Alternatives to the use of fish in research

This page is being used to gather links to 3R-alternatives to the use of fish in research.

• The Centre for Digital Life at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU coordinates several projects including construction of a salmon simulator and a digital brain, to reduce the use of live animals in neurological research (Laksesimulator og digital hjerne i nytt forskningssenter) 
• The Microtox Test System, which is based upon the use of luminescent bacteria, specifically the strain Vibrio fischeri, to measure toxicity from environmental samples.
• Goksøyr A (2005) Alternative techniques in fish toxicity testing. A presentation at an international consensus meeting on the care and use of fish in research.
• ALTBIB Bibliography on Alternatives to Animal testing. A search on "Fish" provides plenty of papers on fish models as alternatives to mammalian models, but very few models to replece the use of live fish.
• The Use of Fish Cells in Ecotoxicology: a report from an ECVAM workshop into the potentials for replacing the use of live fish.
• Defoirdt T, Bossier P, Sorgeloos P, Verstraete W (2005) The impact of mutations in the quorum sensing systems of Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio anguillarum and Vibrio harveyi on their virulence towards gnotobiotically cultured Artemia franciscana. Environ Microbiol 7: 1239-1247. A bioassay for the use of artemia instead of live fish.

• Ellis T, James JD, Stewart C, Scott AP (2004) A noninvasive stress assay based upon measurement of free cortisol released into the water by rainbow trout. Journal of Fish Biology 65, 1233-1252.

• Turner et al 2003, Measurement of fecal glucocorticoids in parrotfishes to assess stress.

• Scott AP, Pinillos M, and Ellis T (2001): Why measure steroids in fish plasma when you can measure them in the water? In: Perspectives in Comparative Endocrinology  (Goos T, Rastogi RK, Vaudry H & Pierantoni R, eds). Bologna: Monduzzi Editore, 1291-1295.

• Segner H (1998) Fish cell lines as a tool in aquatic toxicology Exs 86:1-38 

• Balls M, Bridges J & Southee J (1991): Animals and Alternatives in Toxicology. London: Macmillan Press. Methods for replacing fish with the water flea (Daphnia magna).

• The NORINA database contains information on over 3500 audiovisual aids that may be used as alternatives or supplements to the use of animals in teaching. A search on fish provides alternatives within areas such as anatomy and physiology.

• The TextBase database contains information on over 1500 books on topics related to laboratory animal science and alternatives. A search on fish provides useful information on topics related to the care and use of fish in research.