{"topic_id":"evidence_exotic_fish_husbandry_health","category":"evidence","context":"---\ntopic_id: evidence_exotic_fish_husbandry_health\ncategory: evidence\ntitle: \"Evidence cluster — Aquarium fish (teleost fish) husbandry, health & nutrition (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)\"\nlang: en\nsource: \"Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search, first-hand peer-reviewed abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01\"\nsource_file: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_fish_husbandry_health_2026-08-01.txt\ndate_parsed: 2026-08-01\ntokens_estimated: 5057\nverification:\n  method: substring_match\n  claims: 12\n  passed: 12\n  date: 2026-08-01\nsource_document: \"Peer-reviewed Aquarium fish husbandry/health/nutrition literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)\"\ncitation:\n  authority: \"Europe PMC\"\n  title: \"Evidence cluster — Aquarium fish (teleost fish) husbandry, health & nutrition (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)\"\n  url: \"https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/\"\n  retrieved: \"2026-08-01\"\n  doc_type: \"first-hand abstracts (Europe PMC REST)\"\n  needs_review: false\n---\n\n# Evidence: Aquarium fish (teleost fish) husbandry, health & nutrition\n\nSource: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01.\nQueries covered husbandry, health/disease/parasitology, and nutrition/feeding for teleost fish.\nThe cluster returns **12** representative studies with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each study is traceable by PMID.\n\n## Studies\n- **PMID 42188959 (2026, Veterinary sciences)** — Systemic Granulomatous Mycobacteriosis in Orbiculate Batfish (&lt;i&gt;Platax orbicularis&lt;/i&gt;) Associated with &lt;i&gt;Mycobacterium marinum&lt;/i&gt;-like Organism in an Aquarium in South Korea.. Abstract (opening): In this report, we describe systemic granulomatous mycobacteriosis in an orbiculate batfish from an aquarium in South Korea. Gross examination of the deceased fish showed multifocal nodular lesions in multiple internal organs including the gills, spleen, and kidney. Histopathological analysis demonstrated severe chronic systemic granulomatous inflammation, and Ziehl-Neelsen staining highlighted abundant intralesional acid-fast bacilli. Molecular analysis based on partial sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and heat shock protein 65 (<i>hsp65</i>) genes showed that the detected organism was most closely related to <i>Mycobacterium marinum.</i> Because the molecular analysis was performed using partial sequences obtained from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, definitive species-level identification was not possible. This case represents systemic granulomatous mycobacteriosis associated with a <i>Mycobacterium marinum</i>-like organism in orbiculate batfish in an aquarium in South Korea and emphasizes the need for continuous disease surveillance and improved diagnostic awareness of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections in ornamental and public aquarium fish.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42188959/\n- **PMID 42048776 (2026, Journal of pediatric nursing)** — Evaluation of paper filigree and aquarium fish activities in reducing stress among children admitted to the pediatric emergency department: A randomized controlled trial.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>This study evaluated the effectiveness of two distraction-based interventions-paper quilling and aquarium fish observation-in mitigating the adverse psychological effects of the pediatric emergency department environment on children and their parents.<h4>Methods</h4>This single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted between 2023 and 2024 in the Pediatric Emergency Department of a university hospital. The sample included 90 children aged 6-12 years and their accompanying parents. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: paper quilling (n = 30), aquarium fish observation (n = 30), or control (n = 30). Pre-test and post-test assessments were conducted.<h4>Results</h4>Both distraction interventions significantly reduced children's fear levels and improved psychological well-being compared to the control group (p < .001). Paper quilling enhanced children's sense of control and self-regulation through active engagement, while aquarium fish observation was particularly effective in reducing parental state anxiety (p = .007).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Distraction-based interventions implemented in the pediatric emergency department positively influence children's emotional responses by decreasing fear and enhancing psychological well-being. Paper quilling provides an interactive and therapeutic approach, whereas aquarium fish observation offers a simple and feasible strategy for reducing anxiety in clinical environments.<h4>Implications to practice</h4>Pediatric nurses can incorporate structured distraction activities, such as paper quilling and aquarium fish observation, into routine emergency care to promote emotional regulation in children and reduce parental anxiety. These low-cost, non-pharmacological interventions may enhance patient experience and support family-centered care in high-stress clinical settings.