Abstract
Considering the numbers of zebrafish held in the laboratories, it is relevant to develop some tools to monitor the health of the animals, as well as their biotope. Environmental samples can be used to detect aquatic pathogens. Comprehensive health monitoring would thus seek pathogens in three dimensions of the animals and microbes' habitat: the fish, the sludge, and the water. This three-dimensional approach is called the 3D screen and it introduces some complementary tools to routine sentinel screening. For example, sludge and sump swabs analyses allow an efficient detection of pathogens at a low cost and with a fast turnover. These assays are particularly useful in cases of Pseudocapillaria tomentosa infestation or Mycobacterium haemophilum outbreak. Indeed, such a broader choice of diagnostic tests gives flexibility for the veterinarian to investigate Mycobacterium spp. presence in the water systems and fish colonies. Some other robust additional analysis, like the mortality rate monitoring, quickens the decision-making process. The 3D screen describes how this new toolbox can be used efficiently to monitor laboratory fish health.
Highlights
Research benefits from the health monitoring of laboratory animals.[1,2] Detecting the presence of pathogens leads to a better interpretation of experimental results
Sentinels and colony animals are tested by histopathology for a general pathology screen and/or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify a specific pathogen or to screen for a defined panel of pathogens
We propose in this study a more comprehensive and flexible approach to health monitoring of zebrafish by detecting pathogens in three dimensions of their habitat: the fish, the sludge, and the water
Summary
Research benefits from the health monitoring of laboratory animals.[1,2] Detecting the presence of pathogens leads to a better interpretation of experimental results. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are no exception.[3,4,5,6] The health screening often consists in setting sentinels prefiltration and/ or postfiltration. Exposing prefiltration sentinels to contaminant may increase the animal carer’s workload when the sentinels are set in an independent tank receiving sump water. Sentinels need time to be exposed to present pathogens and that restrict the flexibility to test the colonies and the systems when a problem appears. It is not practical when screening imported fish in quarantine. Sending colony animals and sentinels in numbers to detect less prevalent pathogens increases the number of animals used
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