红鳍东方鲀3个白介素基因的序列特征及表达分析

本试验分析体质量(190.34±2.13)g的红鳍东方鲀白介素基因IL-1b、IL-8和IL-10的序列特征,检测其在红鳍东方鲀脑、鳃、心脏、肌肉、肝脏和脾脏中的表达,以及每尾红鳍东方鲀注射密度1×10^7 cfu/mL的哈维氏弧菌菌液0.1 mL后0、12、24、48 h在肝脏和脾脏中的表达。试验结果表明,IL-1b、IL-8和IL-10基因的序列全长分别为771、822 bp和844 bp。3个基因在健康成鱼脑、鳃、心脏、肌肉、肝脏、脾脏中均有表达,其中肝脏和脾脏表达显著(P<0.05)。感染哈维氏弧菌后12 h,IL-1b基因在肝脏中显著上调,12 h和48 h在脾脏中显著升高(P<0.05)。感染哈维氏弧菌后12 h和24 h IL-8基因在肝脏和脾脏中均显著上调(P<0.05);而感染后24 h和48 h IL-10基因在肝脏中显著升高,在脾脏中12 h和48 h显著升高(P<0.05)。笔者首次探讨红鳍东方鲀IL-1b、IL-8和IL-10基因的序列特性及表达特征,为研究3个基因的原核表达提供了试验信息,将为进一步深入探究重组蛋白活性及其在红鳍东方鲀健康养殖中的应用奠定基础。     

半滑舌鳎多聚免疫球蛋白受体(pIgR)基因的克隆和表达分析

本研究根据半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)基因组数据库中预测的多聚免疫球蛋白受体(Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, pIgR)序列,通过PCR和RACE技术获得了半滑舌鳎pIgR基因cDNA,全长为1419 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)为1020 bp,编码339个氨基酸,5′UTR区域为109 bp,3′UTR区域为290bp。保守结构域分析显示,半滑舌鳎pIgR蛋白包含1个信号肽,2个免疫球蛋白功能域(Ig-like domain, ILD)和1个跨膜结构域。经蛋白序列同源比对和系统进化树分析,发现半滑舌鳎pIgR与大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)和牙鲆(Paralichthy solivaceus)的pIgR亲缘关系最近。实时荧光定量PCR分析显示,pIgR基因在健康半滑舌鳎的不同组织中均有表达,在鳃中表达较高,在肌肉中表达最低。经哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)病原感染刺激后,pIgR基因在半滑舌鳎的5个组织(肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、肠和鳃)中均呈先上升后下降的趋势,其中,在脾脏和鳃中48 h达到最高值,在肝脏、肾脏和肠中72 h达到峰值。与内脏组织不同的是,pIgR基因在皮肤中呈一直上升的趋势。上述结果表明,pIgR基因在半滑舌鳎抵御哈维氏弧菌的免疫应答中发挥重要作用。     

黄姑鱼转录因子激活蛋白AP2α的克隆和特征分析

转录因子激活蛋白AP2α是一类能特异地结合DNA的核转录因子，参与动物胚胎发育的调节、细胞生长、细胞凋亡、肿瘤发生以及免疫反应等多种生物过程。课题组前期通过基因组关联分析(GWAS)发现，AP2α是黄姑鱼(Nibea albiflora)抗哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)的候选基因。本研究克隆了黄姑鱼转录因子AP2α，其开放阅读框(ORF)为1 275 bp，编码424个氨基酸；所编码的AP2α蛋白质N端是富含脯氨酸和谷氨酰胺(P/Q-rich domain)的反式激活结构域，中间是中心基本结构(central basic region)，C端为高度保守的helix-span-helix基序，负责结合DNA和蛋白质二聚化。氨基酸序列多重比对表明，AP2α保守性强，与所检测的鱼类、两栖类、鸟类和哺乳动物同源性在84.63%以上。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果显示，AP2α基因的mRNA广泛分布于所检测的黄姑鱼9 种组织样品中，其中血液中的表达量最高；受哈维氏弧菌攻毒感染后，肝脏、脾脏和头肾中AP2α表达量均明显升高，特别是在肝脏中，AP2α mRNA表达水平在24 h时达到攻毒前的39倍。通过构建重组真核表达质粒pGEFP-AP2α并转染HEK293T细胞进行亚细胞定位研究的结果显示，AP2α分布于HEK293T细胞的细胞核中。进一步通过原核克隆表达获得了可溶性的GST-AP2α融合蛋白。以上结果表明，AP2α在黄姑鱼抵御哈维氏弧菌感染过程中发挥重要作用。本研究对AP2α在硬骨鱼类先天免疫中的重要功能提供了新的见解，为深入研究黄姑鱼的分子免疫机理和抗病分子育种奠定了基础。     

