无乳链球菌和海豚链球菌早期预警分子检测

为提高罗非鱼链球菌病发前的早期预警,根据海豚链球菌的16S rRNA基因的部分序列和无乳链球菌的Sip基因特异性序列,分别合成特异性检测引物,经过对反应体系和反应条件的优化,建立检测较低含量的无乳链球菌和海豚链球菌的分子技术。试验结果显示,所建立的双重PCR可扩增出870 bp无乳链球菌和614 bp海豚链球菌的特异性片段,而迟钝爱德华氏菌、维氏气单胞菌、创伤弧菌、温和气单胞菌、溶藻弧菌、大肠杆菌均为阴性;无乳链球菌和海豚链球菌基因组DNA最低检测量分别为9.84×10~(-5) ng/μL和9.30×10~(-5) ng/μL,菌液最低检测量分别为2.76×10~3 cfu/mL和2.51×10~3 cfu/mL,远低于其半致死密度10~7 cfu/mL;对无乳链球菌和海豚链球菌混合感染的模拟临床样品的检出率为100%。研究结果表明,该分子技术的特异性较强、灵敏度较高、检出率较高,可用于较低含量的无乳链球菌和海豚链球菌的快速鉴别,为罗非鱼链球菌的早期预警分子检测提供技术支持。     

尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌微滴式数字PCR检测方法的建立及临床应用

通过设计筛选引物和探针、优化反应浓度和退火温度,构建一种尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)的微滴式数字PCR(dd PCR)检测方法,分析该方法的敏感性、特异性及重复性,并应用于临床样品检测。结果显示：当引物、探针浓度分别为0.9μmol·L^-1、0.3μmol·L^-1且退火温度为56.9℃时,建立的罗非鱼无乳链球菌dd PCR方法阴、阳性微滴分布界限明显,平均拷贝数高,有较高扩增反应效率;线性关系线良好(R²=0.997 3),最低检测限为2.56 copies·μL^-1;与猪链球菌2型、鱼类海豚链球菌和其他5种常见的水生动物疫病病原体无交叉反应;重复变异系数为3.15%;临床样品检测结果与实时荧光PCR方法结果的符合率100%,与细菌分离鉴定方法结果符合率为94.12%。结果表明,建立的罗非鱼无乳链球菌dd PCR检测方法灵敏度高、特异性强、重复性好,可对罗非鱼无乳链球菌感染的临床样品进行定量检测,为尼罗罗非鱼无...     

罗非鱼无乳链球菌巢式PCR检测方法的建立

根据无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)cfb基因序列,设计、合成2对引物,优化扩增条件,建立了快速高灵敏度鉴别无乳链球菌的巢式PCR方法。结果显示:使用该方法对罗非鱼(Oreochromis mossambicus)血液样品进行检测,可检测到活菌浓度为8.7×104CFU/m L的无乳链球菌。对采自广西地区受无乳链球菌感染的19份罗非鱼样品进行检测,18份可获得目的片段,扩增到的序列均为无乳链球菌cfb基因序列,检测准确度达到94.7%。     

我国罗非鱼源新型无乳链球菌的分离、鉴定及其分子特征

2014年海南省文昌市多个养殖场的罗非鱼出现暴发性疾病,患病罗非鱼表现出体色发黑、打转游动、眼球突出或混浊等典型的链球菌病症状。从患病罗非鱼的肝、肾、脾、眼球和脑等组织中分离到19株病原菌,即TC-1、TC-2、BL1441~BL1448和WT1451~WT1459。通过形态观察、生理生化特征和16S r RNA基因序列分析等方法对病原菌进行鉴定,结果表明,这些病原菌均为无乳链球菌。溶血试验结果表明,TC-1、TC-2和BL1441~BL1448菌株为β-溶血性无乳链球菌,而WT1451~WT1459菌株为不溶血无乳链球菌。进一步通过MLST、分子血清型和毒力相关基因检测等技术对这些分离菌株进行遗传特征分析,结果表明TC-1、TC-2和BL1441~BL1448菌株是常见的Ia-ST7型,其毒力基因型为bac+-bca+-bib A+-cfb+-hyl B+-iag A+-fbs B+-lmb–-scp B–-cyl E+-gbs20186–。而WT1451~WT1459菌株则是Ib-ST261型,其毒力基因型为bac–-bca–-bib A+-cfb+-hyl B+-iag A+-fbs B+-lmb–-scp B–-cyl E–-gbs20186+。将分离菌株BL1441和WT1451分别对罗非鱼进行攻毒试验,结果表明,WT1451菌株是强毒株,当其攻毒剂量为4.5×103CFU/m L时,罗非鱼累积死亡率可达85%。本研究将为我国罗非鱼无乳链球菌的流行病学、疫苗研制以及疾病防控等研究奠定基础。     

