Biopsy sampling of salmon skin and gills for Mucosal Mapping v.4
The development of a nonlethal method to quantify the mucous cells in skin and gills of salmon requires testing for best sampling method and for the statistical reliability of the data generated from the samples. This proposal aims at laying the foundation for industrial-scale monitoring and improvement of the health of the barrier tissues in farmed Fish. This will allow broodstock to be sampled, analysed and thereafter selected for further breeding, bringing another highly useful element into sustainable fish farming.
Using ILAB facilities, we wish to test 50 salmon of similar size and, after appropriate anesthesia with eg. MS222, sample their dorsolateral skin using biopsy needles of various sizes (5 sizes from about 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm diameter), and several forms of wound cover for healing (Epiglu, Vetbond, Gluture, another wound bond and a control Group). The biopsy needles will likely have to be modified to maintain the structure of the outer mucous layer of fish, which contains living cells, as opposed to the human layer of dead cells outermost on our skin. The Fish will be montiored for healing, inflammation and time to full recovery.
We wish to do the same for a separate group of 50 similar sized salmon and sample the gills using variations on established nonlethal methods of gill sampling (scissor clip, biopsy needles). Since this is respiratory tissue, fewer options for wound healing sprays exist for post-operative recovery. Fish will be monitored as above.
Since we have used a multifactorial cross-linked design we reduced the number of animals from a potential 250 (5 Groups of 10 Fish given x biopsy needle size subjected to each of the 5 wound healing protocols) to a mere 50, where 2 from each Group of ten are assigned to one wound healing protocol.
We hope that this will begin to draw the focus of Fish Health activities away from pathogens and disease and back to the fish's own ability to maintain its primary health via strengthening of the barrier tissues.
Using ILAB facilities, we wish to test 50 salmon of similar size and, after appropriate anesthesia with eg. MS222, sample their dorsolateral skin using biopsy needles of various sizes (5 sizes from about 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm diameter), and several forms of wound cover for healing (Epiglu, Vetbond, Gluture, another wound bond and a control Group). The biopsy needles will likely have to be modified to maintain the structure of the outer mucous layer of fish, which contains living cells, as opposed to the human layer of dead cells outermost on our skin. The Fish will be montiored for healing, inflammation and time to full recovery.
We wish to do the same for a separate group of 50 similar sized salmon and sample the gills using variations on established nonlethal methods of gill sampling (scissor clip, biopsy needles). Since this is respiratory tissue, fewer options for wound healing sprays exist for post-operative recovery. Fish will be monitored as above.
Since we have used a multifactorial cross-linked design we reduced the number of animals from a potential 250 (5 Groups of 10 Fish given x biopsy needle size subjected to each of the 5 wound healing protocols) to a mere 50, where 2 from each Group of ten are assigned to one wound healing protocol.
We hope that this will begin to draw the focus of Fish Health activities away from pathogens and disease and back to the fish's own ability to maintain its primary health via strengthening of the barrier tissues.