半滑舌鳎颗粒酶B基因的克隆和表达分析

颗粒酶(granzyme, Gzm) B是免疫炎症反应必不可少的介质,可激活半胱天冬酶3,进而诱导靶细胞的凋亡。本研究通过PCR扩增和RACE技术获得了半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)颗粒酶B基因(CsGzmBl)的全长cDNA序列,并对其序列特征和表达水平进行了分析。结果显示,CsGzmBl cDNA全长为923 bp,开放阅读框长度为780 bp,编码259个氨基酸(前19个氨基酸残基为信号肽序列),5′非编码区为49 bp,3′非编码区为94 bp。CsGzmBl的基因组结构比较保守,由5个外显子和4个内含子组成。CsGzmBl蛋白包含2个N端糖基化位点、1个催化三联体“His63Asp112Ser207”、1个“PHSRPYMA”结构域及6个保守的半胱氨酸。荧光定量PCR结果显示,CsGzmBl在半滑舌鳎健康成鱼不同组织中均有表达,其中,在脾脏中表达量最高,头肾、中肾、肝脏和鳃中表达量次之,在肌肉中表达量最低。与对照组0 h相比,CsGzmBl在哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)感染后的不同时间点的脾脏、肠、肝脏、皮肤、鳃和肾脏中的表达水平均有不同程度的上调。研究表明,CsGzmBl基因在半滑舌鳎抵御哈维氏弧菌感染过程中发挥重要作用。     

半滑舌鳎白细胞介素12的p35a和p40c亚基在哈维氏弧菌感染下的表达和调控分析

本研究以海水养殖鱼类半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)为研究对象,克隆了白细胞介素12 (IL-12)的p35a亚基和p40c亚基的基因编码区序列,编码区长度分别为651 bp和984 bp。系统进化树分析显示,半滑舌鳎的p35a和p40c分别与其他鱼类对应的基因聚为一支。氨基酸同源性分析显示,p35a与红鳍东方鲀(Takifugu rubripes)相似性最高,p40c与三棘刺鱼(Gasterosteus aculeatus)相似性最高,分别为52.04%和48.67%。组织表达分析显示,p35a在鳃、脑、心和卵巢中表达量较高,p40c在肝、脾、鳃和心中表达量较高。通过哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)感染实验,分析了半滑舌鳎p35a、p40c及其相关基因(ifn-γ和il-10)在哈维氏弧菌感染过程中的表达模式,p35a在脾中,48 h表达显著上升(P<0.05),之后表达逐渐下降;在肝和肠中,72 h表达显著上升。p40c在脾、肝中,6 h表达显著上升;在肾中,48 h产生上调;在肠中,6 h开始上调,并在48 h上升至最高点。ifn-γ在肝和肠中,均在p35a表达上调之前显著升高,在脾中晚于p35a上调表达;il-10在肝、脾、肾、肠中表达趋势中均与p40c的表达趋势相反。将半滑舌鳎淋巴细胞过表达p35a和p40c基因后,检测了受不同浓度脂多糖(LPS)刺激后干扰素(ifn-γ)、肿瘤坏死因子(tnf-α和tnf-β)等免疫相关细胞因子的表达变化。结果显示,p35a、p40c能够显著提高tnf-α在LPS刺激下的表达水平。上述结果表明,IL-12的p35a亚基和p40c亚基能够响应哈维氏弧菌对半滑舌鳎的刺激,过表达p35a、p40c能够通过诱导tnf-α基因的表达来参与机体的免疫应答。研究结果可为IL-12作为半滑舌鳎抗哈维氏弧菌疫苗佐剂的开发提供理论基础。     

