真鲷虹彩病毒自然感染杂交石斑鱼“褐龙斑”的组织病理分析

褐龙斑是雌性褐石斑鱼(Epinephelus bruneus)和雄性鞍带石斑鱼(E. lanceolatus)杂交产生的子代。作为杂交石斑鱼的新品种，国内外尚没有褐龙斑疾病的报道。2017年7月，某养殖场褐龙斑出现急性死亡，10 d内累积死亡率高达80%。现场调查发现，病鱼外观无明显异常，但反应迟钝，伏底死亡。临床检查和剖检可见脾和肾严重肿大、易碎。组织病理切片观察发现，各组织中存在数量不等的嗜碱性、细胞质均一、直径为10~15 µm的肿大细胞。超薄组织切片中发现，肿大细胞胞质内存在大量直径为130~150 nm的虹彩病毒样颗粒。使用特异性的PCR引物，从病鱼脾、头肾等组织中均检测到真鲷虹彩病毒(Red seabream iridovirus, RSIV)的高强度感染。测定了该病毒主要衣壳蛋白(Major capsid protein, MCP)基因1362 bp的全长编码区，构建了19种(株)虹彩病毒系统发育树，结果显示，该病毒属于虹彩病毒科肿大细胞病毒属RSIV类群。本研究首次描述了褐龙斑虹彩病毒病的组织病理特征，揭示了褐龙斑是RSIV新的敏感宿主，为杂交石斑鱼病毒病的诊断与防治提供了重要的参考依据。     

大口黑鲈肝脾肿大病病原研究

为了查明2009年10月广东省佛山地区养殖大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)中暴发的传染性疾病的病原,对病鱼的肝脏、脾脏和腹隔膜进行切片电镜观察,发现细胞质中有大量病毒颗粒,切面为六角形,直径约145～150 nm,病毒为二十面体对称结构、无囊膜、似虹彩病毒的病毒粒子.用除菌的病鱼组织滤液感染健康大口黑鲈,被感染鱼死亡率达90%以上.根据已知虹彩病毒主要衣壳蛋白(MCP)基因序列设计特异引物,提取人工感染发病鱼的肝脏、脾脏、肾脏组织的DNA进行PCR扩增,将扩增片段进行序列测定与分析,结果表明该序列与已报道的鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)传染性脾肾坏死病毒(Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus,ISKNV)MCP基因同源性为98%.电镜观察和MCP基因测序分析结果显示,该病毒的分类地位为虹彩病毒科(Iridoviridae)细胞肿大病毒属(Megalocytivirus).     

山东沿海部分地区真鲷虹彩病毒病初步调查与分析

2008年11月～2010年11月,采集山东海域大菱鲆、石鲽、鲈鱼各20批,按照世界动物卫生组织推荐的PCR检测方法对真鲷虹彩病毒病(Red Sea Bream Iridoviral Disease,RSIVD)进行初步调查.结果显示,共检出4例RSIVD感染样品.以真鲷虹彩病毒(Red Sea Bream Iridovirus,RSIV)和传染性脾肾坏死病毒(Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus,ISKNV)主要衣壳蛋白基因为基础,设计简并引物,PCR扩增本次检出阳性样品的RSIV/ISKNV MCP基因.将MCP基因PCR扩增产物测序,提交GenBank,并以MCP基因为基础,对被检出的阳性样品进行虹彩病毒属系统分类,绘制进化树.由进化树得出,4例阳性病毒株均属于虹彩病毒科细胞肿大病毒属.     

大黄鱼幼鱼虹彩病毒感染的电镜研究

目的:探索大黄鱼幼鱼夏季高温病流行的病毒性病原体。方法:应用电子显微镜观察大黄鱼幼鱼内脏组织超薄切片。结果:发现大黄鱼幼鱼脾脏细胞肿胀,细胞内存在大量虹彩病毒颗粒。病毒颗粒直径约120nm,呈六角形,有一层蛋白质外壳,核心为核酸。病毒感染主要位于细胞质内。结论:大黄鱼幼鱼脾细胞感染的病毒是虹彩病毒,虹彩病毒感染及环境因素可能是导致大黄鱼幼鱼夏季高温病暴发流行并致死的主要原因。     

