title: Recommendations for Health Monitoring and Reporting for Zebrafish Research Facilities.
abstract: The presence of subclinical infection or clinical disease in laboratory zebrafish may have a significant impact on research results, animal health and welfare, and transfer of animals between institutions. As use of zebrafish as a model of disease increases, a harmonized method for monitoring and reporting the health status of animals will facilitate the transfer of animals, allow institutions to exclude diseases that may negatively impact their research programs, and improve animal health and welfare. All zebrafish facilities should implement a health monitoring program. In this study, we review important aspects of a health monitoring program, including choice of agents, samples for testing, available testing methodologies, housing and husbandry, cost, test subjects, and a harmonized method for reporting results. Facilities may use these recommendations to implement their own health monitoring program.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Comparative Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Chereen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collymore
authors.affiliation: 2 IDEXX BioResearch , Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Marcus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Crim
authors.affiliation: 3 Center for Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Weill Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lieggi
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006799:Housing, Animal; D015027:Zebrafish