Guidelines for the Care and Use of Fish in Research

Louis J. DeTolla is director of comparative medicine, S. Srinivas is chief of veterinary diagnostics, Renate Reimschuessel is director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Center, and Andrew S. Kane is aquatic biologist, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Brent R. Whitaker is director of animal health, Bruce Hecker is curator of fishes, and Christopher Andrews is senior director of biological programs, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. Louis J. DeTolla is director of comparative medicine, S. Srinivas is chief of veterinary diagnostics, Renate Reimschuessel is director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Center, and Andrew S. Kane is aquatic biologist, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Brent R. Whitaker is director of animal health, Bruce Hecker is curator of fishes, and Christopher Andrews is senior director of biological programs, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. Louis J. DeTolla is director of comparative medicine, S. Srinivas is chief of veterinary diagnostics, Renate Reimschuessel is director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Center, and Andrew S. Kane is aquatic biologist, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Brent R. Whitaker is director of animal health, Bruce Hecker is curator of fishes, and Christopher Andrews is senior director of biological programs, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. Louis J. DeTolla is director of comparative medicine, S. Srinivas is chief of veterinary diagnostics, Renate Reimschuessel is director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Center, and Andrew S. Kane is aquatic biologist, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Brent R. Whitaker is director of animal health, Bruce Hecker is curator of fishes, and Christopher Andrews is senior director of biological programs, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. Louis J. DeTolla is director of comparative medicine, S. Srinivas is chief of veterinary diagnostics, Renate Reimschuessel is director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Center, and Andrew S. Kane is aquatic biologist, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Brent R. Whitaker is director of animal health, Bruce Hecker is curator of fishes, and Christopher Andrews is senior director of biological programs, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. Louis J. DeTolla is director of comparative medicine, S. Srinivas is chief of veterinary diagnostics, Renate Reimschuessel is director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Center, and Andrew S. Kane is aquatic biologist, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Brent R. Whitaker is director of animal health, Bruce Hecker is curator of fishes, and Christopher Andrews is senior director of biological programs, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. Louis J. DeTolla is director of comparative medicine, S. Srinivas is chief of veterinary diagnostics, Renate Reimschuessel is director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Center, and Andrew S. Kane is aquatic biologist, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Brent R. Whitaker is director of animal health, Bruce Hecker is curator of fishes, and Christopher Andrews is senior director of biological programs, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. This article focuses on the use of fish as a laboratory resource. The discussion should be useful to the principal investigator and the personnel responsible for fish husbandry, care, and management. It will also aid members of institutional animal care and use committees (IACUCs) when they evaluate the proposed use of fish species in various research projects. During the last 10 years, the use of fish in research has been increasing (DeVita 1984; Post 1987; Powers 1989; Goodrich 1990; Evans 1993; Stoskopf 1993a). The development of fish as a food source has also grown. Aquaculture is one of the most rapidly expanding new food industries partly because fish are seen as a low-fat food source and as a replacement for meats that are fat-rich. Consequently, an increasing emphasis is placed on the amount of fish consumed, the quality of fish produced, and the efficiency of fish growth. Research into the health and husbandry of food fishes is advancing with the development of the aquaculture industry and an increasing interest in maintaining fish as pets. At some point, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a similar group might inspect fish to ensure their quality as a food source. Research on fish is also expanding and intensifying as a result of a greater interest in establishing new aquaria for entertainment and educational purposes. Although aquarists are interested in a wider range of species than aquaculturalists, they are in a unique position to solve special husbandry problems with special species as well as identify valuable animal models or species with particular biological properties. The attention that fish have received from both hobbyists and the fish industry has increased awareness of fish health as a factor that impacts the environment and as a measurement of environmental health (McKone and Daniels 1991]). Fish research and more specifically research in aquaculture helps address questions regarding environmental pollution, conservation, and protection of the freshwater estuarine and marine environment. Fish are increasingly used in the laboratory as animal models in toxicology. Outside of the laboratory fish are also subjected to environmental stresses (man-made and otherwise) that can harm their health and well-being. All of these factors should also act to stimulate field research, that is, research performed directly on fish in their natural habitat, even