Streamlining model organisms facilities operation: The benefits of a unified management structure

Laboratory Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 28, 2025

This article is dedicated to elucidating and showcasing the concept of a unified Core Facility for laboratory animals within research institute specialized in basic biology biomedical research. In many centres, animal facilities operate as autonomous entities. Here, we discuss that centralization all model units consolidated organizational framework offers multitude benefits terms communication with variety institutional stakeholders, including Direction Board, Operational Logistics (Maintenance, Lab Operations Safety Units), Procurement Accounting Offices, Research Funding Affairs, Institutional Communication, IT Units. integrated approach facilitates implementation consistent policies service pricing strategies. Moreover, it promotes staff flexibility across species, allows responsiveness evolving dynamics, emergence new scientific areas infrastructure challenges. also inspires technical advancement facilities, supports training Laboratory Animal Science, stimulates standardization welfare practices, instils culture care transversal models, ultimately enhancing overall welfare. strategy facilitated integration non-vertebrate plant models into Facility. Despite significant differences from vertebrate this expansion presented advantages, such incorporation larger structure, offering them opportunities skill development Facility's operations.

Language: Английский

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Review of Pseudoloma neurophilia (Microsporidia): A common neural parasite of laboratory zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 71(5)

Published: July 3, 2024

Abstract Zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) is now the second most used animal model in biomedical research. As with other vertebrate models, underlying diseases and infections often impact Beyond mortality morbidity, these conditions can compromise research end points by producing nonprotocol induced variation within experiments. Pseudoloma neurophilia , a microsporidium that targets central nervous system, frequently diagnosed pathogen zebrafish facilities. The parasite undergoes direct, horizontal transmission populations, also maternally transmitted spores ovarian fluid occasionally eggs. This explains wide distribution among laboratories as new lines are generally introduced embryos. infection chronic, fish apparently never recover following initial infection. However, do not exhibit outward clinical signs. Histologically, occurs aggregates of throughout midbrain spinal cord extends to nerve roots. It elicits meninxitis, myositis, myodegeneration when it infects muscle. There currently no described therapies for parasite, thus best avoided screening PCR‐based tests removal infected from facility. Examples impacts include reduced fecundity, behavioral changes, transcriptome alterations, autofluorescent lesions.

Language: Английский

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FELASA-AALAS Recommendations for Biosecurity in an Aquatic Facility, Including Prevention of Zoonosis, Introduction of New Fish Colonies, and Quarantine

Comparative Medicine, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 72(3), P. 149 - 168

Published: June 1, 2022

FELASA and AALAS established a joint working group to advise on good practices for the exchange of fish research. In first manuscript, made recommendations health monitoring reporting results. The focus this second related manuscript is biosecurity in facilities. First, we define risk contamination personnel by zoonotic pathogens from or system water, including human mycobacteriosis. Preventive measures are recommended, such as wearing task-specific personal protective equipment. Then discuss biosecurity, highlighting establishment barriers preserve status facility. A functional program relies integration entire animal facility organization, flow staff animals, water treatments, equipment sanitation. Finally, propose 4 steps introducing new colonies: consideration international trade national restrictions; assessing according source developmental stage; establishing quarantine barriers; triage, screening, treatment newly imported fish. We then provide 3 realistic sample scenarios illustrate practical assessments mitigation based considerations conditions.

Language: Английский

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A FELASA Working Group Survey on Fish Species Used for Research, Methods of Euthanasia, Health Monitoring, and Biosecurity in Europe, North America, and Oceania

Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11(9), P. 1259 - 1259

Published: Aug. 24, 2022

An international survey was conducted regarding species used for research, methods of euthanasia, health monitoring, and biosecurity in fish laboratories. A total 145 facilities from 23 countries contributed. Collectively, over 80 different (or groups species) were reported to be which zebrafish (Danio rerio) the most common by far. About half participating laboratories multiple species. Anesthetic overdose preferred method euthanasia adult, fry (capable independent feeding), larval (not capable feeding) fish. For all developmental stages, popular anesthetic compound tricaine (MS-222), a substance associated with distress aversion several Moreover, around respondents did not perform completion ensure death. One-quarter responding have monitoring system place. While had some form quarantine process imported fish, only small fraction routines that reliable biological barriers. Furthermore, less than one five screened pathogens while quarantine. In sum, there little consensus amongst how measures. Regarding processes, is need updated universal guidelines many adjust their practices.