我国养殖大菱鲆病毒性红体病及其流行情况调查

大菱鲆病毒性红体病(Viral reddish body syndrome,VRBS)是一种新发现的感染我国养殖大菱鲆的流行性疾病。本文描述了病鱼的外观症状和解剖病理特征,报道了该病的病原及疾病流行情况调查结果。外观检查发现,病鱼的体表无明显损伤,但腹面沿脊椎骨附近皮下淤血、发红,鳍及鳍基部充血、发红;病鱼贫血,血液凝固性差;肾脏肿大,呈灰白色。组织病理学研究显示病鱼脾组织中存在大量肥大细胞,电镜切片中可见大量平均直径约125nm的二十面体病毒粒子,即大菱鲆红体病虹彩病毒(Turbot reddish body iridovirus,TRBIV)。将过滤除菌的含TRBIV的病鱼脾组织匀浆液,经腹腔注射进行人工感染,感染鱼在3周内的累积死亡率达85．7％,死亡大菱鲆表现出腹面和鳍边发红等外观症状,并在感染鱼脾组织切片中观察到大量同样的病毒粒子,由此证实TRBIV是我国养殖大菱鲆病毒性红体病的病原。疾病流行情况调查显示,该病多在养成期大菱鲆中流行,高发季节为每年的8～12月。     

养殖银鲳虹彩病毒感染的组织病理学分析及分子检测

2018年7月,宁波象山某养殖场内银鲳出现集中死亡现象,累积死亡率高达80%以上,为探究此次疾病暴发的原因,本研究通过对患病银鲳进行组织病理学分析、透射电镜观察、病原的分子生物学检测及分析来对其病原进行鉴定,以便制定合理的防控措施。患病银鲳临床表现为厌食、身体失衡、脾脏肿大、肝脏颜色异常等病征。组织病理学观察发现,患病银鲳肝脏、脾脏和肾脏均出现直径10～15μm、细胞质嗜碱性的肿大细胞。进一步的透射电镜观察则在脾脏、肾脏等组织细胞内发现了病毒包涵体结构以及大量的病毒粒子,直径为140～160 nm。通过虹彩病毒特异性PCR检测发现,患病组织样品为虹彩病毒阳性。此外,通过病毒主要衣壳蛋白基因(MCP)序列分析,发现银鲳源病毒与大黄鱼虹彩病毒(GenBank登录号:AY779031.1)MCP同源性最高为99.76%,认为此分离病毒属于虹彩病毒科、肿大细胞病毒属、真鲷虹彩病毒(Red sea bream iridovirus, RSIV)类群。本实验首次报道了全人工养殖环境下银鲳感染虹彩病毒的病例,该研究将为养殖银鲳虹彩病毒病的诊断和防治提供重要的参考依据。     

中国大菱鲆虹彩病毒主要衣壳蛋白基因的PCR扩增及序列分析

应用同源PCR技术，从被一种球状病毒感染的患病大菱鲆（Scophthalmus maximus）脾脏和肾脏组织中扩增出了一段长度为620bp的DNA片断。序列测定和Blast分析表明，该DNA片断与鱼类虹彩病毒主要衣壳蛋白（MCP）C末端编码区的DNA序列高度相似，由此证实感染养殖大菱鲆的这种球状病毒为一种鱼类虹彩病毒，暂命名为大菱鲆红体病虹彩病毒（TRBIV）。多序列比对和分析发现，TRBIV MCP C末端的205个氨基酸序列与GenBank中20种虹彩病毒相应序列的相似性分别为99．47％（韩国大菱鲆虹彩病毒）、97％～98％（待指定病毒属的7种病毒），以及50％以下（蛙病毒属、淋巴囊肿病毒属、虹彩病毒属的12种病毒），由此绘制出了包含TRBIV在内的21种虹彩病毒的系统发育树。研究结果表明，感染中国养殖大菱鲆的TRBIV属于虹彩病毒科待指定病毒属，位于该属ISKNV亚群和RSIV亚群之间，是该病毒属的一个新成员。     