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42048776/\n- **PMID 42262143 (2026, Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America)** — Evaluating species at risk in data-limited fisheries: A productivity-susceptibility analysis for marine aquarium fish.. Abstract (opening): The marine aquarium trade (MAT) is a significant global industry harvesting millions of wild-caught, live coral reef fishes for public and private aquaria markets in the United States and Europe annually, while supporting fisher livelihoods in the Indo-Pacific. This diverse and species-rich trade is considered data-limited, creating barriers to quantifying the current and future socio-ecological sustainability of the fishery. We present a revised and expanded productivity-susceptibility analysis (PSA) that serves as a holistic risk assessment to estimate the vulnerability of marine aquarium fish to overfishing. Our global analysis includes 306 species that are actively in trade. Improvements to the PSA framework from previous research including novel susceptibility factors, methods to overcome missing data for individual species factors, and assessing a large, diverse group of marine fish under a single, targeted assessment framework. Our results show that an overwhelming 81.4% of species evaluated fall into the least or moderately vulnerable classification, while the remaining species (n = 57) have higher vulnerability scores designating them as high priority for localized assessment and management initiatives. Most teleost fish in the trade are considered sustainable, while eels and elasmobranchs have the highest vulnerability scores. A comparative case study between our PSA and the popular FishBase vulnerability tool illustrates how the latter can be ill-suited to handle the data limitations common to nonfood fishes. Our study demonstrates how the PSA is a robust, data-limited fishery assessment to prioritize species in the MAT for further assessment, monitoring, and management.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42262143/\n- **PMID 41391259 (2026, Computational biology and chemistry)** — Predicting optimal drugs for fin rot by reverse topological QSPR analysis.. Abstract (opening): Fin rot is a prevalent bacterial disease affecting aquarium fish, often resulting from poor environmental conditions. Effective treatment relies on selecting suitable drugs with desirable chemical and therapeutic properties. In this study, we employ quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) analysis to investigate the relationship between molecular structures of drugs and their therapeutic efficacy in treating fin rot. Specifically, we focus on selected set of reverse degree-based topological indices in mathematical chemistry that reflect the structural attributes of molecules. Several drugs commonly used for fin rot treatment were analyzed, and their topological indices were calculated to establish correlations with key drug properties, such as Molar Weight, Complexity, Polarizability, and Exact Mass. The QSPR models developed in this study demonstrate the predictive potential of topological indices in evaluating drug properties. These findings provide a foundation for optimizing drug selection and design, contributing to efficient treatment strategies for fin rot and potentially other bacterial diseases.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41391259/\n- **PMID 41060374 (2026, Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology)** — Extent of threats to marine fish from the online aquarium trade in the United States.. Abstract (opening): The global marine aquarium hobby is a multibillion-dollar industry, largely driven by demand from the United States. Much of this trade occurs online. We web scraped 4 major US-based e-commerce platforms selling marine aquarium fish to determine the retail price and source (wild capture, aquaculture, or both) of 13 families of ray-finned marine fish (Actinopterygii). We supplemented this with ecological and economic trait data from FishBase and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Across all platforms and 13 popular fish taxonomic families, we found 734 unique species for sale, 89.2% (655 species) of which were sourced exclusively from the wild. A total of 45 species were of conservation concern (20 threatened species and 25 additional species with decreasing population trends), 38 of which were sourced solely from the wild. Retail price was significantly correlated with source, body length, minimum occupied depth, and schooling behavior. A further 100 species for sale were not listed as being in the aquarium trade in FishBase or by the IUCN, indicating incomplete information on this fishery in 2 important databases. For 58 species (encompassing 71 variants) with both wild-caught and captive-bred individuals for sale, aquaculture fish were a mean 28.1% (95% confidence interval 15.3) cheaper than their wild-caught counterparts.