Workshop report: Diseases of ornamental and laboratory fishes

Abstract

Ornamental and laboratory fish populations are part of the global trade and can spread pathogens around the world. Laboratory fish are widely used as model for biomedical research, which can be impacted by underestimated health conditions affecting the fish model. The global ornamental fish industry deals with a huge diversity of fish species. High mortality rate often causes significant losses, linked to polymicrobial infections facilitated by stressful conditions compromising host health, although accurate data on ornamental fish trade losses remain difficult to retrieve. Pet fish diseases can spread undetected between artificially recreated ecosystems, posing threats difficult to eradicate once established or when contaminating natural water systems. This 3-hour virtual workshop aimed at highlighting novel aspects of the pathobiology and diagnostics of infectious threats that could be spread through ornamental fishes and impact research using laboratory fish as biological models. In total, 108 participants from various countries all over the world joined this virtual workshop during the EAFP conference live streaming.