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The Housing and Husbandry of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) in a Laboratory Environment

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Essentials of Laboratory Animal Science: Principles and Practices

Abstract

The international research community has witnessed the substantial contribution of the zebrafish, from its origins as a low-cost, model system for developmental biology research that has now been extended to a broad number of scientific disciplines including genetic analysis, gene regulation, angiogenesis, cancer biology, drug discovery, and toxicology. A high degree of genetic homology with humans and the advent of genome-editing CRISPR/Cas9 techniques allow for the creation of zebrafish knockouts that have helped elucidate gene function and identify disease genes in humans. Access to large-scale research resources, genetic markers, and mutant inventory that accumulated over the decades, combined with the availability of commercial aquatic housing systems, has led many investigators to choose zebrafish as a model system. Given its wide-scale usage, understanding new approaches and methods of zebrafish husbandry is essential to ensure efficient propagation and maintenance of healthy and genetically diverse fish lines. This chapter provides basic information about facility design, modern aquatic systems, water quality, husbandry, nutrition, breeding, and health of the zebrafish. Along with present-day resources, updates on the basic requirements for raising the zebrafish in laboratory conditions will benefit the zebrafish research community, facility managers, veterinarians, and technicians.

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Abbreviations

DPF:

Days postfertilization

HPF:

Hours postfertilization

WRS:

Water recirculation system

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to express gratitude to Professor Mahendra Sonawane, Department of Biological Sciences, TIFR, Mumbai, for continuous encouragement and guidance. The cooperation of research scholars (Prof. Sonawane’s group) in managing the fish facility is highly appreciated. Sincere thanks to Mr. Christian Lawrence, Aquatic Resources Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, USA, for critical review, useful comments, and recommendations that improved the quality of this chapter. The author also would like to thank Dr. M A Pathan, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India, for sharing original photographs of recently collected wild zebrafish from the natural habitat.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, TIFR, Mumbai, India

    Kalidas Kohale

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  1. Kalidas Kohale
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Correspondence to Kalidas Kohale .

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  1. Experimental Animal Facility, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    P. Nagarajan

  2. Central Animal Facility, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Ramachandra Gudde

  3. Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    Ramesh Srinivasan

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Kohale, K. (2021). The Housing and Husbandry of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) in a Laboratory Environment. In: Nagarajan, P., Gudde, R., Srinivasan, R. (eds) Essentials of Laboratory Animal Science: Principles and Practices. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0987-9_13

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