Language: Английский

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Decreased activity in zebrafish larvae exposed to glyphosate-based herbicides during development—potential mediation by glucocorticoid receptor

Frontiers in Toxicology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Aug. 6, 2024

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are a widely used group of pesticides that have glyphosate (GLY) as main active compound and to control wide range weeds. Experimental epidemiological studies point neurotoxicity endocrine disruption toxic effects. The aim this study was investigate the effects developmental exposure GLY GBH on locomotor behavior, possible contribution GR-mediated signaling. We zebrafish (

Language: Английский

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An Outbreak of the Nematode Parasite Eustrongylides spp. (Nematoda: Dioctophymatidae) in a Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Facility

Zebrafish, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 20(3), P. 126 - 130

Published: April 19, 2023

Despite advances in research employing zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal model, it is still difficult to obtain animals with attested sanitary qualities from commercial breeders. This study reports the first-time occurrence of Eustrongylides spp. parasitism a colony recently acquired pet store supplier begin at scientific facility. parasite has not been reported any current health-monitoring guidelines date. Thus, this report warning breeders and researchers that nematode can parasitize zebrafish, causing high lethality rates compromising outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Assessment of Oral Albendazole and Fumagillin in the Treatment of Pseudoloma neurophilia in Adult Zebrafish

Comparative Medicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Pseudoloma neurophilia (Pn), the causative agent of most commonly reported disease zebrafish, is a microsporidianparasite that confounds research by inducing behavioral and physiologic changes in zebrafish. Although treatmentfor P. has not been documented albendazole (ALB) fumagillin (FUM) have used to treatmicrosporidian infections other fish species. To investigate efficacy oral ALB FUM treatment Pn, weperformed pilot study demonstrated safety palatability novel gel-based diets containing or inadult AB In subsequent study, approximately 250 adult zebrafish (previously infected with Pn) were treatedwith these medicated for 4 wk. At different time points (weeks 0, 5, 10, 16 study), euthanized andwhole-body qPCR was performed assess Pn prevalence across control groups. There no statisticallysignificant association between group at any point, although potential biologically relevantreductions occurred combination therapy weeks 5 week 5.Based on high-performance liquid chromatography analyses, contained less more thanexpected, highlighting importance validating feed concentrations ensure safety, efficacy, consistency.While remains challenging eradicate control, results this warrant further investigation into utility ofALB as treatments pathogen.

Language: Английский

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Anesthesia, restraint and analgesia in laboratory fishes

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 393 - 409

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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Comprehensive Colony Health Management and Emerging Pathogens of the Annual Killifish Species Nothobranchius furzeri

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 63(1), P. 20 - 33

Published: Dec. 16, 2023

Abstract The Leibniz Institute on Aging has maintained killifish colonies for over 15 y. Our veterinarians, scientists, and animal technicians developed a fish health scoring system routine colony surveillance program our colonies. Over 4-y period, data from the African turquoise Nothobranchius furzeri were systematically collected analyzed. assessment facilitated categorization of clinical signs differentiation with mild that required euthanasia. This report provides new information conditions may occur in young aged N. . To be comprehensive, incorporates at both individual population levels. quarterly monitoring identified Mycobacterium spp. as most common agent facility pathogen ( Loma acerinae ) first time. Taken together, these findings demonstrate importance comprehensive management research facility. By improving welfare used research, scientific community will benefit less variable more reliably reproducible results.

Language: Английский

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Biodistribution of DNA-origami nanostructures in live zebrafish embryos with single-cell resolution

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 23, 2023

Abstract DNA origami-based nanotechnology is a versatile tool for exploring fundamental biological questions and holds significant promise future biomedical applications. However, the development of therapeutic agents hindered by challenge translating in vitro performance into effective applications vivo . Here, we exploit optical transparency embryonic zebrafish to track intravenously injected, fluorescently labelled wireframe origami nanostructures. Our approach integrated long-term, high-resolution imaging transgenic live embryos with single-cell RNA sequencing, elucidate biodistribution nanostructures over time, up 3 days post-injection (dpi). Notably, observed rapid accumulation caudal hematopoietic tissue (CHT), akin fetal liver mammals. We tested effects coating an oligolysine PEG copolymer (K-PEG), widely used strategy enhance their stability. The K-PEG mitigated rate CHT, enabling higher percentages engage other tissues. Additionally, our findings highlighted pivotal role scavenger endothelial cells clearance, offering sustained protection at CHT. Furthermore, monitoring line designed targeted macrophage ablation, found that macrophages contribute nanostructure clearance later time points. This study introduces framework analyses single cell resolution establishes foundation investigation nanomedicines animal models.

Language: Английский

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