稀有鮈鲫MHCⅡβ基因克隆及鲁氏耶尔森菌感染后的表达分析

为探究稀有鲫MHCⅡβ基因的分子特征及其表达特点，采用PCR扩增技术获得了稀有鲫MHCⅡβ cDNA序列810 bp，包括开放阅读框(ORF)759 bp，编码252个氨基酸。生物信息分析表明，MHCⅡβ氨基酸序列存在4个保守的半胱氨酸残基和GXXGXXXGXXXXXXG结构，与其他亲缘鱼类的一致性为51.78%～80.56%，其编码的蛋白质分子包括1个信号肽、1个MHCⅡβ (β-1)结构域、1个IGc1 (β-2)结构域和1个跨膜螺旋区域。实时荧光定量PCR (qRT-PCR)结果显示，MHCⅡβ在脾脏表达量最高，头肾、鳃、皮肤表达量较高。人工感染鲁氏耶尔森菌后，6 h时在头肾表达呈显著上调，肝脏中在12 h开始出现极显著上调，皮肤中在24 h和48 h表达极显著，鳃中在6～24 h表达极显著，脾脏中则是在6 h出现极显著下调，于96 h接近对照组表达水平。初步研究表明，MHCⅡβ在鱼类抵御细菌感染的免疫反应中发挥着重要作用，为进一步揭示稀有鲫MHC家族的功能提供了参考依据。     

苏丹鱼甘露糖受体的基因克隆表达和免疫特性

为了解苏丹鱼MR(Lh MR)的结构特点及其在抗感染免疫反应中的作用,本研究克隆并分析了LhMR基因,采用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)技术检测了LhMR在正常及柱状黄杆菌感染苏丹鱼组织中的表达。结果显示,LhMR开放阅读框4296 bp,编码1431个氨基酸(aa)。LhMR的氨基酸序列和分子结构与其他物种高度相似,胞外1个富含蓖麻类β型三叶草的结构域(RICIN)、1个纤连蛋白Ⅱ型结构域(FNⅡ)、8个串连的C型凝集素样结构域(CLECTs)、1个跨膜区和1个胞内区。通过qRT-PCR检测显示,LhMR在脾脏、体肾、心脏、脑、皮肤、肌肉、鳃、肝脏、后肠、前肠和中肠11种组织中均有表达,其中脾脏中表达量最高;经柱状黄杆菌感染苏丹鱼后,脾脏、肠、体肾和鳃中LhMR基因的相对表达量显著升高。通过免疫组织化学(IHC)检测发现,在脾脏、肾脏和鳃中的LhMR蛋白表达水平提高。通过苏木精-伊红染色病理组织切片表明,在体肾、肠、肝脏和鳃中均有不同程度的病变。体肾的肾小管有大量的血细胞浸润,上皮细胞发生坏死;肠壁变薄,组织大量弥散坏死;肝脏组织中有多个空泡;鳃小片肿胀、混乱、坏死和脱落。研究表明,LhMR在苏丹鱼感染柱状黄杆菌免疫反应中发挥重要作用,为苏丹鱼柱形病的防控提供新的参考。     

