Dr Stephen Pyecroft
Senior Lecturer
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
College of Science
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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Date | Title | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Member | Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists | Australia |
| 2002 | Member | Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinay Scientists | Australia |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Hastuti, S. D., Munro, J. L., Pyecroft, S. B., Barton, M. D., Costabile, M., & Jones, B. C. (2025). The Immune Responses and Histopathology of Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer) Fed Diets Supplemented with Various Single Pure Nucleotides. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 29(3), 2547-2585. |
| 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. Scopus4 |
| 2020 | 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. Scopus6 |
| 2020 | 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. Scopus4 WoS4 |
| 2019 | 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. Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC1 |
| 2018 | 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. Scopus1 |
| 2017 | 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 PMC7 |
| 2016 | 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. Scopus19 WoS17 Europe PMC5 |
| 2015 | 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 PMC6 |
| 2014 | 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. Scopus22 WoS19 Europe PMC18 |
| 2013 | 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. Scopus19 WoS18 Europe PMC18 |
| 2013 | 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. Scopus18 WoS17 Europe PMC14 |
| 2012 | 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 PMC18 |
| 2012 | 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. Scopus65 WoS58 Europe PMC54 |
| 2012 | 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. Scopus3 WoS3 |
| 2012 | 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. WoS3 |
| 2011 | 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. Scopus182 WoS167 Europe PMC144 |
| 2010 | 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. Scopus197 WoS177 Europe PMC167 |
| 2010 | 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. Scopus45 WoS41 Europe PMC26 |
| 2008 | 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 PMC9 |
| 2008 | 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. Scopus40 WoS36 Europe PMC40 |
| 2007 | 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. Scopus80 WoS74 |
| 2007 | 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. Scopus232 WoS219 Europe PMC170 |
| 2007 | 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 WoS1 |
| 2006 | 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. Scopus307 WoS296 |
| 2006 | 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. Scopus135 WoS124 Europe PMC103 |
| 2006 | 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 WoS60 Europe PMC56 |
| 2005 | 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. Scopus82 WoS74 |
| 2001 | 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. Scopus32 WoS26 Europe PMC19 |
| 1997 | 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. Scopus27 WoS24 |
| 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. DOI |
| 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. DOI Scopus3 |
| 2022 | 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. DOI Scopus4 |
| 2022 | 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. DOI Scopus1 |
| 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). DOI |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Valorisation of Food Waste Through Optimized Black Soldier Fly Larvae Production for Fish Production | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Ishaya Usman Gadzama |
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Valorisation of Food Waste Through Optimized Black Soldier Fly Larvae Production for Fish Production | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Ishaya Usman Gadzama |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Dr 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - 2022 | Director | World Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Association | WAVMA | Australia |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 - 2016 | President | Chapter of Aquatic Animal Health | Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists | Australia |
| 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 |
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