BALB/c小鼠用于评价尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌毒力的研究

实验采用BALB/c小鼠作为实验动物,旨在建立尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌毒力测定的BALB/c小鼠模型。BALB/c小鼠经腹腔注射尼罗罗非鱼源无乳链球菌建立感染模型,比较了尼罗罗非鱼源无乳链球菌分别感染尼罗罗非鱼和小鼠的LD_(50)差异,分别测定了不同毒力尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌对尼罗罗非鱼和小鼠的毒力。结果显示,小鼠经腹腔注射无乳链球菌,在24 h内出现死亡现象,且对小鼠脑、肝脏、脾脏、肾脏等组织造成损伤。3次测定尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌TFJ0901对尼罗罗非鱼和小鼠LD_(50)分别为7.7×10~7、2.2×10~8、3.5×10~9 CFU/mL和405、361、419 CFU/只。将无乳链球菌TFJ0901和THN0901感染尼罗罗非鱼(1.0×10~7 CFU/mL)和小鼠(100 CFU/只),尼罗罗非鱼和小鼠存活率分别为100%、6.7%±5.8%和100%、0,其存活率都具有显著性差异。将无乳链球菌TFJ0901和TFJ-F感染尼罗罗非鱼(3.0×10~8 CFU/mL)和小鼠(2 500 CFU/只),尼罗罗非鱼的存活率分别为73.3%±11.5%和80.0%±10.0%,存活率差异不显著,小鼠存活率分别为13.3%±11.5%和100.0%,存活率具有显著性差异。研究表明,本实验成功建立了BALB/c小鼠作为尼罗罗非鱼源无乳链球菌毒力测定的稳定模型,测定不同毒力的尼罗罗非鱼源无乳链球菌对小鼠毒力与对尼罗罗非鱼毒力一致,且该模型能够区分尼罗罗非鱼模型难以区分的毒力相近的无乳链球菌。     

5种淡水细菌的多重PCR检测方法的建立及其应用

细菌对水产养殖品种危害大,造成的经济损失高。传统的显微镜镜检方法检测细菌误差大,而利用PCR方法鉴定细菌种类特异性强,准确性高。利用多重PCR探索出一种能准确鉴定水产常见细菌。研究表明,利用PCR分别扩增了嗜水气单胞菌Hly A基因,肺炎克雷伯菌Khe基因,无乳链球菌Sip基因,爱德华氏菌Ser C基因和Eip基因以及迟钝爱德华氏菌Muk F基因和Gad B基因,扩增特异性强。并成功地建立了一种同时用于无乳链球菌和爱德华氏菌等两种细菌以及爱德华氏菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、迟钝爱德华氏菌和嗜水气单胞菌等4种细菌的多重PCR检测方法。为了验证多重PCR方法的准确性,采集患病黄鳝病灶部位,分离培养细菌并提取该细菌基因组DNA,用上述两种多重PCR方法检测出患病黄鳝体内感染的细菌主要是肺炎克雷伯菌和嗜水气单胞菌。建立的多重PCR检测方法对水产常见致病菌的快速诊断和分子流行病学的调查具有重要意义,为鱼类的疾病诊断提供了依据。     

罗非鱼海豚链球菌PCR检测方法的建立

近年来，海豚链球病已给我国及世界罗非鱼养殖带来了巨大的经济损失。为建立特异、敏感、快速的罗非鱼海豚链球菌PCR诊断方法，根据NCBI数据库已公布的海豚链球菌基因序列，设计合成种特异性引物CM1／CM2，进行海豚链球菌特异基因片段的PCR扩增试验、反应条件的优化及不同检测材料的比较。同时测试了方法的特异性和敏感性，对不同养殖鱼场的10份临床样品进行了检测。试验结果表明，引物CM1／CM2可以扩增到与预计大小相符的870bp海豚链球菌特异性基因片段；PCR反应与鮰爱德华氏细菌、Ⅰ型荧光假单胞菌、点状产气单胞菌点状亚种、鳗弧菌、温和气单胞菌、肠型点状产气单胞菌、柱状黄杆菌、嗜水气单胞菌和河弧菌水产常见病原菌均无交叉反应；能够检测的最低细菌数为20～30个海豚链球菌；同时，该PCR可以直接从病鱼的脑、肝脏、肾脏及脾脏组织扩增出特异性目的片段；临床菌株检测结果与基于菌株16srRNA基因序列系统进化分析结果一致。由于病鱼内脏组织总DNA、菌落及菌液可直接用于该PCR扩增，最大限度缩短了整个检测时间及降低了检测成本。方法的建立为致病性海豚链球菌检测提供了一种简便、快速的途径，具有较好的应用前景。     

