Review of diseases and health management in zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton 1822) in research facilities

Abstract

The use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in biomedical research has expanded at a tremendous rate over the last two decades. Along with increases in laboratories using this model, we are discovering new and important diseases. We review here the important pathogens and diseases based on some 20 years of research and findings from our diagnostic service at the NIH-funded Zebrafish International Resource Center. Descriptions of the present status of biosecurity programmes and diagnostic and treatment approaches are included. The most common and important diseases and pathogens are two parasites, Pseudoloma neurophilia and Pseudocapillaria tomentosa, and mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium chelonae, M. marinum and M. haemophilum. Less common but deadly diseases are caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri and infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV). Hepatic megalocytosis and eggassociated inflammation and fibroplasia are common, apparently non-infectious, in zebrafish laboratories. Water quality diseases include supersaturation and nephrocalcinosis. Common neoplasms are spindle cell sarcomas, ultimobranchial tumours, spermatocytic seminomas and a small-cell carcinoma that is caused by a transmissible agent. Despite the clear biosecurity risk, researchers continue to use fish from pet stores, and here, we document two novel coccidia associated with significant lesions in zebrafish from one of these stores. K E Y W O R D S biosecurity, Danio rerio, diagnostics, fish diseases, treatment

Zebrafish BID Exerts an Antibacterial Role by Negatively Regulating p53, but in a Caspase-8-Independent Manner

“…Edwardsiella ictaluri , a Gram-negative bacteria, is a deadly pathogen in zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) ( 12 , 13 ). In the present study, we found that zebrafish Bid could induce apoptosis in piscine cells, similar to previous observations in mammals ( 1 , 14 ).…”

Retrospective analysis of the Zebrafish International Resource Center diagnostic data links Pseudocapillaria tomentosa to intestinal neoplasms in zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton 1822)

“…Hence, we have been investigating the aetiology, pathogenesis, etc., of various zebrafish fish diseases for the last two decades. Two common intestinal diseases are epithelial carcinomas (Paquette et al., 2013; Spagnoli & Murray, 2020) and severe infections by the nematode Pseudocapillaria tomentosa (Kent & Sanders, 2020; Kent, Sanders, Spagnoli, Al‐Samarrie, & Murray, 2020). As part of the Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC) diagnostic programme (http://zebrafish.org/health/index.php), we have examined many healthy and moribund zebrafish from over 300 facilities from 2000, and the worm and intestinal neoplasms (small cell carcinomas or adenocarcinomas) were observed in about 10% and 16% of the facilities, respectively (Kent et al, 2020).…”

Toxic or Not Toxic, That Is the Carbon Quantum Dot’s Question: A Comprehensive Evaluation with Zebrafish Embryo, Eleutheroembryo, and Adult Models

“…Zebrafish and humans share more than 10,000 genes, accounting for approximately 70% of the human genome [ 31 ]. For this reason, many human drugs elicit similar physiological responses in zebrafish, making them a good model for toxicity assessments [ 32 ]. Additionally, low operation fee is another advantage, since zebrafish can reproduce a lot of offspring easily.…”