Dr. Zoltán VARGA (Zebrafish International Resource Center/ University of Oregon, USA)

2016. 08. 23 (Tue) 17:00 ~ 18:00

Conference Room, NIBB (Myodaiji)　

Laboratory of Bioresources, Yusuke Takehana (7579)

The 9th NIBB International Practical Course

The 4th NIBB-TLL Joint International Practical Course

Open Seminar

Practical Steps for Aquatic Facility Biosafety and Animal Health Program

Several pathogens exist in biomedical aquatic research facilities that can infect fish and impact overall colony survival or performance, including zoonotic pathogens that can also affect the health and safety of facility staff and researchers. A key goal for animal welfare is to have protocols and best practices in place that minimize or eliminate these risks. This seminar will discuss strategies for aquatic animal facilities for (1) limiting risk of accidental pathogen import into facilities, (2) identification and regular monitoring of fish colony healthstatus, (3) strategies for eliminating or mitigating the risk of disease outbreaks, and (4) disclosure of health statistics between facilities exchanging fish lines.
 

The various strategies, measures, and specific protocols we will discuss for facility health management should be part of a scalable, standardized, consistently applied program that is tailored to the specific needs of the institution’s research program.
 

Consistent health surveillance, elimination and mitigation of pathogens, as well as public disclosure of facility health status will improve research institutionally, domestically, and internationally by (1) decreasing variability of research outcomes between institutions, (2) decreasing loss of fish due to non-study health problems, and (3) increasing transparency to minimize zoonotic infection risks to staff and researchers. The introduction of serious pathogens to susceptible fish populations will be reduced along with an overall reduced risk of disease outbreaks in the aquatic biomedical research community.

References:

1. Health and Husbandry. Special Issue: Zebrafish. Jun 2016, 13(S1). Ed. Guest Editors: Christian Lawrence, Judith S. Eisen, Zoltán M. Varga

2. Varga Zoltán M., Lawrence Christian, Ekker Stephen C., and Eisen Judith S. (2016) Universal Healthcare for Zebrafish. Zebrafish 2016 13 S1, S-1 -S-4

3. Murray Katrina N., Varga Zoltán M., and Kent Michael L. (2016) Biosecurity and Health Monitoring at the Zebrafish International Resource Center. Zebrafish 2016 13 S1, S-30 -S-38