Case report: epitheliotropic lymphoma in a zebrafish (Danio rerio)

A proliferative disorder of lymphocytes was observed in a macroscopically normal young adult wild-type zebrafish (Danio rerio) during routine histological screening in a two-generation toxicity study. Proliferating lymphocytes were observed to invade the gill arches, infiltrate the cranial skeletal muscle and inner ear, and accumulate at distant sites in the frontal epidermis. The test compound, tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA, a flame retardant), is not known as a carcinogen and no tumours were detected in any of the 53 other fish in the study, including tank mates. Although neoplastic lymphoid proliferation in the thymus region is occasionally observed, we have never seen epitheliotropism in zebrafish during other similar exposure studies or brood stock. Our findings indicate that epitheliotropic lymphoma can occur spontaneously in zebrafish but at a low incidence.