病原性鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)双重PCR与LAMP检测方法的建立

本研究检测了分离自发病大菱鲆、半滑舌鳎及鲤鱼的22株病原鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)毒力相关基因的携带情况,并建立了病原鳗弧菌的分子生物学检测方法。以PCR方法检测8个毒力相关基因的分布,结果显示,22株病原鳗弧菌均可扩增出6个基因(empA、vah1、vah4、flaA、rtxA和tonB)目的条带,未扩增出virA和angM基因;针对vah4和rtxA设计引物进行双重PCR扩增,同一PCR反应体系可扩增出两条目的条带,灵敏度为2.4×103 CFU/ml,对照菌无任何扩增条带;以vah4设计引物进行LAMP扩增,病原鳗弧菌可扩增出阶梯状条带,呈现阳性反应,6株对照菌无阶梯状扩增条带且呈现阴性反应,LAMP扩增灵敏度为2.4×10~1 CFU/ml。LAMP检测灵敏度是双重PCR的100倍,LAMP技术与PCR比较,操作简便、快速、灵敏度高且不需昂贵仪器,LAMP检测鳗弧菌的方法更适合于养殖生产实际应用。     

病原迟钝爱德华菌毒力基因及双重PCR与LAMP检测方法的建立

为明确牙鲆及大菱鲆病原迟钝爱德华菌毒力基因的携带情况并建立分子检测方法,实验以迟钝爱德华菌fimA、fimB、gadB及citC为靶基因设计特异性引物,进行PCR扩增及环介导恒温扩增(loop-mediated isothermal amplification,LAMP),并对其特异性、灵敏性和实际应用进行了比较。结果显示,10株病原迟钝爱德华菌均扩增出fimA、fimB、gadB及citC 4种毒力基因,目的条带大小分别为240、217、171及119 bp,4株对照菌无任何扩增条带;以fimA和gadB设计的两对引物进行的双重PCR扩增,同一PCR反应体系中病原迟钝爱德华菌可扩增出240和171 bp两条目的条带,且灵敏度为3.0×10³ CFU/mL,4株对照菌无任何扩增条带;以fimA设计的4条特异引物进行的LAMP扩增,病原迟钝爱德华菌可扩增出阶梯状条带,反应产物加入荧光染料SYBR Green Ⅰ后反应液呈现明显的绿色阳性反应,4株对照菌无阶梯状扩增条带且呈现橙色阴性反应,灵敏度为3.0×10¹ CFU/mL,比双重PCR的检测限要低100倍。研究表明,操作简便、快速且特异性及灵敏性强的LAMP检测方法,对迟钝爱德华菌引起的水产动物疾病的快速诊断具有实践意义。     

罗非鱼源无乳链球菌ZQ0910转录调控因子rovS基因的克隆及表达研究

为了对罗非鱼源无乳链球菌ZQ0910株毒力相关转录调控因子rovS进行克隆及表达研究,实验根据GenBank上登录的相关基因设计引物,采用PCR方法扩增该株细菌的rovS基因,然后将该基因定向克隆到原核表达载体pET-28a(+)中,在大肠杆菌Rosetta(DE3)中进行IPTG诱导表达.结果显示,该基因有849个碱基,编码282个氨基酸;同源基因序列比对显示,无乳链球菌ZQ0910株与无乳链球菌2603 V与ATCC13813的rovS基因的同源性最高;经IPTG诱导后表达的融合蛋白分子量为34 ku;用亲和层析后的融合蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔制备多克隆抗体,经ELISA检测效价达到1∶512000.研究结果表明,实验成功克隆与表达了rovS基因,为深入探讨RovS调节因子在调节细菌的代谢、生长和毒力等多种生命活动中的作用提供了理论依据.     