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41060374/\n- **PMID 41857250 (2026, Parasitology research)** — First record of Camallanus cotti (Fujita, 1927) in traded guppies (Poecilia reticulata) from India.. Abstract (opening): The guppy Poecilia reticulata is a widely traded ornamental fish species, valued for its popularity in aquariums globally. Parasitic infections pose a significant threat to both ornamental culture and native fish populations. This study records the first occurrence of the intestinal nematode Camallanus cotti (Fujita, 1927) in guppies from India, confirmed through both morphological and molecular analysis. Sixteen guppies were collected from the Kolathur ornamental fish market, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Examination revealed that 11 fish (68.75%) were infected with red thread-like nematodes protruding from the anus. A total of 41 worms were recovered, with a mean intensity of 3.73 and a mean abundance of 2.56 worms per fish. Light microscopy confirmed diagnostic features of C. cotti, including the robust cephalic capsule and scanning electron microscopy illustrates the attachment of the parasite to intestinal wall. Molecular characterization using 18 S rRNA gene sequencing (GenBank Accession PX446961.1) showed 99.84% similarity with reference sequences, validating the morphological identification. Infected guppies exhibited visible clinical signs, including abdominal distension and threadlike worms protruding from the anus. The findings highlight the risk posed by C. cotti to ornamental fish health and emphasize the importance of quarantine, monitoring, and surveillance to prevent its spread through the aquarium trade.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41857250/\n- **PMID 42116709 (2026, The Journal of experimental biology)** — Gut microbial composition varies with host metabolic phenotype in juvenile Atlantic salmon.. Abstract (opening): Standard metabolic rate (SMR) influences growth, behaviour and energy use in fish, yet its relationship with gut microbiota remains unclear. Here, we combined physiological measurements with 16S rRNA sequencing of foregut and hindgut tissue to test whether gut microbial communities differ with metabolic phenotype in juvenile Atlantic salmon. High-SMR fish showed greater growth efficiency and lower body water content than low-SMR fish, indicating higher fat levels. In contrast, microbial differences were most evident in the foregut, where low-SMR fish exhibited significantly higher alpha diversity. Microbial beta-diversity analyses revealed clear segregation among metabolic groups, and distance-based redundancy analysis showed that both SMR and body mass strongly explained variation in foregut microbial composition. Correlation analysis identified a negative association between SMR and members of the Rhodobacteraceae family, which were consistently more abundant in the foregut of low-SMR fish. Together, these findings indicate that the metabolic phenotype is associated with distinct patterns of energy utilisation and gut microbiota composition, suggesting that foregut microbial communities may contribute to individual differences in metabolic strategy.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42116709/\n- **PMID 42511625 (2026, International journal of molecular sciences)** — Epigenetic Landscape of H3K27ac, H3K27me3, H3K4me1, and H3K4me3 Marks in Channel Catfish Following Βeta Glucan Exposure.. Abstract (opening): Epigenetic regulation plays a central role in shaping innate immune responses following immunostimulant exposure. In this study, we characterized the epigenetic landscape of four histone modifications, H3K27ac, H3K27me3, H3K4me1, and H3K4me3, in the anterior kidney of <i>Ictalurus punctatus</i> (channel catfish) following β-glucan exposure. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), we generated chromatin state maps and examined the regulatory potential of these histone marks in relation to transcriptional responses. Genes showing increased expression associated with H3K4me3 up-peaks included regulators of metabolism, signaling, pathogen recognition, and immune regulation, while H3K27ac and H3K4me1 marks were linked to genes involved in apoptosis, cytoskeletal dynamics, autophagy, cell adhesion, and stress responses. In contrast, H3K27me3-associated gene repression appeared to fine-tune immune activation by selectively maintaining transcriptional restraint at specific loci. Further transcriptional regulatory-related genes were significantly enriched, suggesting metabolic adaptation following β-glucan exposure. Collectively, these findings define the epigenetic landscape of key histone marks in channel catfish following β-glucan exposure and reveal coordinated chromatin and transcriptional remodeling, consistent with mechanisms of trained immunity. This work provides novel insight into conserved epigenetic features of innate immune memory in teleost fish and supports the use of β-glucan as a functional immunomodulator in aquaculture.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42511625/\n- **PMID 42413203 (2026, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology)** — Temporal dynamics of innate immune gene expression in teleost fish: A phase-based framework from inflammatory activation to regulatory homeostasis.. Abstract (opening): Teleost fish are continuously exposed to biological pressures and environmental changes that require dynamic and coordinated regulation of innate immunity. In aquaculture research, molecular biomarkers based on immune gene expression are increasingly used to evaluate responses to diverse biological interventions and environmental challenges. However, changes in immune gene expression are still frequently interpreted in a linear manner as indicators of increased or decreased immune capacity, without adequate consideration of temporal dynamics, response phases, and the underlying biological context. This review presents a conceptual synthesis of innate immune modulation in teleost fish by integrating bibliometric mapping with biological interpretation of immune gene regulation, with emphasis on the coordination between early inflammatory activation, regulatory transition, and resolution of the immune response, as well as their relationship with relatively conserved signal transduction pathways, particularly the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-MyD88-NF-κB axis. The synthesis indicates that innate immune gene expression is more appropriately understood as an indicator of the direction and coordination of immune responses rather than as a single measure of immune system strength. The induction of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, and NF-κB reflects inflammatory activation that depends on biological context and observation time, whereas IL-10, TGF-β, and other regulatory mediators reflect mechanisms involved in inflammatory control and the restoration of homeostasis. This review offers a mechanism-based interpretative framework for understanding the dynamics of innate immune biomarkers in teleost fish and supports the development of more context-sensitive approaches to fish health evaluation in modern aquaculture systems.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42413203/\n- **PMID 42001862 (2026, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology)** — Antibacterial immunity in teleost fish: Integrating innate and adaptive responses for sustainable aquaculture.. Abstract (opening): Bacterial infections are currently the most significant hindrance to the worldwide adoption of sustainable aquaculture, causing unprecedented economical losses and challenges to food security. Teleosts have an extremely well-developed innate and adaptive immune system, but the functional integrity of these immune systems is adversely affected under universal aquaculture-related stress factors. The current review critically and comprehensively synthesizes the two most important challenges, addressing immune resilience, which include: (1) the complex functional interactions between innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, and (2) the combined modulation of these immune mechanisms under environmental factors mentioned above. Our focus primarily centers on the role of major stressors such as temperature change, water quality measures, (physiological) chronic stressing, and microbiome diversity on innate host immunity and resistance to bacterially infected diseases. Finally, we not only conclude the current state regarding the latest research progress on the role and mechanisms utilized in the transition phase from the latent to chronic infection phase based on autophagy-related responses but also emphasize the need to adopt an integrated research area named 'Eco-Immunology' to measure and develop effective interventions against fish diseases. It is the prime requirement to improve the host's resistance to diverse farming conditions to develop sustainable and effective aquaculture. This review uniquely integrates innate-adaptive immune crosstalk with environmentally driven immune reprogramming and autophagy-mediated control of chronic bacterial infections, framing teleost antibacterial immunity within an eco-immunological perspective relevant to sustainable aquaculture.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42001862/\n- **PMID 42069193 (2026, Fish & shellfish immunology)** — FlgE-TLR5 interaction and its association with immune and microbiota responses in Asian swamp eel fed Bacillus velezensis.. Abstract (opening): Bacillus velezensis has emerged as a promising probiotic in aquaculture; however, the mechanisms by which it modulates host innate immunity and gut homeostasis in teleost fish remain poorly understood. In this study, interactions among B. velezensis D1, TLR5-associated immune signaling, and gut microbiota dynamics were investigated using an integrated in vitro and in vivo model in Asian swamp eel. In vitro interaction assays demonstrated a selective interaction between eel TLR5 and the flagellar hook protein FlgE, which was validated by co-immunoprecipitation, showing a distinct band at approximately 48 kDa. No interaction was detected with FliC or FliD, and all negative controls were non-reactive, indicating selective association between FlgE and eel TLR5. This interaction suggests a potential link between TLR5-mediated probiotic sensing and downstream immune responses, which may be associated with subsequent intestinal remodeling and gut microbiota restructuring Dietary supplementation altered TLR5, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression in spleen, liver, and gut, showing significant early upregulation (6-12 h, p < 0.01) and peak responses at 24-48 h (p < 0.001), with gene- and tissue-specific patterns. Histomorphological analysis revealed significant improvements in gut structure, including increased villus height and width, as well as intestinal wall and muscle layer thickness. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that probiotic supplementation significantly altered gut microbial communities. The probiotic group exhibited higher microbial richness, with 527 distinct OTUs compared to 239 in the control group. Beneficial phyla, including Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, increased, while Proteobacteria decreased. These findings suggest that TLR5-associated immune responses may be linked to the observed restructuring of gut microbiota, indicating a coordinated relationship between host immune activation and microbial community modulation following probiotic supplementation. Overall, this study provides insights into host-microbe interactions and supports the potential application of B. velezensis as a probiotic in sustainable aquaculture.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42069193/\n- **PMID 42516369 (2026, Frontiers in immunology)** — Developmental expression of immune-associated secreted novel AID/APOBEC-like deaminases (SNAD1s) in common carp &lt;i&gt;(Cyprinus carpio)&lt;/i&gt;.. Abstract (opening): Early developmental stages of teleost fish represent vulnerable phases of the life cycle, characterized by exposure to fluctuating abiotic and biotic environmental conditions. Immune system maturation is gradual, beginning with reliance on maternally transferred immune factors, followed by activation of the innate immune system and culminating in the establishment of adaptive immunity. Recent studies in common carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio</i>) have identified a novel family of cytidine deaminases termed Secreted Novel AID/APOBEC-like Deaminases (SNAD1s). Although their biological functions remain unknown, preliminary evidence suggests that <i>snad1</i> genes may participate in immune- and stress-related processes. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of 13 <i>snad1</i> genes during embryonic and early larval development of common carp. Twelve of the thirteen genes (excluding <i>snad_506</i>) exhibited significant stage-dependent variation in expression and formed four distinct temporal expression patterns. Four paralogous genes (<i>snad_318</i>, <i>snad_800</i>, <i>snad_835</i>, and <i>snad_810</i>) were maternally expressed, suggesting deposition in the oocyte and potential involvement in early developmental regulation. In contrast, <i>snad_409</i>, <i>snad_208</i>, and <i>snad_962</i> displayed delayed post-zygotic activation, with increased expression observed during later developmental stages coinciding with post-hatching maturation of immune-related physiological processes and establishment of host defense mechanisms. Comparative analysis of publicly available RNA-seq datasets confirmed conserved <i>snad1</i> expression dynamics across independent studies and methodological approaches. This study provides the first comprehensive overview of developmental <i>snad1</i> gene expression during vertebrate ontogeny. The dynamic and stage-dependent expression of <i>snad1</i> genes reveals distinct developmental regulation patterns and highlights substantial heterogeneity within the carp <i>snad1</i> gene family during ontogeny.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42516369/\n\nSource text: `pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_fish_husbandry_health_2026-08-01.txt` (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).\n","sources":["Europe PMC — Evidence cluster — Aquarium fish (teleost fish) husbandry, health & nutrition (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC) (retrieved 2026-08-01)"],"source":{"authority":"Europe PMC","title":"Evidence cluster — Aquarium fish (teleost fish) husbandry, health & nutrition (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42188959/","retrieved":"2026-08-01","ref":"PMID 42188959","doc_type":"official PDF","source_document":"Peer-reviewed Aquarium fish husbandry/health/nutrition literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)","verification_file":"pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_fish_husbandry_health_2026-08-01.txt"},"source_document":"Peer-reviewed Aquarium fish husbandry/health/nutrition literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)","source_file":"pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_fish_husbandry_health_2026-08-01.txt","tokens_estimated":600,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}