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Larvae 'could replace use of adult fish in pain research'
zebrafish
The team recommend that larval zebrafish could be used as a model for the study of pain.

Scientists find larval zebrafish respond to pain and pain relief

Liverpool researchers say larval zebrafish could be used as an alternative model for the study of pain, sparing the many adult zebrafish that are currently used in toxicity tests.

The University of Liverpool's Dr Lynne Sneddon, who debunked the theory that fish cannot feel pain, was uncomfortable about the increasing use of adult fish in pain research, and decided to lead a study on replacing them with larvae that are just a matter of days old.

Researchers exposed five-day post-fertilisation zebrafish embryos to dilute concentrations of acetic acid and citric acid, which are known to irritate adult fish.

Using software to track their motions, the team found that in the most concentrated solutions of acetic acid, and all concentrations of citric acid, the minute fish swam harder and farther, possibly to escape the uncomfortable feeling. However, the larvae became less active in the two most dilute solutions of acetic acid.

When researchers administered pain relief to the disturbed larvae (in the form of aspirin, morphine and lidocaine) the discomfort appeared to ease and their behaviour returned to normal.

As a result the team recommend that larval zebrafish could be used as a model for the study of pain. Their full findings were published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. 

Image by Oregon State University (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.