Association between the interannual variation in the oceanic environment and catch rates of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Atlantic Ocean

The environmental processes associated with variability in the catch rates of bigeye tuna in the Atlantic Ocean are largely unexplored. This study used generalized additive models (GAMs) fitted to Taiwanese longline fishery data from 1990 to 2009 and investigated the association between environmental variables and catch rates to identify the processes influencing bigeye tuna distribution in the Atlantic Ocean. The present findings reveal that the year (temporal factor), latitude and longitude (spatial factors), and major regular longline target species of albacore catches are significant for the standardization of bigeye tuna catch rates in the Atlantic Ocean. The standardized catch rates and distribution of bigeye tuna were found to be related to environmental and climatic variation. The model selection processes showed that the selected GAMs explained 70% of the cumulative deviance in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Regarding environmental factors, the depth of the 20 degree isotherm (D20) substantially contributed to the explained deviance; other important factors were sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height deviation (SSHD). The potential fishing grounds were observed with SSTs of 22–28°C, a D20 shallower than 150 m and negative SSHDs in the Atlantic Ocean. The higher predicted catch rates were increased in the positive northern tropical Atlantic and negative North Atlantic Oscillation events with a higher SST and shallow D20, suggesting that climatic oscillations affect the population abundance and distribution of bigeye tuna.     

Growth performance,digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass,Lateolabrax japonicus fed with fructooligosaccharide

In this experiment, a feeding trial was performed to determine the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus juveniles (initial weight 38.3 ± 0.5 g), and the fish were examined following feeding with six levels of FOS (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g/kg) for 28 days. Significant enhancement of weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) was found in fish fed 1 g/kg FOS incorporated diets (p < .05), while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the 1, 2 g/kg FOS groups reduced significantly compared with the control (p < .05). Besides, the crude lipid in the 4, 6 g/kg FOS groups increased significantly compared with the control (p < .05). On the other hand, the erepsin and lipase activities significantly elevated in intestine of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS (p < .05) and the lysozyme activity in serum of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than that in the control (p < .05). Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase activities in serum of fish fed 0.5, 1, 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than in control (p < .05). Regression analysis showed that the relationships between dietary FOS levels and either SGR, FCR, erepsin or lysozyme activities were best expressed by regression equations, and the optimal inclusion levels are 1.37, 1.80, 3.06, 3.11, 1.93 and 1.80 g/kg for SGR, FCR, erepsin, lipase, lysozyme and total superoxide dismutase activities, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that FOS incorporated diets could beneficial for L. japonicus culture in terms of increasing the growth, digestion and immune activities. Under the present experimental condition, the optimal supplementary level of FOS in the diet of L. japonicus is 1–3 g/kg.     

Protein and amino acid composition from the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris exposed to prolonged starvation

Protein and amino acid composition of the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) during fasting for 27 days were determined. Average protein content of octopus mantle was of 711.19 ± 46.80 g kg^?1 DW, and it decreased with increasing fasting days. The non‐essential amino acids content was higher (486.18 ± 11.08 g kg^?1 protein) than essential amino acids (425.82 ± 9.15 g kg^?1 protein) at the start of the experiment (unstarved animals). The results suggest that the amino acid profile of the mantle where the most abundant amino acids are Arg, His, Lys, Gly, Leu and Pro could indicate a prolonged fasting condition (>20 days) or poor nutrition of O . vulgaris. This study supports the idea of using mantle for metabolic needs of starved O . vulgaris suggesting that the degradation pathway of amino acids to pyruvate and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates was favoured contrary to the degradation pathway of ketogenic amino acids. Special considerations should be taken concerning Thr, Ile, Ser, Ala, Asx (Asp, Asn), Glx (Glu, Gln) (because of their fast intake) and Lys and His (due to their stable contents) during a prolonged period of fasting.     

Involvement of gonadal steroids in final oocyte maturation of white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops): in vivo and in vitro studies

Plasma estradiol-17 (E₂), testosterone (T), 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and 17,20,21-tri-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20-S) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops) that were induced to undergo final oocyte maturation (FOM) with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Plasma DHP levels increased in females of both species in association with oocyte germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and decreased thereafter. Plasma 20-S levels also increased with oocyte GVM in white bass, but were several-fold lower than DHP levels. Circulating E₂ and T levels were greatest during GVM and GVBD in both species and decreased to low levels during oocyte hydration and ovulation. Follicles from white perch and white bass which received a priming injection of hCG in vivo, produced both DHP and 20-S in vitro after exposure to hCG and their oocytes underwent GVBD. Ovarian incubates from unprimed fish of either species produced only E₂ and T and their oocytes did not complete GVBD. Oocytes from unprimed bass, but not perch, matured when follicles were exposed to hCG in vitro. Both trilostane and cycloheximide blocked in vitro production of DHP and 20-S and oocyte GVBD by white perch follices. DHP and 20-S were equipotent inducers of FOM in the GVBD bioassay. None of several other structurally-related steroids tested were effective within a physiological range of concentrations. These results indicate a role for DHP and 20-S in the control of FOM in white perch and white bass.     

