National Aquatic Bioassay Facility (NABF)

Funders

National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa, National Nanotechnology Equipment Programme and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation

 

The National Aquatic Bioassay Facility (NABF) forms part of the NWU Water Research Group (WRG) and is regarded as one of the largest Zebrafish facilities in the southern hemisphere. The facility is registered with the SAVC as an animal research facility and is in the process of obtaining SANAS accreditation for Daphnia magna tests based on ISO 17035.

 Some of the aquatic organisms studied here include various aquatic invertebrates, such as Daphnia magna, Caridina africana, Corbicula spp., Ostracods, and fish species such as Danio rerio, Amblyrhynchote honckenii, , Oreochromis mossambicus, Clarias gariepinus and Nothobranchius furzeri. In the NABF, we do toxicity testing (acute toxicity) and studies that focus on the effect of stressors on aquatic organisms (chronic toxicity). This helps to integrate toxicology and ecology, predicting the effects of stressors across all levels of biological organisation from the molecular level to whole communities and ecosystems. 

In the NABF the following stressors are studied: 

  • Metals such as lead, mercury, platinum and zinc
  • Pesticides such as DDT, imidacloprid and deltamethrin
  • Nanomaterials such as graphene family materials, nano diamonds, nano gold and nano silver.
  • Environmental parameters such as temperature and salinity
  • Parasites

 

The NABF has state-of-the-art equipment that is used to house various aquatic organisms and is used to study different toxicological endpoints, which include:

  • ZebTEC Active Blue and Multi-linking system for housing Zebrafish 
  • IWAKI Three shelf Bench-top system for housing Killifish
  • Xenoplus stand-alone systems for housing Xenopus
  • Various systems to house marine fish such as Pufferfish, Mullet and Blacktail 
  • iSpawn for breeding Zebrafish
  • Various cultures that are used for feeding – Algae, rotifers and brine shrimp
  • Loligo® swimming chambers (AutoSwim)
  • Oxygen consumption of various organisms using Loligo® microplates and chambers (AutoResp and MicroResp)
  • Behaviour of organisms using various Noldus and Loligo® equipment and software (DanioVision observation chamber, Ethovision XT, DanioScope, LoliTrack, ShuttleSoft)

 

Since the development of the NABF, researchers from all over the world have come together to form collaborations and training initiatives. These initiatives include:

  • The Zebrafish Interest Group of South Africa: ZIG hosted its inaugural meeting within the NABF. During the event, researchers from several different institutions and research backgrounds had the opportunity to present their findings, exchange knowledge and experience, and ask questions about Zebrafish. 
  • The accredited short course on Ectotherm Vertebrate Handling and Ethics also takes place within the NABF at the NWU under the guidance of aquatic veterinarian Dr David Huchzermeyer. 

 

The NABF is currently maintained by Makolobe Mabotja (Senior Laboratory Technician) and Bianca van der Linde (Laboratory Technician) under the guidance of Prof. Victor Wepener.

 

Follow a virtual tour of the National Aquatic Bioassay Facility

 

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Click on the icon to read more about the NABF in the ENVIRA

Last updated: June 2026
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