic basis of neoplastic disease and host response in a range of species.
The multidisciplinary approach to scientific research enables acceleration towards discovering practical solutions to sometime perplexing questions, so I look to engage a wide range of collaborators in most projects I investigate. One recent consequence of this approach is a developing research group focused on the reduction of fish based proteins in fish diets and the inclusion of insect based proteins in aquaculture and ornamental fish diets.
Teaching and enthusing future veterinarians and researchers underpins all my scientific interests and the best way to ensure a legacy is to mentor the next generation.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2016 - ongoing Adjunct Senior Lecturer University of Tasmania 2012 - ongoing Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology University of Adelaide 2008 - 2012 Manager of Diagnostic Services Branch, , Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 2006 - 2012 Principal Veterinary Pathologist, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 2002 - 2006 Veterinary Pathologist Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment, 2001 - 2004 Director Pacific Meridian Aquaculture Pty Ltd. 2001 - 2002 Temporary Veterinary Inspector for State Veterinary Service Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 1995 - 2002 Part-time Lecturer TAFE NSW -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 1993 - 2008 University of Queensland Australia PhD 1990 - 1992 University of Queensland Australia BVSc Honours 1980 - 1984 University of Queensland Australia BVSc -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 2007 Member Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Australia 2002 Member Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinay Scientists Australia -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2023 Labens, R., Raidal, S., Borgen-Nielsen, C., Pyecroft, S., Pant, S. D., & De Ridder, T. (2023). Wound healing of experimental equine skin wounds and concurrent microbiota in wound dressings following topical propylene glycol gel treatment. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, 10 pages.
2021 Hastuti, S. D., Munro, J., Pyecroft, S., Barton, M., Costabile, M., & Glencross, B. (2021). Supplementation of Nucleotides to Enhance Performance and Immune Responses of Asian Seabass. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 14(4), 621-628.
Scopus22020 Hastuti, S. D., Barton, M. D., Pyecroft, S. B., & Costabile, M. (2020). Assay optimization for measuring the alternate complement pathway activity in asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). Biodiversitas, 21(7), 3034-3040.
Scopus32020 Wang, Y., Pyecroft, S., & Barton, M. (2020). Seasonal microbial profiling of left kidney and stomach of farmed adult greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata). Aquaculture Research, 52(5), 2085-2096.
Scopus3 WoS32019 Hastuti, S. D., Quach, A., Costabile, M., Barton, M. D., Pyecroft, S. B., & Ferrante, A. (2019). Measuring the Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) neutrophil respiratory burst activity by the dihydrorhodamine-123 reduction flow cytometry assay in whole blood. Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 92, 871-880.
Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC12018 Graham, C. M., Kremer, K. L., Koblar, S. A., Hamilton-Bruce, M. A., & Pyecroft, S. B. (2018). Dental pulp stem cells - exploration in a novel animal model: the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, 14(4), 500-509.
Scopus12017 Hayes, D., Kunde, D., Taylor, R., Pyecroft, S., Sohal, S., & Snow, E. (2017). ERBB3: A potential serum biomarker for early detection and therapeutic target for devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1). PLoS ONE, 12(6), 1-25.
Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC62016 Dennis, M., Diggles, B., Faulder, R., Olyott, L., Pyecroft, S., Gilbert, G., & Landos, M. (2016). Pathology of finfish and mud crabs Scylla serrata during a mortality event associated with a harbour development project in Port Curtis. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 121(3), 173-188.
Scopus16 WoS12 Europe PMC12015 Phalen, D., Frimberger, A., Peck, S., Pyecroft, S., Harmsen, C., Lola, S., & Moore, A. (2015). Doxorubicin and carboplatin trials in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) with Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease. Veterinary Journal, 206(3), 312-316.
Scopus8 WoS6 Europe PMC42014 Ujvari, B., Pearse, A., Swift, K., Hodson, P., Hua, B., Pyecroft, S., . . . Madsen, T. (2014). Anthropogenic selection enhances cancer evolution in Tasmanian devil tumours. Evolutionary Applications, 7(2), 260-265.
Scopus20 WoS17 Europe PMC152013 Phalen, D., Frimberger, A., Pyecroft, S., Peck, S., Harmsen, C., Lola, S., . . . Moore, A. (2013). Vincristine chemotherapy trials and pharmacokinetics in Tasmanian devils with Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease. PLoS One, 8(6), 1-7.
Scopus18 WoS16 Europe PMC132013 Pyecroft, S. B. (2013). Re: Book review Fish vetting essentials. Australian Veterinary Journal, 91(12), 490.
2013 Ujvari, B., Pearse, A., Peck, S., Harmsen, C., Taylor, R., Pyecroft, S., . . . Belov, K. (2013). Evolution of a contagious cancer: epigenetic variation in Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences, 280(1750), 8 pages.
