Specific Pathogen Free – A review of strategies in agriculture, aquaculture, and laboratory mammals and how they inform new recommendations for laboratory zebrafish

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 142; pp. 78 - 93
• Main Authors: Murray, Katrina N., Clark, Tannia S., Kebus, Myron J., Kent, Michael L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2022; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animal husbandry; Animal welfare; Animals; Antibiotics; Aquaculture; Bacterial infections; Biosecurity; Danio rerio; Diagnostic tests; Disease; Fish; Food; Food safety; Food security; Health risks; Histopathology; Housing; Infections; Laboratory animals; Life cycle analysis; Mammals; Morbidity; Parasites; Pathogens; Physiology; Poultry farming; Public health; Risk analysis; Salmonids; Specific pathogen free; Veterinary medicine; Zebrafish; United States > US; Zebrafish; Animals; Specific pathogen free; Research; Disease
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.11.005

Specific pathogen-free (SPF) animals are bred and managed to exclude pathogens associated with significant morbidity or mortality that may secondarily pose a risk to public health, food safety and food security, and research replicability. Generating and maintaining SPF animals requires detailed biosecurity planning for control of housing, environmental, and husbandry factors and a history of regimented pathogen testing. Successful programs involve comprehensive risk analysis and exclusion protocols that are rooted in a thorough understanding of pathogen lifecycle and modes of transmission. In this manuscript we review the current state of SPF in domestic agriculture (pigs and poultry), aquaculture (salmonids and shrimp), and small laboratory mammals. As the use of laboratory fish, especially zebrafish (Danio rerio), as models of human disease is expanding exponentially, it is prudent to define standards for SPF in this field. We use the guiding principles from other SPF industries and evaluate zebrafish pathogens against criteria to be on an SPF list, to propose recommendations for establishing and maintaining SPF laboratory zebrafish. •Specific pathogen free (SPF) animals are bred and raised free of selected pathogens.•SPF guidelines exist in agriculture and aquaculture but not for laboratory animals.•Pathogen exclusion requires an understanding of lifecycle and modes of transmission.•A sampling and biosecurity strategy for raising SPF zebrafish is described.•SPF microbiome alterations are a variable in translatability of research outcomes.