Cardiac,ventilatory and metabolic responses of two ecologically dissimilar species of fish to waterborne cyanide

Changes in heart rate, ventilatory activity and oxygen consumption were determined in trout (Salmo gairdneri) and brown bullhead catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus) during exposure to a steadily increasing concentration of waterborne cyanide selected to produce death in 8–9 hours for each species. The lethal cyanide concentration for the bullheads was an order of magnitude higher than for trout. Trout developed an immediate and gradually increasing bradycardia throughout the exposure period. Cyanide produced tachycardia in the bullhead followed by a gradual onset of bradycardia as the concentration of cyanide was raised. Pericardial injection of atropine (a muscarinic cholinergic antagonist) indicated that bradycardia in the trout was due initially to increased vagal tone but later due to the direct effect of cyanide on the heart. Hyperventilation in the trout persisted throughout the exposure period, although the rate and amplitude fluctuated and was variable between individual fish. During the last hour of exposure (highest cyanide concentration), ventilation was characterized by rapid, shallow breaths followed by a sudden respiratory arrest. The bullheads exhibited hyperventilation during the first 3 hours of exposure followed by a gradual, linear drop in ventilation rate and amplitude until death occurred. Cardiac and ventilatory responses in both species were attributed to stimulation of central and peripheral chemoreceptors by cyanide. Evidence is presented which suggests the initial response in the bullheads was due, at least in part, to gustatory stimulation by the cyanide. Oxygen consumption of the trout remained above pre-exposure levels for the majority of the test period. Oxygen consumption in the bullhead paralleled the changes in heart and ventilatory rates. Whole-body lactate levels of fingerlings of both species during cyanide exposure were measured to estimate the extent of anaerobiosis. Whole-body lactate levels were much greater in the bullheads than the trout, indicating a higher capacity for anaerobiosis, possibly due to a greater fuel supply. Overall, the trout responded to cyanide in a manner similar to that produced by environmental hypoxia whereas the bullheads experienced a gustatory stimulus which masked the hypoxia-like response.     

An overview of stress physiology of fish transport: changes in water quality as a function of transport duration

This study brings an integrated analysis about the relationship between water deterioration and its physiological consequences in live fish transport. The analysis was focused on the transport water and its deterioration, and physiological challenges imposed on the fish. Usual commercial handling procedures employed to mitigate fish stress during transport were discussed. Future topics of research for the establishment of safer fish transport protocols were proposed. Transport was classified into short (≤8 h) or long transport (>8 h). The main issue in short transports should be the prevention of water pH reduction, while in long transports it is the increase in ammonia. Plasma cortisol is the most employed marker for stress and is acutely elevated upon short episodes of transport, but remains elevated even in long‐transport events. Plasma glucose is perhaps a better marker for handling stress. Plasma lactate, pH, osmolality CO₂ and ions should be more often evaluated. Plasma Na⁺ and Cl^‐ are very useful markers of acidosis, due to their respective exchange for H⁺ and , for acid–base regulation. The establishment of species‐specific transport protocols should be preceded by such combined analyses of water and physiological parameters.     

Are hatchery‐reared abalone naïve of predators? Comparing the behaviours of wild and hatchery‐reared northern abalone,Haliotis kamtschatkana (Jonas, 1845)

Abalone populations have declined worldwide, generating interest in enhancement using hatchery‐reared individuals. In many cases, such restoration efforts have met with limited success due to high predator‐induced mortality rates. Furthermore, the mortality rates of outplanted hatchery abalone are often considerably higher than for wild individuals. This study uses northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) as a case study to determine whether hatchery‐reared abalone behave differently than their wild counterparts. In the field, outplanted hatchery‐reared abalone were significantly less responsive than wild abalone, in terms of number of abalone responding and intensity of response, to nearby movement and to physical contact with an inert probe. Also, when encountering a cue to which all abalone responded (a seastar predator), hatchery‐reared individuals remained subdued. Anti‐predator behavioural deficits in hatchery‐reared abalone were more pronounced in 4‐year‐old individuals than in 1‐year‐old individuals, suggesting an influence of either age or amount of time spent in the hatchery environment. These behavioural differences are expected to increase the vulnerability of hatchery‐reared abalone to predators, and are likely a major cause of their elevated predator‐induced mortality when outplanted.     

