不同脂肪酸含量及比例对黄颡鱼幼体组成影响的研究

在粗蛋白42%和粗脂肪8%的半精制饵料中,添加不同剂量的鱼油、玉米油、花生油和芝麻油,使20C:5n-3(EPA)+22C:6n-3(DHA)的含量(占总脂肪的%)和n-3/n-6比例分别为14.942,0.728;15.551,0.851;19.365,1.238;19.976,1.345和20.457,1.406。饲喂黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco,Richardson)幼鱼50 d,研究了不同脂肪酸含量及比例对黄颡鱼幼鱼体组成的影响。结果表明,随着饵料中EPA+DHA的含量和n-3/n-6比例的逐渐增加,鱼体肌肉中水分含量逐渐增加,粗蛋白含量逐渐降低,肌肉中的n-3脂肪酸含量和n-3/n-6比例逐渐增加,肌肉的n-6和n-9脂肪酸含量逐渐降低。     

野生与人工养殖牙鲆亲鱼不同组织脂肪酸的比较

为研究脂肪酸对牙鲆繁育性能的影响, 采用生物化学方法, 对野生和养殖牙鲆亲鱼肌肉、肝脏及卵中脂肪酸组成分别进行测定。结果表明: (1) 牙鲆肌肉、肝脏和卵中脂肪含量大小关系为肝脏>卵>肌肉。野生亲鱼肌肉和卵中脂肪含量显著低于养殖亲鱼(P<0.05), 肝脏脂肪含量与养殖亲鱼无显著差异; (2) 牙鲆亲鱼3种组织中均检测出21种脂肪酸。野生亲鱼肌肉中饱和脂肪酸(SFA)与养殖亲鱼无显著差异, 单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)显著低于养殖亲鱼(P<0.05)。肝脏和卵中SFA显著高于养殖亲鱼(P<0.05), MUFA与养殖亲鱼无显著差异; (3) 野生亲鱼肌肉、肝脏和卵中高不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)的含量, 尤其是肝脏和卵中C20:5n-3(EPA)、C22:6n-3(DHA)的含量均显著低于养殖亲鱼(P<0.05), 但肌肉和卵中的C20:4n-6(ARA)含量明显高于养殖亲鱼(P<0.05); (4) 野生牙鲆亲鱼肌肉、肝脏和卵中n-3/n-6 PUFA及EPA/ARA显著低于养殖亲鱼(P<0.05), 肝脏中DHA/EPA显著高于养殖亲鱼(P<0.05), 但野生亲鱼肌肉和卵中的DHA/EPA与养殖亲鱼无显著差异。比较结果说明, DHA、EPA和ARA等PUFA是与牙鲆繁殖性能密切相关的重要脂肪酸。在牙鲆亲鱼养殖过程中, 除了提供牙鲆亲鱼足够的脂肪酸营养外, 也应注意各种脂肪酸, 尤其是PUFA中各种脂肪酸之间的添加比例, 从而保证亲鱼的繁殖性能及卵和仔鱼的质量。     

闽东海域银鲳亲鱼性腺发育后期脂类及脂肪酸蓄积特点

脂肪和脂肪酸是海水鱼类早期生长发育的重要结构物质和能量来源。亲鱼的脂肪和脂肪酸储备影响其繁殖性能和早期仔鱼的发育。为了获知银鲳亲鱼性腺发育后期脂类及脂肪酸蓄积特点,本研究采用氯仿甲醇法及气相色谱法定量检测了繁殖季节闽东海域野生银鲳亲鱼不同组织的总脂肪及脂肪酸含量。结果表明:亲鱼卵巢、精巢、肝脏和肌肉的总脂肪含量差异显著。卵巢、精巢、肝脏和肌肉的总脂含量分别为:35.76%,15.11%,22.07%和22.14%(占组织干重)。极性脂肪占总脂肪的比例在精巢中最高,其次为肝脏和卵巢,在肌肉中最低。性腺从Ⅳ期发育到Ⅴ期,雌鱼卵巢总脂肪和中性脂肪含量显著增加,雄鱼肌肉极性脂肪含量显著降低。中性脂肪中卵巢的20∶5n-3(EPA,2.25~3.87 mg/g)、22∶6n-3(DHA,6.71~13.03mg/g)和高不饱和脂肪酸(HUFAs,17.20~29.64 mg/g)含量最高,极性脂肪中精巢的EPA(0.38~0.27 mg/g)和DHA(3.12~3.59 mg/g)含量最高。性腺中n-3/n-6比值显著高于肝脏和肌肉中。随着卵巢发育,DHA等必需脂肪酸在雌鱼不同组织及同一组织不同脂肪类别之间存在转移现象。研究表明,银鲳亲鱼各组织的总脂肪含量、总脂肪组成及脂肪酸绝对含量(mg/g干物质)具有组织特异性,随着性腺发育,必需脂肪酸总体上表现为由肌肉和肝脏向性腺中转移,且性腺中脂肪酸的变化主要发生在中性脂肪中。     

冬夏两季五种经济鱼类组织脂肪酸含量及组成分析

为了解不同季节不同鱼类不同组织中的不同脂肪酸含量,科学地指导鱼类膳食消费,本实验研究了冬夏两季,采集自上海市场常见的5种经济鱼类:大黄鱼(海洋肉食性),银鲳(海洋杂食性),日本鳗鲡(淡水肉食性),莫桑比克罗非鱼(淡水杂食性),草鱼(淡水草食性),分别检测鱼背部肌肉、腹部肌肉、尾部肌肉、肝脏和腹腔脂肪组织的脂肪含量和脂肪酸绝对含量。结果显示,5种鱼肌肉脂肪酸谱存在显著差异,并与各自的生活环境及食性均有关系;在鱼的腹腔脂肪或肝脏中,饱和脂肪酸(SFAs)和单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFAs)含量较高,且与组织脂肪含量密切相关;而多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFAs)、n-3系多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3 PUFAs)和n-6系多不饱和脂肪酸(n-6 PUFAs)含量较低,且与组织脂肪含量关系不大;大黄鱼和银鲳各肌肉组织中的n-3 PUFAs、二十碳五烯酸(EPA)和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)含量以及n-3/n-6值高于莫桑比克罗非鱼和草鱼,并与组织脂肪含量呈正相关;冬季草鱼腹部肌肉、莫桑比克罗非鱼尾部肌肉以及日本鳗鲡和银鲳的肝脏中的n-3 PUFAs含量较夏季高。研究表明,脂肪酸组成与物种、食性、水域环境以及季节温度和组织部位均有关系。从补充n-3 PUFAs摄入的角度分析,日本鳗鲡、大黄鱼和银鲳营养价值高于莫桑比克罗非鱼和草鱼,冬季鱼类的营养价值高于夏季。     

牙鲆幼鱼对EPA和DHA的营养需求

研究了EPA和DHA水平对牙鲆生长的影响,饲料中含0.5%EPA和1.0%～1.5%DHA能保证牙鲆幼鱼最适生长,鱼体水分最低,肝体指数最小,脂肪含量有较大幅度提高,肝脏极性脂中EPA和DHA达到最大积累;在肝脏和肌肉的非极性脂部分,各组间的脂肪酸组成没有显著变化,而极性脂部分能体现出饲料中n-3 HUFA含量对鱼体脂肪酸组成的影响,极性脂中的EPA和DHA含量远高于非极性脂;在肌肉和肝脏的极性脂和非极性脂中都含有较高的16:0和18:1n-9; 18:1n-9/n-3HUFA可以作为必需脂肪酸满足程度的一个判据,18:1n-9值的升高往往是缺乏必需脂肪酸的表现,在生长最佳时18:1n-9/n-3HUFA比值下降,为0.62和0.74.     

大黄鱼鱼种阶段脂肪酸组成研究

对人工培育的90-180日龄的大黄鱼鱼种,用GC/MS法分析比较了其肌肉和肝脏的脂肪酸组成,肌肉和肝脏分别检出脂肪酸25种和42种.试验结果表明,7-10月,肌肉中的脂肪不断积累,而肝脏中则保持相对恒定,且是肌肉的1.7～3倍;2种组织中均以C16∶0(棕榈酸)含量最高,其次为C18∶1(油酸);肝脏中脂肪酸以饱和脂肪酸(SFA)为主,SFA的平均含量是多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)的4倍,而肌肉中的SFA平均含量则与PUFA基本相当;花生四烯酸(AA)、二十碳五烯酸(EPA)、二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)及亚油酸(C18∶2)等n-3和n-6系列的PUFA在肌肉中含量更高;大黄鱼鱼种首先利用肌肉组织中以C16∶0为主的十八碳以下的SFA作为能量来源,而不轻易动用肝脏贮藏的能量.通过与幼鱼和成鱼比较可知,随着鱼体的成长,其脂肪酸种类不断丰富,组成也更趋合理.     

豆油替代鱼油对圆斑星鲽幼鱼生长和肌肉脂肪酸的影响

本实验旨在研究饲料中豆油替代鱼油对圆斑星鲽(Verasper variegatus)幼鱼生长和肌肉脂肪酸组成的影响。用豆油分别替代0、25%、50%和75%的鱼油,配制4组等氮、等脂肪的饲料。选择初始体重为(65.47±1.57)g的圆斑星鲽幼鱼360尾,随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复30尾鱼,养殖56 d。结果显示,(1)随着豆油替代水平的升高,增重率(WGR)呈现降低的趋势(P0.05),饲料系数(FCR)呈现升高的趋势(P0.05),25%替代组的WGR高于鱼油组(P0.05)。(2)豆油替代鱼油对圆斑星鲽肌肉的粗蛋白、粗脂肪、灰分和水分含量无显著性影响(P0.05),对肝体比(HSI)、脏体比(VSI)和肥满度(CF)无显著性影响(P0.05),豆油替代组肝脏的脂肪含量显著高于鱼油组(P0.05)。(3)随着饲料中豆油水平的增加,圆斑星鲽幼鱼肌肉亚油酸(C18:2n-6)和亚麻酸(C18:3n-3)显著升高(P0.05),而二十碳五烯酸(EPA)和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)则显著降低(P0.05)。研究结果表明,在该实验条件下,饲料中高比例的豆油替代鱼油会降低鱼体的生长性能和肌肉脂肪酸营养品质。     

基于脂肪酸分析的太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼营养生态位研究

黄鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus albacares)是生态系统中的顶级捕食者, 是海洋生态系统能量流动及物质循环的重要一环。为研究太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼在个体发育过程中的摄食变化以及不同海域营养生态位差异, 根据 2019 年东太平洋和 2021 年中西太平洋海域金枪鱼渔船采集的黄鳍金枪鱼样本, 对其肌肉的脂肪酸组成及特征进行了分析研究。结果显示, 黄鳍金枪鱼肌肉检测出 34 种脂肪酸, 包括 16 种饱和脂肪酸(SFA), 8 种单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA), 10 种多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)。黄鳍金枪鱼肌肉脂肪酸中 SFA 含量与 PUFA 含量呈负相关, MUFA 含量与 PUFA 含量呈正相关。SFA 含量与叉长呈显著负相关, MUFA、PUFA 含量与叉长呈显著正相关。中西太平洋和东太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼肌肉脂肪酸含量存在差异, 两海域之间脂肪酸组成平均不相似性为 18.85%, 主要差异来自 n-3 系列多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3 PUFA)、SFA、PUFA、C22∶6n3 (DHA)、Cl6∶0、Cl8∶1n9、MUFA、C22∶6n3/C20∶5n3 (DHA/EPA)、 C18∶0、n-6 系列多不饱和脂肪酸(n-6 PUFA)。主成分分析显示, 黄鳍金枪鱼的营养级越高, 肉食性越高, 以甲藻和硅藻为食源的生物对黄鳍金枪鱼的能量来源贡献越大。相反, 营养级越低的黄鳍金枪鱼主要摄食以细菌、陆地植物和植食性桡足类为食源的生物。主成分回归表明, 黄鳍金枪鱼随叉长增大, 其营养级增加, 肉食性提高, 食性逐渐由以甲壳类和头足类向虾和硬骨鱼等富含多种特征脂肪酸的生物转变。东太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼较中西太平洋肉食性更强, 营养级更高, 甲壳类对其能量贡献更大。     

微藻粉替代鱼油对星斑川鲽幼鱼生长、体组成和生理指标的影响

为探讨微藻粉替代鱼油对星斑川鲽(Platichthys stellatus,Pallas 1788)幼鱼生长、体组成和生理指标的影响,以鱼油为主要脂肪源配制基础饲料(FO),分别用裂壶藻粉(SO)、微绿球藻粉(NO)及两种藻粉的混合物(MO)替代鱼油中的DHA、EPA,不足部分用玉米油补齐,制成4种等氮等能的实验饲料,投喂星斑川鲽幼鱼(初始体重7.35 g±0.03 g)90 d。结果显示,与FO组相比,SO组的生长性能无显著差异(P0.05),NO组和MO组特定生长率、蛋白质效率和脏体比显著降低(P0.05),饲料系数显著增大(P0.05);MO组的全鱼粗蛋白含量显著高于其他组(P0.05),FO组与MO组的全鱼粗脂肪含量显著高于其他组(P0.05),FO组背肌粗灰分含量显著低于其他组(P0.05);藻粉替代鱼油对肌肉和肝脏脂肪酸组分影响显著,肌肉的C16:0和DHA含量与其在饲料中所占的百分比呈显著正相关(r=0.973,0.967,P0.05),C14:0和C16:1n-7呈极显著正相关(r=1.00,0.996,P0.01),肝的C18:2n-6、n-6 PUFA和DHA/EPA呈显著正相关(r=0.983,0.976,0.977,P0.05),C16:1n-7呈现极显著正相关(r=0.992,P0.01);NO组和MO组血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(CHO)和碱性磷酸酶(ALP)的含量较FO组显著降低(P0.05),NO组血清谷草转氨酶(AST)和葡萄糖(GLU)含量显著低于其他组(P0.05)。研究表明,本实验条件下裂壶藻粉可以替代星斑川鲽幼鱼饲料中的鱼油而不对其生长和生理指标产生负面影响,并且在一定程度上能提高星斑川鲽的营养价值。     