养殖大黄鱼“白鳃病”一种新病毒病原的初步研究

运用组织病理学、电镜观察及PCR扩增等方法对近年来网箱养殖大黄鱼暴发的"白鳃病"进行了研究,以探讨引起养殖大黄鱼"白鳃"关联病毒的致病机理。临床解剖观察显示:患"白鳃病"的鱼表现出极度的贫血症状、鳃丝苍白色、血液稀薄且血细胞数显著减少;内脏组织病理观察结果显示:鱼的肝、脾、肾脏内脏组织发生严重的病理变化,组织内红细胞发生明显的退行性变化,同时鱼体的红细胞数量显著减少;采用针对真鲷虹彩病毒(red sea bream iridoviral virus,RSIV)的引物对病鱼内脏组织核酸样本进行PCR检测,结果显示,患"白鳃病"病鱼样本RSIV核酸呈阴性;组织超薄切片电镜观察结果显示:在患"白鳃病"病鱼脾脏和肾脏组织细胞的胞质中可见直径约40~45 nm的病毒粒子。由此初步判断,浙江地区网箱养殖大黄鱼的"白鳃病"不是由RSIV导致,而与一种直径为45~50 nm的病毒有直接关联,本研究为大黄鱼疾病的诊断与防治提供了参考依据。     

鲈脾肿大症的病原及细胞病理学的初步研究

首次报道了鲈脾肿大症的发病情况。病鱼以脾脏肿大为主要症状，死亡率高达50％以上。对病鱼进行显微镜检查和细菌分离培养，未见寄生虫和病原菌。经电镜检查，在脾、肝等组织中发现大量病毒颗粒。该病毒颗粒为六边形，没有囊膜，衣壳直径180-220nm，认为该病毒屑虹彩病毒(Iridoviridae)。细胞病理变化表现为感染细胞肿胀，细胞超微结构破坏，细胞质出现大面积空泡。血细胞中出现大量异形淋巴细胞，占淋巴细胞总数的50％以上。     

斑石鲷TGF-β1基因克隆和表达分析

虹彩病毒是造成斑石鲷(Oplegnathus punctatus)工厂化养殖中大规模死亡的主要病原,其感染力极强,感染后的斑石鲷死亡率高,严重影响了斑石鲷养殖产业发展。转化生长因子TGF-β1是一种重要的免疫调节因子,在病毒免疫应答中发挥重要作用。为研究TGF-β1在斑石鲷被虹彩病毒感染过程中发挥的作用,运用RACE和实时荧光定量qRT-PCR技术对TGF-β1进行了基因克隆,并对其进行在不同组织、不同时间点相对表达量的差异分析。结果显示,斑石鲷TGF-β1基因c DNA序列全长为3157 bp,5’非编码区长712 bp,3’非编码区长1278 bp,开放性阅读框长1167 bp,编码388个氨基酸,基因组包含6个外显子和5个内含子。同源分析发现,TGF-β1和鱼类相似度较高,与半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)的同源性最高,为76.67%。TGF-β1在斑石鲷健康组织(肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、头肾、心脏、鳃、胃、肠和皮肤)中均有表达,在头肾、肠、肝脏和皮肤组织中表达量较高,而在脾脏和肾脏组织表达量较低。为进一步研究TGF-β1在病毒感染过程中相对表达量的变化,对健康斑石鲷注射虹彩病毒进行刺激,随后比较了TGF-β1在脾脏、肝脏、肾脏、头肾4个不同组织、不同时间点的相对表达量的差异,在头肾、脾脏和肝脏中,病毒刺激后TGF-β1的表达量均出现升高,但在脾脏和肝脏中,峰值出现在刺激后第4天,而在头肾中峰值出现在感染后的第10天。在肾脏中,病毒刺激后的TGF-β1的表达呈现下降趋势,0 d表达量最高,4、7 d依次降低,7 d降至最低,10 d有所恢复。以上研究表明,TGF-β1可能响应了虹彩病毒对机体的刺激,可能在对病毒免疫应答中发挥作用。而病毒感染后不同组织中TGF-β1相对表达量的差异,则值得进一步研究。     

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.     

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.     

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.