罗非鱼无乳链球菌C5a肽酶(ScpB)的原核表达及其免疫原性

以尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)为鱼体样本, 克隆了罗非鱼源无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae) scpB基因, 构建了原核表达质粒pET32a(+)-scpB, 转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)后, IPTG诱导表达, 表达的重组蛋白经镍离子金属螯合柱纯化及超滤管浓缩后, 进行SDS-PAGE和Western blot分析鉴定。纯化的重组蛋白以不同剂量(1 μg/g、3 μg/g、5 μg/g) 免疫尼罗罗非鱼后, 每周检测各实验组鱼体血清非特异性免疫指标[溶菌酶活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力]及抗体水平变化情况, 并于免疫4周后以4倍LD₅₀的剂量对其进行人工攻毒。结果显示, 该重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中以包涵体的形式存在; 对尼罗罗非鱼的相对免疫保护率为69.66%~89.00%, 其中5 μg/g组的相对保护率最高; 受免鱼体血清中溶菌酶活性、SOD活力和抗体水平较对照组有极显著提高(P<0.01), 结果表明, 重组蛋白ScpB具有较强的免疫原性和保护作用。本研究旨在为GBS多肽疫苗的研制奠定基础。

     

传染性造血器官坏死病毒-Sn1203株的基因型及糖蛋白的生物信息学分析

利用鲤(Cyprinus carpio)上皮细胞(epitheliaoma papulosum cyprini, EPC)培养传染性造血器官坏死病毒- Sn1203分离株(IHNV-Sn1203), 根据GenBank中IHNV G蛋白基因开放阅读框(open reading frame, ORF)的序列设计引物(GenBank序列编号AB288207), 采用RT-PCR的方法克隆得到IHNV-Sn1203株G蛋白全长ORF, 克隆至表达载体pET27b(+)中, 构建了pET27-G重组质粒, 并进行了测序分析。生物信息学分析结果显示, IHNV-Sn1203株G蛋白基因序列长度为1 527 bp, 与韩国株具有最高的核酸同源性(96.86%)和氨基酸同源性(97.05%)。该基因编码508个氨基酸残基, 推导分子量约为56.55 kD, 等电点为6.15; 氨基酸序列分析表明, G蛋白富含丝氨酸、苏氨酸和酪氨酸, 存在28个潜在的磷酸化位点; 存在4个潜在的N-糖基化位点和7个潜在的O-糖基化位点; G蛋白N端含有20个氨基酸的信号肽; 亲水性大于输水性; 位于483~508位氨基酸存在一跨膜区; 抗原表位预测显示抗原性良好; 系统进化树分析显示, IHNV-Sn1203株与日本株和韩国株聚为一簇, 都属于JRt基因型。

     

溶藻弧菌感染后凡纳滨对虾鳃组织免疫相关基因的表达

分别给凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)注射生理盐水、3×10⁶ CFU/mL(低浓度组)和9×10⁶ CFU/mL(高浓度组)溶藻弧菌(Vibrio alginolyticus)菌液, 采用荧光定量PCR技术, 检测不同处理后凡纳滨对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶基因表达量随时间的变化。结果表明, 处理42 h内, 注射生理盐水组对虾的Toll受体和IMD mRNA表达量无显著变化, 溶菌酶mRNA表达量在注射36 h后显著升高。急性感染溶藻弧菌后, 凡纳滨对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶mRNA的表达量峰值分别出现在感染后24、42和36 h; 溶藻弧菌的感染剂量不影响上述基因表达峰值的出现时间, 但显著影响上述基因的表达峰值(P<0.05), 各基因表达量峰值由大到小均依次为高浓度组、低浓度组、生理盐水组。急性感染初期, 对虾鳃组织中Toll受体mRNA表达量呈现显著下调, 而IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量在感染初期不存在显著下调现象。与感染前各基因的表达量相比, 高浓度溶藻弧菌感染组Toll受体mRNA表达量在2 h时显著下调, 低浓度溶藻弧菌感染组Toll受体mRNA表达量在3 h显著下调(P<0.05); 高浓度组IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量分别在36 h和12 h时开始有显著上调, 而低浓度组IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量则分别在42 h和24 h才有显著上调(P<0.05)。表明溶藻弧菌感染对凡纳滨对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量有显著影响, 各基因的表达量与感染进程及溶藻弧菌剂量存在一定的相关性。

     

牙鲆有丝分裂雌核发育二倍体的制备

本研究采用紫外线灭活的真鲷(Pagrus major)精子激活牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)卵子, 经过静水压机处理诱导有丝分裂雌核发育二倍体。优选施压起始时间、持续时间和压力大小3个方面参数, 获得最佳参数组合为: 起始时间60 min、持续时间6 min、施加压力650 kg/cm²。在此条件下的受精率最高为67.80%, 孵化率54.23%, 与其他处理组间达显著性差异(P<0.05)。用流式细胞仪检测未经静水压处理的胚胎, 其DNA含量约为普通二倍体的1/2, 即单倍体; 检测有丝分裂雌核发育胚胎, 其DNA含量与普通二倍体大体一致。结果表明, 应用该方法可成功诱导获得牙鲆有丝分裂雌核发育二倍体。

     

大鲵虹彩病毒流行株的分离及其主衣壳蛋白编码基因序列比较分析

大鲵虹彩病毒(giant salamander iridovirus, GSIV)是近年中国大陆新发现的引起人工养殖大鲵(Andrias davidianus)大规模死亡的病毒病原。为了揭示大鲵虹彩病毒流行株的基因型差异, 本研究对2010–2012年采集自全国不同大鲵养殖区域的患虹彩病毒病的大鲵样本进行了分子检测、病毒分离培养以及病毒主衣壳蛋白(major capsid protein, MCP)基因测序与比对分析。结果显示, 采自陕西、湖北、湖南、浙江、江西、福建等省的10个样本检测为阳性, 通过细胞培养获得10株病毒流行株。对该10株流行株MCP基因的测序与比对分析发现, 核苷酸序列相似性达到99.7%~100%, 其推测的氨基酸序列无明显差异, 证实中国大鲵虹彩病毒流行株属同一基因型。系统进化树分析结果表明, 所选大鲵虹彩病毒与蛙病毒分别聚为一枝, 但其亲缘关系较近。本研究结果旨为大鲵虹彩病毒病的疫苗研制及其免疫防控技术研究奠定基础。

     

鲤 IGF-I 基因 2 个高度多态微卫星位点的鉴定及其与生长相关性 状的关联分析

??利用PCR结合测序方法, , 在鲤(Cyprinus carpio)类胰岛素生长因子-I (insulin-like growth factor-I, , IGF-I)基因内含子1和内含子2中各鉴定1个微卫星多态性位点, , 分别命名为intron1189和intron2310, , 这两个位点均以4碱基为重复单元。以黑龙江鲤(Cyprinus cario haematopterus, , YL)(n=263)、德国镜鲤选育系(Cyprinus carpio L. mirror, , JL)(n=229), 及荷包红鲤抗寒品系(Cyprinus carpio var. wuyuanensis, , HL)(n=255)为研究对象, , 评估了这两个位点不同基因型(频率>3%)与鲤4个生长时段(135 d 、325 d、335 d和445 d)生长表型的关联。结果显示, , 2个位点在3个鲤群体中均表现为高度多态(PIC>0.5)。intron1189位点多态性主要对YL的135 d、325 d体长和325 d、385 d体质量有显著影响(P<0.05), , 而intron2310位点多态性对JL各检测时段的体长和体质量均有显著影响(P<0.05)。对不同基因型个体的体长和体质量性状进行多重比较, , 结果显示, , 在intron1189位点, , 185/229基因型YL的135 d、325 d体长和325 d、385 d体质量最低, , 而205/221基因型YL的135 d、325 d体长和325 d体质量最高。在intron2310位点, , 290/350基因型JL在各检测时段的体长及135 d、325 d、385 d体质量最低, , 而318/350基因型JL的135 d、325 d、385 d体长和体质量均为最高。上述结果表明, , 鲤IGF-I基因内含子中的这两个高度多态微卫星位点潜在影响鲤的生长性能。

     

环境因子对鼠尾藻生殖托生长及光合特性的影响

鼠尾藻(Sargassum thunbergii)样本采自青岛太平角, 以光照、温度、盐度及营养盐水平4项环境因子分别设置4组单因素实验, 研究其对鼠尾藻生殖托的生长、表观光合作用、暗呼吸作用以及色素积累的影响。结果显示: (1)光照度为8 000 lx、温度为20℃和盐度为20的条件下生殖托的比生长速率(SGR)较大, 表观光合作用较强。光照12 000 lx抑制生殖托的光合作用与生长, 15℃下比生长速率比20℃小50.64%(P<0.05), 盐度从31下降到28, 比生长速率与表观光合速率显著增大。(2)色素含量与光照度、温度呈显著的负相关性, 叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素含量受环境因子影响较大, 而叶绿素c相对稳定。(3)氮磷营养盐的浓度配比对生殖托的生长、光合作用影响显著, 适宜的氮磷比(N/P)范围为5∶1~1∶1, 而50∶1显著抑制生殖托的生长。(4)相比氮元素而言, 磷浓度变化对生殖托光合作用影响更大, 说明磷元素对于生殖托的构建至关重要。(5)氮磷比对生殖托色素含量影响不显著, 而富氮、富磷培养液有利于色素的积累。结果表明, 上述4项环境因子对鼠尾藻生殖托的生长及光合特性均有显著影响, 适宜的培养条件为光照度8 000 lx、温度20℃、盐度20、氮磷浓度比(N/P)在5∶1~1∶1。本研究旨在为鼠尾藻人工育苗技术的优化提供科学依据。

     

碳源和氮源加富对脆江蓠生长及生化组分的影响

在实验室条件下研究了碳源(添加CO2)和氮源(添加NaNO3)加富对大型海藻脆江蓠(Gracilaria chouae)生长及其生化组成的影响。设置碳源加富(800 μL/L CO2)和对照(400 μL/L CO2) 2 个碳源处理组, 氮源加富(100 μmol/L、300 μmol/L 和 500 μmol/L 3 NO₃^--N)和对照(10 μmol/L 3 NO₃^--N) 4 个氮源处理组, 每个处理 3 个重复。实验共进行10 d, 测定不同处理组藻体的生长及可溶性总糖(SS)、可溶性蛋白质(SP)、藻红蛋白(PE)、叶绿素a(Chla)、总碳(TC)和总氮(TN)含量的变化。结果表明, 碳源和氮源加富都会促进脆江蓠的生长, 在 800 μL/L CO2 和 100 μmol/L 3 NO₃^--N 处理组, 脆江蓠的瞬时生长率(SGR)最大(11.70%/d); 高浓度CO2 会降低藻体SP、PE 和Chla 的含量, 但提高了SS 的含量;随着硝态氮浓度的增大, PE 和SP 含量逐渐增加, 而SS 含量逐渐降低, Chla 含量没有明显变化。藻体的TN 含量随着硝态氮浓度的增加而逐渐提高, 而TC 和C/N 比值则呈现逐渐降低的趋势, 并且藻体的TN 和TC 含量呈现出显著的负相关关系(P<0.05)。本实验证实添加碳、氮会引起脆江蓠生长和生化组成的变化, 但其能耐受较高的CO2 浓度和氮浓度。

     

NaCl盐度和NaHCO3碱度对鲤、鲫和大鳞鲃的精子活力及其受精率的影响

研究了不同NaCl盐度(0、1、2、3、4、5、6、7、8、9、10、11、12)和NaHCO₃碱度(0 mmol/L、10.00 mmol/L、15.85 mmol/L、25.12 mmol/L、39.81 mmol/L、63.10 mmol/L)对松浦镜鲤(Cynipus carpio)、方正鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)和大鳞鲃(Barbus capito)精子活力及其受精率的影响。结果表明: 1) 在盐度为4时, 方正鲫和大鳞鲃精子的激烈运动时间、快速运动时间和寿命最长, 方正鲫分别为(90.11±9.03) s、(126.34±13.90) s和(154.27±11.36) s; 大鳞鲃分别为(48.91±1.43) s、(62.19±4.28) s和(90.68±4.46) s。在盐度为5时松浦镜鲤精子的激烈运动时间、快速运动时间和寿命最长, 分别为(72.44±9.42) s、(102.16±8.82) s和(206.99±6.65) s。2) 当盐度达到8以上时, 3种鱼的精子激活将受到抑制; 盐度大于10时, 方正鲫和大鳞鲃精子死亡; 盐度大于11时, 松浦镜鲤精子死亡。3) 在碱度为15.83 mmol/L时, 3种鱼的精子激烈运动时间、快速运动时间和寿命均最长, 且显著高于其他碱度条件下的精子活力(P<0.05)。4) 在盐度为1时, 方正鲫和大鳞鲃受精率达到最高分别为63.0%和68.0%, 在盐度为3时, 松浦镜鲤受精率达到最高为72.3%, 当盐度大于3时, 受精率开始呈明显下降趋势。碱度为10.00 mmol/L时, 3种鱼的受精率均最高, 分别为75.4%、54.0%和66.0%。本实验旨在通过测定不同NaCl盐度、NaHCO₃碱度条件下3种鱼类精子的活力和受精率所受的影响, 为北方地区碳酸型盐碱水域的渔业开发利用提供基础资料。 

     

坛紫菜“申福2号”的SSR分子标记

利用微卫星(SSR)分子标记技术, 对坛紫菜(Porphyra haitanensis)优良品系“申福2号”的丝状体和叶状体分别进行了特异性分子标记鉴定, 结果发现: 用9^#引物(序列为F: TCACAATGGGTGATATGGC; R: CCACAT TTAAGTCCGACTCTG) 对“申福2号”丝状体的DNA进行扩增, 出现了能区别于其他14个品系(6个优良品系, 3个杂交品系, 5个野生品系)的特异性条带。用该引物对室内培养的“申福2号”叶状体的DNA进行扩增, 也均获得了与丝状体相同的特异性条带。此外, 用该引物分别对栽培在不同海区和不同时期采收的“申福2号”叶状体进行验证, 结果均出现了与丝状体相同的特异性条带。该特异性条带的DNA测序结果证实, 9^#引物产生的SSR标记反映了微卫星DNA重复序列的变化。通过SSR Hunter软件搜索到了设计引物时的核心序列, 所得产物大小在预期长度范围内, 是特异性扩增。通过BLAST比对得知, 该序列在核酸数据库中没有同源序列, 是一个新序列。通过DNAMAN软件分析得知, “申福2号”、“申福1号”之间序列差异较小, 与坛紫菜霞浦野生种差异较大。这证实该标记反映的是种内品系间的差异, 可以用于种内品系鉴定。上述结果表明, 由9^#引物扩增出的这一特异性条带可以认为是“申福2号”丝状体和叶状体的特异性标记, 可用于该品系的种质鉴定。

     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Fertilization by refrigerator stored sperm of the Indian major carp, Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)

This study reports on the spermatological properties, and on the development of a protocol for refrigerator storage (4°C) of Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822) sperm for artificial breeding. Volume, motility, concentration and pH of the freshly collected sperm were 2.21 ± 0.53 (μL g^?1 of fish weight) (mean ± SD), 95 ± 1 (%), 1.93 ± 0.44 × 10⁹ (cells mL^?1) and 7.56 ± 0.17 respectively. Sperm activation was evaluated at different osmolalities of NaCl solution, and motility ceased completely when osmolality of the extender was ≥287 mOsmol kg^?1. Sperm retained motility for 24, 72 and 108 h, after refrigerator storage when sperm were undiluted, suspended in Alsever's solution and suspended in Alsever's solution containing 5% methanol respectively. Fertilization rate of fresh eggs with sperm stored at 4°C in Alsever's solution and Alsever's solution containing 5% methanol was 77% and 60% with a hatching rate of 60% and 43% respectively. The fertilization and hatching success of the stored sperm suggests potential to use refrigeration for transporting genetic material to hatcheries for artificial breeding of L. calbasu in Bangladesh.     

A novel approach to denitrification processes in a zero-discharge recirculating system for small-scale urban aquaculture

This paper presents an innovative process to solve the nitrate build-up problem in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The novel aspects of the process lie in a denitrification bioreactor system that uses solid cotton wool as the primary carbon source and a unique degassing chamber. In the latter, the water is physically stripped of dissolved gaseous O₂ (by means of a Venturi vacuum tube), and the subsequent denitrification becomes more efficient due to elimination of the problems of oxygen inhibition of denitrification and aerobic consumption of cotton wool. The cotton wool medium also serves as a physical barrier that traps organic particles, which, in turn, act as an additional carbon source for denitrification. Operation in the proposed system gives an extremely low C/N ratio of 0.82 g of cotton wool/g of nitrate N, which contributes to a significant reduction of biofilter volume. The additional advantage of using solid cotton wool as the carbon source is that it does not release organic residuals into the liquid to be recycled. Operation of the system over a long period consistently produced effluents with low nitrate levels (below 10 mg N/l), and there was only a very small need to replace system water. The overall treatment scheme, also incorporating an aerobic nitrification biofilter and a granular filtration device, produced water of excellent quality, i.e., with near-zero levels of nitrite and ammonia, a sufficiently high pH for aquaculture, and low turbidity. The proposed system thus provides a solution for sustainable small-scale, urban aquaculture operation with a very high recovery of water (over 99%) and minimal waste disposal.     

Effects of metomidate anaesthesia or transfer to pur sea water on plasma parameters in ammonia-exposed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) in sea water

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) postsmolts weighing 150 ± 53 g were exposed to 14–15 mg l^–1 TA-N (total ammonia-N) in sea water in 1 m³ tanks for 24h. Blood samples were then taken A) immediately after the fish were netted from the exposure tanks and stunned by a blow to the head; B) 2–20 min after the fish were transferred to 15 l of an anaesthetic solution of metomidate in ammonia-free sea water; or C) 2–20 min after the fish were transferred to 15 l of ammonia-free sea water. Plasma TA-N level was 18% lower in the anaesthetised fish compared to in the fish sampled directly from the exposure tanks (p 0.05), and accordingly 16% lower in the fish transferred to pure sea water although this difference was not significant (p = 0.07). Plasma glucose level was higher in the fish transferred to pure sea water than in the fish receiving the two other treatments (p 0.05), but plasma urea, osmolality, Na^{+, Cl–, Ca2+ or Mg2+} levels did not vary significantly between the different treatments. Plasma TA-N level increased with time in the fish in the metomidate solution (p 0.02).