亚麻籽油替代鱼油对大菱鲆幼鱼生长、脂肪酸组成及脂肪沉积的影响

为研究亚麻籽油替代不同鱼油水平对大菱鲆幼鱼[初始体质量为(5.89±0.02)g]生长、脂肪酸组成以及肝脏和肌肉脂肪沉积的影响,以亚麻籽油分别替代0、33.3%、66.7%和100%鱼油,配制4种等氮等脂饲料。每组饲料随机投喂3组实验鱼,饱食投喂,养殖周期为92 d。结果发现,饲料亚麻籽油水平并未显著影响大菱鲆幼鱼存活率(SR)和特定生长率(SGR),但显著影响其摄食率(FI)、饲料效率(FE)和表观净蛋白利用率(ANPU)。随饲料亚麻籽油水平升高,FI显著升高,而FE和ANPU显著下降,且其均在100%亚麻籽油组分别达到最大值或最小值。饲料亚麻籽油水平并未显著影响大菱鲆饲料脂肪表观消化率、肝体比和肌肉脂肪含量。当饲料中亚麻籽油替代100%鱼油,鱼体肝脏脂肪含量显著高于全鱼油组。肝脏和肌肉脂肪酸组成与饲料脂肪酸组成相似。相对于全鱼油组,亚麻籽油替代组肌肉和肝脏中亚油酸和亚麻酸显著升高,而EPA和DHA含量显著下降。研究表明,大菱鲆饲料中亚麻籽油替代水平应低于66.7%,且大菱鲆饲料中n-3长链多不饱和脂肪酸含量需大于0.8%。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

美人鱼发光杆菌对凡纳滨对虾非特异性 免疫功能及抗病力的影响

在基础饲料中分别添加0.1%和1%美人鱼发光杆菌灭活菌、0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌配制成3种免疫实验饲料,以基础饲料为空白对照组饲料,每组设3个平行样。对个体质量为(4.83±0.36)g的凡纳滨对虾进行为期20 d的饲养实验,分别在0、5、10、15和20d进行取样,以血清中的酚氧化酶(PO)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和溶菌酶(UL)活性为免疫指标,探讨了美人鱼发光杆菌作为免疫制剂对凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫效应的影响;在投喂免疫饲料后的第22天,按0.004 2 kg/kg体重的剂量,直接投喂对虾白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)病料,并记录累积死亡率。结果表明,美人鱼发光杆菌免疫实验组对凡纳滨对虾血清中PO、ACP、AKP、UL和SOD活性影响明显高于对照组,并且在饲料中添加美人鱼发光杆菌后,明显提高了对虾抵御WSSV感染的能力。其中0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌实验组的抗病毒感染能力最强,WSSV感染14d内累计死亡率为63.3%±5.8%;而对照组为96.7%±3.3%。研究表明,美人鱼发光杆菌添加在对虾饲料中能提高凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫水平,增强抵抗疾病的能力,将其作为对虾免疫增强剂具有良好的应用前景。     

Effects of Spirulina platensis as a feed additive on growth and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii Boulunger, 1902)

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with dietary Spirulina as a feed supplement on the growth performance and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii). Five isonitrogenous (47% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.36 kJ/g digestible energy) diets were for formulated to replace FM with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% Spirulina (designated as Control, SP5, SP10, SP15 and SP20 respectively) and fed to the fish (initial body weight, 3.15 ± 0.01 g). Fish were randomly distributed into fifteen 120 L aquariums (26.5 ± 1.00°C), 15 fish per aquarium. The diets were tested in triplicate for 12 weeks. Experimental groups were fed twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) by hand to satiation. At the end of the feeding trial, significantly (p < 0.05) higher weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in fish fed the SP10 diet when compared to the SP20 diet. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the other groups. The skin coloration of blue dolphin cichlid fed a diet containing Spirulina meal was enhanced. The best coloration was observed in the SP15 group. These impressions were objectively validated by chemical determinations of carotenoids extracted from fish skins and passed statistical tests of significance. The study findings show that Spirulina meal does not diminish growth rates except at very high levels.     

