PUBLICATION

Pseudocapillaria tomentosa, Mycoplasma spp., and Intestinal Lesions in Experimentally Infected Zebrafish Danio rerio

Authors
Kent, M.L., Wall, E.S., Sichel, S., Watral, V., Stagaman, K., Sharpton, T.J., Guillemin, K.
ID
ZDB-PUB-210519-23
Date
2021
Source
Zebrafish   18(3): 207-220 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Guillemin, Karen, Kent, Michael
Keywords
Mycoplasma, Pseudocapillaria tomentosa, neoplasia, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Fish Diseases*/microbiology
  • Fish Diseases*/parasitology
  • Mycoplasma
  • Mycoplasma Infections/veterinary*
  • Nematoda
  • Nematode Infections*/veterinary
  • Zebrafish/microbiology
  • Zebrafish/parasitology
PubMed
33999743 Full text @ Zebrafish
Abstract
Intestinal neoplasms and preneoplastic lesions are common in zebrafish research facilities. Previous studies have demonstrated that these neoplasms are caused by a transmissible agent, and two candidate agents have been implicated: a Mycoplasma sp. related to Mycoplasma penetrans and the intestinal parasitic nematode, Pseudocapillaria tomentosa, and both agents are common in zebrafish facilities. To elucidate the role of these two agents in the occurrence and severity of neoplasia and other intestinal lesions, we conducted two experimental inoculation studies. Exposed fish were examined at various time points over an 8-month period for intestinal histopathologic changes and the burden of Mycoplasma and nematodes. Fish exposed to Mycoplasma sp. isolated from zebrafish were associated with preneoplastic lesions. Fish exposed to the nematode alone or with the Mycoplasma isolate developed severe lesions and neoplasms. Both inflammation and neoplasm scores were associated with an increase in Mycoplasma burden. These results support the conclusions that P. tomentosa is a strong promoter of intestinal neoplasms in zebrafish and that Mycoplasma alone can also cause intestinal lesions and accelerate cancer development in the context of nematode infection.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping