In the relatively brief span of only a few decades, the zebrafish has gone from being mainly a hobby fish to a mainstream model animal employed by scientists to study everything from stem cells to the basis of behavioral changes induced by drug addiction. This rapid advance has been fueled largely by numerous and impressive advances in technology, along with detailed characterization of the animal on a genetic and molecular level. These developments have allowed scientists to leverage the many advantages of the zebrafish system to address many important questions in biology and human genetics and disease. However, there are few accepted and established standards for husbandry, management, and care for the fish in laboratory settings and even fewer comprehensive and constantly reliable resources. To this end, the goal of this handbook is to provide managers, veterinarians, investigators, technicians, and regulatory personnel with a concise yet thorough reference on zebrafish biology, care, husbandry, and management. The aim of the book is not to set standards, but rather to arm those working with the fish with scientifically grounded principles and fundamental information that can be used to design sound fish care programs. This handbook is organized into seven chapters: Biology, Husbandry, Life Support Systems, Management, Veterinary Care, Experimental Methodology and Resources. The final chapter, Resources, provides the zebrafish user with lists of sources of additional information on the zebrafish model, as well as key references, professional organizations, and suppliers of equipment and supplies used in zebrafish husbandry and care.
Contents
BIOLOGY
• INTRODUCTION
• NATURAL HISTORY
• GENETICS
• GENETIC STRAINS
• NOMENCLATURE
• BEHAVIOR
• ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
• CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND HEMATOLOGY
HUSBANDRY
• NUTRITION AND FEEDING
• BREEDING
• LARVICULTURE
• HOUSING DENSITY
• GENETIC MANAGEMENT
• IDENTIFICATION AND RECORD KEEPING
• TRANSPORTATION
LIFE SUPPORT
• FACILITY DESIGN
• HOUSING SYSTEMS
• WATER SOURCE
• WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT
• EFFLUENT MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
• REGULATORY AGENCIES AND COMPLIANCE
• INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEES
• OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
• DISPOSITION OF FISH
VETERINARY CARE
• BASIC BIOLOGIC PARAMETERS
• ANIMAL WELFARE INDICATORS FOR FISH
• STRESS RESPONSE IN FISH
• CLINICAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND SAMPLE COLLECTION
• COMMON DISEASES OF THE LABORATORY ZEBRAFISH
• PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
• HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AND MONITORING
• ANESTHESIA AND EUTHANASIA
EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY
• RESTRAINT
• SAMPLING METHODS
• COMPOUND ADMINISTRATION
• SURGICAL PROCEDURES
RESOURCES
• ORGANIZATIONS
• PUBLICATIONS
• ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
• EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
APPENDIX 1. SAMPLE ARTEMIA DECAPSULATION SOP
APPENDIX 2. SAMPLE ZEBRAFISH FACILITY CHECKSHEET
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
