Trout and carp models for in vivo studies under controlled conditions

Trout and carp models address questions involving animal health, infectious diseases, immunity, vaccination, nutrition, physiology and interactions with the environment.

Rearing parameters and experimental conditions are defined according to the species, developmental stage and scientific question.

A flexible experimental fish facility

The aquaculture facility combines several rearing and experimental areas, temperature-controlled recirculating systems and mixed recirculating/flow-through systems, allowing volumes, environmental conditions and containment level to be adapted to the model under study.

Main capabilities:

·         For trout, the facility includes four rearing rooms with temperature-controlled recirculating systems, a quarantine area and an A2 experimental area with two rooms containing 9 mixed recirculating/flow-through systems, 6 flow-through systems, 114 aquaria of 15 L and 12 tanks of 300 L. Rearing capacity includes incubation of up to 50,000 eggs and 30,000 fry from eggs supplied by the INRAE experimental fish farm in the Monts d’Arrée (PEIMA).

·         Facilities also support carp rearing and experimentation under conditions suited to the model and project. Zebrafish-specific capabilities are presented on a dedicated page.

This diversity allows housing conditions and animal numbers to be adapted to the project.

Controlled environmental conditions

Temperature, water quality, oxygen levels, stocking density and housing parameters are adapted to the model’s biological requirements and the study design.

Systems are temperature-controlled, allowing rearing and experimental conditions to be adapted to the model, including studies of the effects of water temperature.

These controlled environments also support studies of the influence of abiotic factors on the phenotype or host response.

Production and rearing

IERP has substantial aquaculture production activity.

These capabilities support projects requiring experimental cohorts, line maintenance or scheduled production.

Infection studies and A2 containment

The facility supports studies at A2 containment level when the biological agent, species, protocol and regulatory framework are compatible with the facilities.

Projects involving biological agents or GMOs are assessed during feasibility review before any experimental work is scheduled. The team can help the project lead identify biosafety constraints, define technical requirements and prepare information for regulatory scoping, while respecting the project’s scientific responsibilities.

These capabilities can be used to study:

• host–pathogen interactions
• immune responses
• vaccination
• clinical or biological progression of infection
• the influence of environmental factors on the host response

Projects beyond infectious diseases

The aquaculture facilities can also support non-infectious projects involving:

• nutrition and feeding
• physiology
• development
• immunity
• behaviour
• genetics
• the effects of environmental factors

Combining control of rearing conditions, in vivo studies and functional phenotyping allows the biological consequences of an intervention or environmental variation to be monitored.

From fish to data

Aquaculture projects can use the functional phenotyping platform to characterise responses in animals, tissues or organisms at different stages of the study.

Aquaculture projects can use the functional phenotyping platform to characterise responses in animals, tissues or organisms at different stages of the study.

Depending on the project, IERP can provide imaging and 3D histology. Fish behavioural monitoring and developments in image analysis or complex biological data analysis are available on a case-by-case basis through R&D projects or collaborations.

→ Explore functional phenotyping

→ Explore achievements and publications