半滑舌鳎CD40基因克隆及其免疫功能分析

本研究通过RACE技术在半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)中克隆得到1个CD40同源基因。该基因c DNA全长为2098 bp,开放阅读框为1011 bp,可编码由336个氨基酸组成的蛋白质。推导得到的CD40氨基酸序列包含1个信号肽、1个跨膜结构区、2个N-糖基化位点以及含4个富含半胱氨酸的保守结构区。不同物种氨基酸序列同源分析结果显示,该基因与哺乳类、两栖类以及硬骨鱼类相似性为28%~47%,其中与硬骨鱼类相似性较高。系统进化分析结果显示,半滑舌鳎CD40与其他硬骨鱼类CD40聚类为一支,哺乳类与两栖类CD40聚类为另一支。荧光定量PCR结果显示,CD40在健康半滑舌鳎不同组织中均有表达,其中在鳃、肝和脾等组织中表达量较高,在肠、肌肉和皮肤中表达量较低,在脑和肾中微量表达。经哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)感染刺激后,与PBS处理的对照组相比,该基因m RNA在半滑舌鳎3个主要免疫组织(肝、脾和肾)中表达量均呈显著性升高,在肝中12 h到达峰值,在脾和肾中6 h达到峰值。上述结果表明CD40基因参与了半滑舌鳎抵抗哈维氏弧菌的免疫应答反应。     

牙鲆趋化因子基因CXCL9的克隆、鉴定与表达分析

趋化因子是一类具有化学趋化功能的小分子分泌性蛋白,能够引导白细胞到损伤或者感染的部位,参与免疫调节和病理反应。为丰富鲆鲽鱼类趋化因子的相关基础研究,本研究克隆了牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)趋化因子基因CXCL9,其全长为910 bp,开放阅读框为408 bp,编码135个氨基酸。该基因具有趋化因子超家族的典型特征,在35、37、60和77个氨基酸位置具有4个保守的半胱氨酸残基,形成两个二硫键。氨基酸序列分析表明,该基因与大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)、半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)的CXCL9基因具有较高的同源性,分别为78.5%和71.0%。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示, CXCL9在正常牙鲆肝脏和脾脏中的表达量非常高,在皮肤和鳃等组织中表达量次之,说明CXCL9特异性地在免疫相关组织中表达。经迟缓爱德华氏菌(Edwardsiella tarda)感染后,牙鲆肝脏中CXCL9 mRNA表达量在感染后6 h即出现高峰值,而头肾和脾脏中的高峰值出现较晚。经鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)感染后6 h,牙鲆肝脏中CXCL9 mRNA的表达量升高近8倍,头肾中的表达高峰值出现在感染后24 h,而脾脏中CXCL9 mRNA的表达量在感染后6 h迅速升高10倍,逐渐降低后48 h又出现高峰,为正常水平的20倍。上述研究结果说明CXCL9基因在病原菌感染过程中有快速响应,可能参与了免疫防御过程,将有可能发展为一种牙鲆细菌性疾病的生物标记。本研究为牙鲆趋化因子超家族免疫机制的深入研究奠定了基础。     

牙鲆JNK2基因的表达分析及免疫功能探究

本研究利用实验室已建牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)转录组数据库，得到牙鲆JNK2基因(PoJNK2)并利用PCR技术进行序列验证。PoJNK2的开放阅读框长度为1263 bp，编码420个氨基酸；通过SMART服务器对PoJNK2的结构域进行预测，显示PoJNK2具有典型的丝氨酸?苏氨酸蛋白激酶催化结构域S_TKc。利用qRT-PCR分析PoJNK2在牙鲆成体不同组织中的表达水平，发现其在牙鲆免疫组织中均有表达，因此，初步推测PoJNK2在牙鲆免疫应答方面可能发挥作用。本研究设计了体内迟缓爱德华氏菌(Edwardsiella tarda)侵染实验和体外免疫刺激细胞实验以探究PoJNK2在牙鲆免疫反应中的作用。在迟缓爱德华氏菌体内注射牙鲆成体后，PoJNK2在脾脏、头肾和鳃中有不同程度的表达上调。同时，使用迟缓爱德华氏菌、Poly I:C和肿瘤坏死因子-α (TNF-α)刺激牙鲆鳃细胞系后，发现PoJNK2在不同时间点表达上调。除此之外，通过细胞转染实验在牙鲆鳃细胞系中过表达PoJNK2，发现其对下游炎症细胞因子的表达及激活蛋白Activator protein-1 (AP-1)的转录活性具有显著的上调作用，进一步阐明了PoJNK2在调节牙鲆免疫应答方面的作用。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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).