Effects of cadmium on the kinetics of calcium uptake in developing tilapia larvae, Oreochromis mossambicus

The toxic effects of Cd²⁺ on Ca²⁺ influx kinetics in developing tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) larvae were evaluated. Addition of 20 µg l^-1 of Cd²⁺ to the environment of 0 and 3 day-old larvae competitively inhibited the Ca²⁺ uptake within 4h resulting in a great increase in K_m values for Ca²⁺ influx (19.3 and 17.4 fold, respectively) as compared with their respective controls. Consequently, the actual Ca²⁺ influx of larvae in solutions of 0.2 mM Ca²⁺ are suppressed by 32–45%. Also, 3 day-old larvae were more sensitive to internally accumulated Cd²⁺ than 0 day-old larvae. Although the Ca²⁺ influx in 0 and 3 day-old larvae may be restored to the levels of their respective controls with 24h of being transferred to a 20 µg l^-1 Cd²⁺ solution, total body Ca²⁺ content was significantly reduced in 3 day-old larvae. Increased Ca²⁺ uptake efficiency ensures sufficient Ca²⁺ for normal growth. However, rapid increase in Ca²⁺ influx after hatching also leads to higher Cd²⁺ uptake. Exposure to Cd²⁺ will lead to a drop in body Ca²⁺ content resulting in retardation of larval growth. Therefore, we conclude that if Ca²⁺ uptake is interfered with at this critical stage of development, larvae will not be able to maintain normal levels of body Ca²⁺ and will show signs of Cd²⁺ poisoning.     

Migratory dynamics of stream-spawning longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)

Abstract– Literature evidence suggests that lake-dwelling longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) enter tributary streams to spawn, Until the present study, the dynamics of this breeding migration had never been investigated quantitatively. During the summers of 1991 and 1992, longnose gar were captured as they entered Weaubleau Creek, Missouri, a tributary of Harry S. Truman Reservoir. The in-stream spawning migration began in early April and ended in late May, and was positively correlated with stream flow and water level, and negatively correlated with water temperature. In-stream residence times ranged from 15 to 94 days, with males exhibiting longer residence times than females. Once in-stream, longnose gar travelled as far as 10 km upstream and occupied certain pools at greater relative frequencies. Although the reason for this preferential utilization is not completely understood, it may relate to pool depth and riffle proximity. Longnose gar disperse from the spawning stream great distances, with gar captured in Weaubleau Creek being recaptured up to 48 km away. This information should provide fisheries biologists the means to consider the reproductive ecology of this species in their conservation and management decisions.     

Nutritional regulation of hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation and polyunsaturated fatty acid composition in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The desaturation and elongation of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 was investigated in hepatocytes of the tropical warm freshwater species, zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation/elongation pathway was assayed before and after the fish were fed two experimental diets, a control diet containing fish oil (FO) and a diet containing vegetable oil (VO; a blend of olive, linseed and high oleic acid sunflower oils) for 10 weeks. The VO diet was formulated to provide 1% each of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3, and so satisfy the possible EFA requirements of zebrafish and tilapia. At the end of the dietary trial, the lipid and fatty acid composition was determined in whole zebrafish, and liver, white muscle and brain of tilapia. Both zebrafish and tilapia expressed a hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation/elongation pattern consistent with them being freshwater and planktonivorous fish. The data also showed that hepatic fatty acid desaturation/elongation was nutritionally regulated with the activities being higher in fish fed the VO diet compared to fish fed the FO diet. In zebrafish, the main effect of the VO diet was increased fatty acid Δ6 desaturase activity resulting in the production of significantly more 18:4n-3 compared to fish fed the FO diet. In tilapia, all activities in the pathway were greater in fish fed the VO diet resulting in increased amounts of all fatty acids in the pathway, but primarily eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3). However, the fatty acid compositional data indicated that despite increased activity, desaturation of 18:3n-3 was insufficient to maintain tissue proportions of EPA and DHA in fish fed the VO diet at the same level as in fish fed the FO diet. Practically, these results indicate that manipulation of tilapia diets in commercial culture in response to the declining global fish oil market would have important consequences for fish fatty acid composition and the health of consumers. Scientifically, zebrafish and tilapia, both the subject of active genome mapping projects, could be useful models for studies of lipid and fatty acid metabolism at a molecular biological and genetic level. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.