Scopus16 WoS15 Europe PMC102012 Ujvari, B., Pearse, A., Taylor, R., Pyecroft, S., Flanagan, C., Gombert, S., . . . Belov, K. (2012). Telomere dynamics and homeostasis in a transmissible cancer. PLoS One, 7(8), e44085-1-e44085-8.
Scopus21 WoS22 Europe PMC172012 Pearse, A. M., Swift, K., Hodson, P., Hua, B., McCallum, H., Pyecroft, S., . . . Belov, K. (2012). Evolution in a transmissible cancer: a study of the chromosomal changes in devil facial tumor (DFT) as it spreads through the wild Tasmanian devil population. Cancer Genetics, 205(3), 101-112.
Scopus61 WoS55 Europe PMC472012 Miller, W., Hayes, V. M., Ratan, A., Petersen, D. C., Wittekindt, N. E., Miller, J., . . . Schuster, S. C. (2012). Erratum: Genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered marsupial Sarcophilus harrisii (Tasmanian devil) (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2011) 108, 30 (12348-12353) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1102838108). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(45), 18625.
Scopus2 WoS22012 Miller, W., Hayes, V. M., Ratan, A., Petersen, D. C., Wittekindt, N. E., Miller, J., . . . Schuster, S. C. (2012). Genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered marsupial <i>Sarcophilus harrisii</i> (Tasmanian devil) (vol 108, pg 12348, 2011). PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 109(44), 18625.
WoS22011 Miller, W., Hayes, V., Ratan, A., Petersen, D., Wittekindt, N., Miller, J., . . . Schuster, S. (2011). Genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered marsupial Sarcophilus harrisii (Tasmanian devil). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108(30), 12348-12353.
Scopus168 WoS151 Europe PMC1052010 Murchison, E., Tovar, C., Hsu, A., Bender, H., Kheradpour, P., Rebbeck, C., . . . Papenfuss, A. (2010). The Tasmanian Devil transcriptome reveals Schwann cell origins of a clonally transmissible cancer. Science, 327(5961), 84-87.
Scopus188 WoS162 Europe PMC1412010 Corbeil, S., Colling, A., Williams, L. M., Wong, F. Y. K., Savin, K., Warner, S., . . . Crane, M. S. J. (2010). Development and validation of a TaqMan® PCR assay for the Australian abalone herpes-like virus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 92(1), 1-10.
Scopus43 WoS40 Europe PMC202008 Vetter, W., Von Der Recke, R., Symons, R., & Pyecroft, S. (2008). Determination of polybrominated biphenyls in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) by gas chromatography coupled to electron capture negative ion tandem mass spectrometry or electron ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 22(24), 4165-4170.
Scopus19 WoS15 Europe PMC72008 Kreiss, A., Fox, N., Bergfeld, J., Quinn, S. J., Pyecroft, S., & Woods, G. M. (2008). Assessment of cellular immune responses of healthy and diseased Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 32(5), 544-553.
Scopus38 WoS36 Europe PMC342007 Pyecroft, S. B., Pearse, A. M., Loh, R., Swift, K., Belov, K., Fox, N., . . . Moore, R. (2007). Towards a case definition for devil facial tumour disease: What is it?. EcoHealth, 4(3), 346-351.
Scopus76 WoS682007 Siddle, H., Kreiss, A., Eldridge, M., Noonan, E., Clarke, C., Pyecroft, S., . . . Belov, K. (2007). Transmission of a fatal clonal tumor by biting occurs due to depleted MHC diversity in a threatened carnivorous marsupial. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 104(41), 16221-16226.
Scopus226 WoS212 Europe PMC1562007 Hardie, S. A., Pyecroft, S. B., Barmuta, L. A., & White, R. W. G. (2007). Spawning-related fungal infection of golden galaxias Galaxias auratus (Galaxiidae). Journal of Fish Biology, 70(4), 1287-1294.
Scopus2 WoS12006 Hawkins, C. E., Baars, C., Hesterman, H., Hocking, G. J., Jones, M. E., Lazenby, B., . . . Wiersma, J. (2006). Emerging disease and population decline of an island endemic, the Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii. Biological Conservation, 131(2), 307-324.
Scopus297 WoS2742006 Loh, R., Bergfeld, J., Hayes, D., O'Hara, A., Pyecroft, S., Raidal, S., & Sharpe, R. (2006). The pathology of devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) in Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Veterinary Pathology, 43(6), 890-895.
Scopus132 WoS118 Europe PMC932006 Loh, R., Hayes, D., Mahjoor, A., O'Hara, A., Pyecroft, S., & Raidal, S. (2006). The immunohistochemical characterization of devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) in the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Veterinary Pathology, 43(6), 896-903.
Scopus61 WoS59 Europe PMC532005 Marshall, J. A., Ross, T., Pyecroft, S., & Hallegraeff, G. (2005). Superoxide production by marine microalgae: II. Towards understanding ecological consequences and possible functions. Marine Biology, 147(2), 541-549.
