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Title: Routine health monitoring in an aquatic species (Oryzias latipes) used in toxicological testing

Conference ·
OSTI ID:392328
; ;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3];  [4]
  1. Geo-Centers, Inc., Frederick, MD (United States)
  2. National Biological Service, Kearneysville, WV (United States)
  3. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA (United States)
  4. New York Univ. School of Medicine, Tuxedo, NY (United States). Dept. of Environmental Medicine

It is critical to establish baseline health endpoints in animal models used in toxicological studies. In mammalian models, procedures for monitoring the health status of test animals have been established and in use for many years; in many aquatic models, including medaka, much of this routine health screening has not been documented. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize routine health parameters in medaka and to identify parameters sensitive to changes in health status which could affect the suitability of animals for use in general toxicity and immunotoxicological studies. The endpoints assessed included histopathology (31 organs), identification of endogenous bacterial flora and, gross necropsy including body weight, length, hematocrit, leukocrit, and plasma immunoglobulin levels. Additional parameters included anterior kidney (the teleost bone marrow equivalent) weight and cell yields plus superoxide anion production. Histological findings included observation of age-related incidence of granulomatous lesions in a variety of organs. Multiple strains of Aeromonas and Pseudomonas were the predominant internal flora in healthy medaka. Hematocrit, leukocrit and plasma IgM levels were within the normal range for this species. Comparisons were made between healthy and handling-stressed fish. Evaluation of data collected to date suggest that leukocrit and superoxide anion production were the most sensitive indicators of the fish health status and suitability for use in general and/or immunotoxicological studies.

OSTI ID:
392328
Report Number(s):
CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9647%%182
Resource Relation:
Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English