Dietary thiamin and pyridoxine requirements of fingerling Indian major carp,Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

Two experiments were conducted to quantify the dietary thiamin (experiment I) and pyridoxine (experiment II) requirements of fingerling Cirrhinus mrigala for 16 weeks. In experiment I, dietary thiamin requirement was determined by feeding seven casein–gelatin‐based diets (400 g kg^?1 CP; 18.69 kJ g^?1 GE) with graded levels of thiamin (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg kg^?1 diet) to triplicate groups of fish (6.15 ± 0.37 cm; 1.89 ± 0.12 g). Fish fed diet with 2 mg kg^?1 thiamin had highest specific growth rate (SGR), protein retention (PR), RNA/DNA ratio, haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), RBCs and best feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, highest liver thiamin concentration was recorded in fish fed 4 mg thiamin kg^?1 diet. Broken‐line analysis of SGR, PR and liver thiamin concentrations exhibited the thiamin requirement in the range of 1.79–3.34 mg kg^?1 diet (0.096–0.179 μg thiamin kJ^?1 gross energy). In experiment II, six casein–gelatin‐based diets (400 g kg^?1 CP; 18.69 kJ g^?1 GE) containing graded levels of pyridoxine (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg kg^?1 diet) were fed to triplicate groups of fish (6.35 ± 0.37 cm; 1.97 ± 0.12 g). Fish fed diet containing 6 mg kg^?1 pyridoxine showed best SGR, FCR, PR, RNA/DNA ratio, Hb, Hct and RBCs, whereas maximum liver pyridoxine concentration was recorded in fish fed 8 mg kg^?1 dietary pyridoxine. Broken‐line analysis of SGR, PR and liver pyridoxine concentrations reflected the pyridoxine requirement from 5.63 to 8.61 mg kg^?1 diet. Data generated during this study would be useful in formulating thiamin‐ and pyridoxine‐balanced feeds for the intensive culture of this fish.     

Sea bream culture in Egypt; status, constraints and potential

Marine fish farming in Egypt began in 1976 with the culture of gilthead sea bream, (Sparus aurata) as this fish was notably adaptable to brackish and marine pond conditions. Today, marine fish and shrimp farms amount to about 19,000 ha, out of which 42% is already in production while the rest, i.e., 58% is still under construction. In 1997, cultured gilthead sea bream production of 2,250 tons made up 3% of the 75,000 tons total aquaculture catch. In polyculture, usually with the grey mullet and sea bass, gilthead sea bream contributed 440 kg ha^–1 to the total yield of 1,700 kg ha^–1 (26%) over a period of 16 months. For the same period, the yield of monoculture ponds averaged 100 kg ha^–1, while in marine cages, yields ranged from 4–10 kg m³. In 1996–1997, fry of 0.25–1 g and fingerlings 1–10 g with a total of 3 million, were collected from the wild and 1 million fry were produced in the three marine hatcheries out of the four existing ones. The development of sea bream culture in Egypt is now severely inhibited by the shortage of seeds and adequate feeds. Exports of both sea bream and sea bass, during 1994–1996 averaged 1,300 tons per year.     

A Minchinia mercenariae‐like parasite infects cockles Cerastoderma edule in Galicia (NW Spain)

The cockle Cerastoderma edule fishery has traditionally been the most important shellfish species in terms of biomass in Galicia (NW Spain). In the course of a survey of the histopathological conditions affecting this species in the Ria of Arousa, a haplosporidan parasite that had not been observed in Galicia was detected in one of the most productive cockle beds of Galicia. Uni‐ and binucleate cells and multinucleate plasmodia were observed in the connective tissue mainly in the digestive area, gills and gonad. The parasite showed low prevalence, and it was not associated with abnormal cockle mortality. Molecular identification showed that this parasite was closely related to the haplosporidan Minchinia mercenariae that had been reported infecting hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria from the Atlantic coast of the United States. The molecular characterization of its SSU rDNA region allowed obtaining a fragment of 1,796 bp showing 98% homology with M. mercenariae parasite. Phylogenetic analysis supported this identification as this parasite was clustered in the same clade as M. mercenariae from the United States and other M. mercenariae‐like sequences from the UK, with bootstrap value of 99%. The occurrence of M. mercenariae‐like parasites infecting molluscs outside the United States is confirmed.     

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.