Scopus79 WoS702001 Hudson, D. A., Hudson, N. B., & Pyecroft, S. B. (2001). Mortalities of Penaeus japonicus prawns associated with microsporidean infection. Australian veterinary journal, 79(7), 504-505.
Scopus24 WoS20 Europe PMC61997 Spann, K. M., Adlard, R. D., Hudson, D. A., Pyecroft, S. B., Jones, T. C., & Voigt, M. O. C. (1997). Hepatopancreatic parvo-like virus (HPV) of Penaeus Japonicus cultured in Australia. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 31(3), 239-241.
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2022 Pyecroft, S. B., & Xerri, V. (2022). Hemocytic neoplasia in mollusks. In F. S.B. Kibenge, B. Baldisserotto, & R. Sie-Maen Chong (Eds.), Aquaculture Pathophysiology: Volume II. Crustacean and Molluscan Diseases (Vol. 2, pp. 653-658). Oxford, UK: Elsevier.
2022 Pyecroft, S. B. (2022). Shell-boring polychaetes (mudworms) and sponges affecting oysters, scallops, and abalone. In Aquaculture Pathophysiology: Volume II. Crustacean and Molluscan Diseases (Vol. 2, pp. 583-591). Elsevier.
Scopus22022 Pyecroft, S. B., Ryan, G., & Mahadevan, J. J. (2022). Spring viremia of carp. In F. S.B. Kibenge, B. Baldisserotto, & R. Sie-Maen Chong (Eds.), Aquaculture Pathophysiology: Finfish Diseases: Volume I (Vol. 1, pp. 267-275). Oxford, UK: Elsevier.
Scopus22022 Pyecroft, S. B., Beynon, E., Mahadevan, J. J., & Chong, R. S. M. (2022). Infectious salmon anemia. In F. S.B. Kibenge, B. Baldisserotto, & R. Sie-Maen Chong (Eds.), Aquaculture Pathophysiology: Finfish Diseases: Volume I (Vol. 1, pp. 177-184). Oxford, UK: Elsevier.
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2013 Ujvari, B., Piddington, L., Belov, K., Pearse, A. -M., Harmsen, C., Taylor, R., . . . T Papenfuss, A. (2013). Devil Facial Tumor Disease, a potential model of the Cancer Stem-Cell Process?. In 1st Annual International Conference on Advances in Veterinary Science Research (VETSCI 2013). Global Science & Technology Forum (GSTF).
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2014 Caraguel, C. G., Pyecroft, S., Gustafson, L., Gardner, I., & Hammell, L. (2014). Balance between surveillance and biosecurity to support safe trade in aquaculture. Poster session presented at the meeting of World Aquaculture Adelaide Conference. Adelaide, Australia. 2014 Pyecroft, S., Rochler, A., & Caraguel, C. G. (2014). The use of diagnostic pathology in Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas health surveillance programs: a South Australian example. Poster session presented at the meeting of World Aquaculture Adelaide Conference. Adelaide, Australia. -
Report for External Bodies
Year Citation 2020 Pyecroft, S., & Jones, B. (2020). Determining best practice for testing the resistance of non-target species (NTS) to Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) infection as part of the National Carp Control Program A discussion paper based on systematic quantitative literature review (FRDC Project No 2017/217). 2019 Fitzgibbon, Q., Caraguel, C., Pyecroft, S., Gardner, C., Day, R., Patel, K., & Mahadevan, J. (2019). Improving post-harvest survivability of southern rock lobster in a changing environment (FRDC Project No 2016/235). 2016 Pyecroft, S. (2016). Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Development of a national aquatic animal health curriculum (NAAHC) for delivery by tertiary institutions Report from consultative workshop, Adelaide 13-14 February, 2014 (FRDC Project No 2014-403).
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2020 Principal Supervisor The utilisation of insect based aquafeed substitution in Barramundi, Silver Perch and Murray Cod for optimum nutritional value and flavour Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Adele Jade Barca -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Investigation of the Microbial Flora and Immune Function of Abalone as Indicators Associated with Summer Mortality Syndrome and Development of Possible Preventatives Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Yanhui Wang 2014 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Isolation, Characterisation and Preservation of Bacteriophages for Use in Treatment of Aeromonas hydrophila Infection in Finfish Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Farida Mazumder -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2016 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Deriving Schwann-like cells from Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) dental pulp stem cells University of Adelaide PhD in Veterinary Science Doctorate Full Time Chelsea Maree Graham -
Mentoring
Date Topic Location Name 2019 - 2022 Membership by examination to the Aquatic Animal Health Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand college of Veterinary Scientists ANZCVS Dr Johanna Madevan
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Board Memberships
Date Role Board name Institution name Country 2020 - 2022 Director World Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Association WAVMA Australia -
Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2014 - 2016 President Chapter of Aquatic Animal Health Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2022 - ongoing Member Australian & New Zealand Association of Aquarium Professionals Australia 2022 - ongoing Member Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society Australia 2016 - ongoing Member World Aquaculture Society Australia 2002 - ongoing Member Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles