A Retrospective Review of Neoplasia in Fish at a Public Aquarium
IAAAM 2022
Sarah E. Wright1*+; Michael Pawlik2; Heindrich N. Snyman3; Martin Haulena1
1Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 2Animal Health Centre – British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, BC, Canada; 3Animal Health Laboratory – Kemptville, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada

Abstract

Fish maintained under human care may have long lifespans as a result of advances in veterinary medicine and husbandry. Neoplasia, therefore, is not uncommon in managed aquarium populations. However, few studies have systemically evaluated neoplasia in managed fish populations.1–7 The objective of this study was to retrospectively review and categorize neoplasia in fish at a large public aquarium between 2005 and 2021. Any fish diagnosed with neoplasia on either antemortem or postmortem evaluation during the study period was included and all medical records and pathologic reports were reviewed. Sixty-four animals met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-nine different species were included in the study population, most of which were tropical freshwater fish (n=33). Prevalence of neoplasia averaged 0.07% in the study population. Twenty-nine types of neoplasia were identified, of which 8 (27.5%) were benign, and 21 (72.5%) were malignant. Twenty-four (37.5%) cases had evidence of metastasis. Unique cases seen included fish with esthesioneuroblastoma and dysgerminoma. This study contributes to the overall knowledge of the health of aquarium fish and may aid clinicians in characterizing neoplasia that may be present in fish under human care.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Kristi Heffron for her contributions to this study, the aquarists, and the Animal Health team members for their dedication to animal care.

Literature Cited

1.  Boylan SM, Camus A, Waltzek T, Yarbrough L, Miller SR, Howard S. 2015. Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy for fibromas in tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, Valenciennes 1847, and neoplasia in lined sea horse, Hippocampus erectus, Perry 1810. J Fish Dis 38:681–685.

2.  Gould AC, Haulena M, Pawlik M, LePage V, Mareschal A, Manalang M, Snyman H. 2020. Rare neural crest tumor in teleost species: olfactory neuroblastoma in a spotted pike-characin Boulengerella maculata. Dis Aquat Organ 138:29–33.

3.  Groff JM. 2004. Neoplasia in fishes. Vet Clin N Am 7:705–756.

4.  Stilwell JM, Boylan SM, Vorbach B, Camus AC. 2021. Epizootic neoplasia in a managed population of Atlantic bumper fish, Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Osteichthyes: Carangidae), at a public aquarium. J Fish Dis 44:415–427.

5.  Stilwell JM, Camus AC, Zachariah TT, McManamon R. 2019. Disseminated lymphoid neoplasia and hepatoblastoma in an Atlantic stingray, Hypanus sabinus (Lesueur 1824). J Fish Dis 42: 319–323.

6.  Stilwell JM, McManamon R, Sturgeon GL, Camus MS Camus AC. 2019. Microscopic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characterization of spontaneous lepidosarcomas in a neon tetra, Paracheirodon innesi, and a black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus. J Fish Dis 42:1077–1083.

7.  Vergneau-Grosset C, Nadeau ME, Groff JM. 2017. Fish oncology: Diseases, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Vet Clin N Am 20:21–56.

Speaker Information
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Sarah E. Wright
Vancouver Aquarium
Vancouver, BC, Canada


MAIN : Session 6: <i>Ex Situ</i> Health II : Public Aquarium Fish Neoplasia
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