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Thiamine deficiency in fishes: causes, consequences, and potential solutions

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Abstract

Thiamine deficiency complex (TDC) is a disorder resulting from the inability to acquire or retain thiamine (vitamin B1) and has been documented in organisms in aquatic ecosystems ranging from the Baltic Sea to the Laurentian Great Lakes. The biological mechanisms leading to TDC emergence may vary among systems, but in fishes, one common outcome is high mortality among early life stages. Here, we review the causes and consequences of thiamine deficiency in fishes and identify potential solutions. First, we examine the biochemical and physiological roles of thiamine in vertebrates and find that thiamine deficiency consistently results in impaired neurological function across diverse taxa. Next, we review natural producers of thiamine, which include bacteria, fungi, and plants, and suggest that thiamine is not currently limiting for most animal species inhabiting natural aquatic environments. A survey of historic occurrences of thiamine deficiency identifies consumption of a thiamine-degrading enzyme, thiaminase, as the primary explanation for low levels of thiamine in individuals and subsequent onset of TDC. Lastly, we review conservation and management strategies for TDC mitigation ranging from evolutionary rescue to managing for a diverse forage base. As recent evidence suggests occurrences of thiamine deficiency may be increasing in frequency, increased awareness and a better mechanistic understanding of the underlying causes associated with thiamine deficiency may help prevent further population declines.

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Funding

Avril Harder and Mark Christie were supported by funding from the Biological Sciences and Forestry and Natural Resources departments at Purdue University. Donald Tillitt and Cathy Richter were supported by the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Avril M. Harder & Mark R. Christie

  2. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western New England Complex, 11 Lincoln St., Essex Junction, VT, 05452, USA

    William R. Ardren

  3. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, 2820 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Allison N. Evans

  4. Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, 2820 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Allison N. Evans

  5. Department of Environmental Science and Ecology, The College at Brockport – State University of New York, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, NY, 14420, USA

    Matthew H. Futia & Jacques Rinchard

  6. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Clifford E. Kraft

  7. Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, University of Vermont, 3 College St., Burlington, VT, 05401, USA

    J. Ellen Marsden

  8. U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Rd, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA

    Catherine A. Richter & Donald E. Tillitt

  9. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 W. State St, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Mark R. Christie

Authors
  1. Avril M. Harder
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  2. William R. Ardren
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  3. Allison N. Evans
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  4. Matthew H. Futia
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  5. Clifford E. Kraft
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  6. J. Ellen Marsden
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  7. Catherine A. Richter
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  8. Jacques Rinchard
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  9. Donald E. Tillitt
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  10. Mark R. Christie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Avril M. Harder.

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Disclaimer Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The findings and conclusions in the article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the USFWS.

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Harder, A.M., Ardren, W.R., Evans, A.N. et al. Thiamine deficiency in fishes: causes, consequences, and potential solutions. Rev Fish Biol Fisheries 28, 865–886 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-018-9538-x

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