though the number of experimental variables is much greater. Recently, as a result of greater concerns about the humane use of higher vertebrates in research, fish have been evaluated as a replacement in toxicologic, pharmacologic, and genetic studies that might otherwise employ mice or other mammalian species. All of this will increase the use of fish in research and expand the knowledge base on the care and use of these species in the laboratory. Comprehensive guidelines on the care and use of fish would be difficult to compile as there are so many different types of fish with a variety of husbandry requirements. Fish research in laboratory animal science explores and uses their incredible diversity (Pough 1992); the 20,000 species of fish worldwide constitute about half of all living species of vertebrates, making them the largest group of living vertebrates (Schaeffer and others 1992). In addition to size, which varies from a few to 15 meters, fish vary significantly in their taxonomy, morphology, genetics, behavior, physiology, and ecology. Currently, the Animal Welfare Act does not cover certain animals, including cold-blooded vertebrates. However, all institutions funded by the Public Health Service (PHS) must follow the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide) (NRC 1996), which covers all vertebrate species. The specific use of cold-blooded species including fish is not discussed in the Guide, but all institutions are expected to care for and use fish in research in a manner judged to be professionally and humanely appropriate for the particular species in question. Although fish differ from both warm-blooded and other cold-blooded species, like their endothermic counterparts they need to be maintained in a controlled environment with a limitation on stress. Certain species of fish that are frequently used in research include rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (which range from 25-30 cm in length) and other salmonids, such as coho salmon (O. kisutch), sockeye salmon (O. nerka), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brook charr (Salvelinusfontinalis) (less than 25 cm long). Toxicity testing is frequently done with fishes such as the fathead minnow (Pimphales promelas) (up to 10 cm), sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon cm), and (up to cm), and the (up to The which is than cm is used in and genetic species frequently include such as (up to (up to cm), cm), (up to cm), cm), and (up to species are also used such as (up to and (up to The on the Care and of Laboratory Animals has useful on freshwater fish and marine which also address their laboratory fish for laboratory research, the should be of fish species. on the of research, the species will into or this will much of the as well as to husbandry of is also a principal of species that special care a and that higher not be as a as fish that laboratory personnel such as to and all need to be a species. should be species, because of their or an or need which can laboratory and and more a fish species has been the investigator must or fish are by and laboratory but some and hobbyists are also to fish can be from or by fish are to in this but they be of natural or a of fish are some of the they and the can to During the and of Fish 1992). for an of fish and other Fish and other Fish and other fish for laboratory by an investigator or a include the and and a that one the appropriate as the of natural and an The are not difficult to last for to years, and are or species as or certain special The species will need to be by the such as use of certain types of or use of also for a of The will the to and when the will as well as to a on are not one is in or with species. to the will to a is as well as which the should be a for an species will not cover The appropriate will be to a special is in addition to the of and and can be from the U.S. Fish and of the U.S. Fish and Service of certain food or fishes or their from different of the Although the to food and fishes and fish and fish is to be of and their for even when fishes for fish from the a special for or of Fish or must be and with the U.S. This be by an by a that on the on in are and the is of that are with and their is the most in species in that the of has an species be are in to and protection for species that are in of vertebrate research performed or by the U.S. is by the U.S. for the and Care of Animals in and in these are to the Guide (NRC 1996), which that an environment be for species and that on the natural and of be (NRC of for a is not in the useful guidelines include The Care and Use of and Fish in Research by the for Animal Welfare (Schaeffer and others and for The Use in Research by the of and the and the of Research useful is the on Animal Guide to the Care and Use of Animals The Animal Welfare Act does not cover fish or of the cold-blooded vertebrates. The the appropriate species of the appropriate as well as the of for and must also be should to the health and of the and should be for by and of veterinary and personnel should be and to the must be by the All of the are directly to research with In addition to with the of the is frequently valuable for the to have to members that are in the of fish as research with be of husbandry, or in or aquatic research there are 20,000 species of fish that many environmental husbandry will vary on the natural environment for a particular species. must be and to and and and 1989; Goodrich During should be to and a is used the must be by or by or such as All should be to or well must be of the appropriate of and in the Laboratory fish include or and a or placed in a of and 1990; 1992). 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The fish must be in health, to in the new range of and to In the that the fish must be is to use to ensure to The to and for their with and in the of the