四川彭州地区养殖虹鳟传染性造血器官坏死病病毒的分离、鉴定及病理学观察

近期,四川省成都彭州市某虹鳟养殖场暴发流行疾病,导致养殖虹鳟死亡率高达90%。现场采样观察发现患病鱼主要症状为背部发黑,鳔壁、腹膜严重出血,心包积液,空肠、空胃和显著肠炎。同时对病鱼进行细菌学与组织病理学检测,细菌学检查结果为阴性,病理学观察发现脾脏有典型凝固性坏死,肝脏组织广泛变性、坏死,肠道黏膜下层水肿,肠上皮充血及上皮细胞脱落坏死,脑膜和心外膜水肿。将病鱼的脾组织研磨过滤除菌后,腹腔注射60尾健康虹鳟,注射组均表现为急性死亡(累计死亡率达85%),试验鱼出现与自然发病鱼相同的症状而对照组无异常。取病鱼的脾脏组织研磨过滤后接种胖头鲤细胞(fathead minnow cell,FHM),细胞感染3 d后出现典型的细胞病变效应(CPE)。针对编码IHNV糖蛋白(Glycoprotein,G)基因进行逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RTPCR)检测显示,患病鱼、人工感染病鱼和病变细胞均为IHNV阳性,扩增序列与IHNV糖蛋白基因同源性为98.2%。对该病毒分离株的G基因进行系统发育分析,结果显示,该分离株与亚洲分离株聚为一簇,属于JRt基因型。     

一株传染性造血器官坏死病病毒的致病性研究

为了对分离于山东某虹鳟养殖场的一株传染性造血器官坏死病毒株(IHNV-Sn1203)进行致病性检测与研究,将该IHNV-Sn1203毒株进行虹鳟鱼苗人工回接感染实验。结果显示,8d内人工感染实验鱼累计死亡率高达100%。收集大批濒死的病鱼样本,制备病理组织切片;利用鲤上皮细胞(EPC)进行细胞感染实验、病毒电镜观察、空斑实验、病毒滴度检测和聚类分析。病理组织切片显示,该病毒可造成虹鳟造血器官广泛性坏死;细胞感染实验结果显示,接种24 h后EPC细胞出现葡萄串状典型细胞病变(cytopathic effect,CPE),72 h后大部分细胞崩解脱落形成网状孔洞;电镜下清晰可见弹状病毒粒子大量存在于细胞质内,其在EPC细胞上的滴度为108.36TCID50/mL,并能形成2~4 mm空斑。对病毒核蛋白氨基酸序列的聚类分析结果显示,该病毒与标准毒株RB-1和WRAC的同源性分别为97%和93%,与国内报道的zyx株具有最高的同源性(99%)。研究表明,IHNV-Sn1203毒株能够在鱼体及敏感细胞中稳定繁殖,产生典型病变,具有较高的病毒滴度,对虹鳟鱼苗有很高的感染性和致死性。     

四川地区一株传染性造血器官坏死病毒的分离鉴定及系统发育分析

2014年5月,四川省都江堰市某虹鳟养殖场暴发一种传染性疾病,幼鱼和鱼苗死亡率分别高达40％和80％.为探究此次疾病病因和流行规律,将病料进行解剖及细菌学检查、病理组织观察、人工感染实验、病毒分离、多重RT-PCR鉴定和系统发育分析.结果显示,病鱼主要临床症状表现为腹部膨大,体表发黑,肛门拖淡黄色黏液便,解剖见鳔壁、腹膜出血,胃胀气膨大和明显肠炎;细菌学检查为阴性;组织病理学上,头肾、肾脏和脾脏造血组织广泛性变性、坏死,肠黏膜下层嗜酸性颗粒细胞浸润与坏死,肝细胞变性、坏死形成局灶性的坏死灶,并在一些肝细胞胞浆内见嗜酸性包涵体.将病鱼的肝脏、脾组织研磨过滤灭菌后,腹腔注射20尾健康虹鳟,注射组均表现为急性死亡(累积死亡率=75％),并出现与自然发病鱼相同的症状.取病鱼组织匀浆滤菌液接种到鲤上皮瘤细胞(epithelioma papulosum cyprini,EPC),盲传3代出现典型的细胞病变效应(cytopathic effects,CPE).针对IHNV、IPNV与VHSV的多重RT-PCR检测显示自然发病鱼、人工感染病鱼和病变细胞均为IHNV阳性,扩增序列与IHNV核蛋白(nucleoprotein,N)基因同源性为99.9％.对分离株的糖蛋白基因“Mid-G”区域进行系统发育分析,结果显示该分离株与亚洲分离株聚为一支,属于JRt基因型.本研究首次报道我国西南地区养殖虹鳟中IHNV感染引起的疾病.     

一株虹鳟源传染性胰腺坏死病病毒的分离与鉴定

为明确引起四川石棉某养殖场饲养的虹鳟患病死亡的病原体,实验对自然发病虹鳟进行大体病变观察并对其病原体进行分离,通过人工感染实验及多重RT-PCR鉴定确定病原体WZ160509,并对病原体的主要结构蛋白VP2进行扩增分析,同时对病变组织进行组织病理学观察。结果显示,患病鱼主要临床症状表现为体表发黑,腹部膨大,挤压腹部可见肛门喷射淡黄色黏液便;剖检可见肝脏、肾脏苍白;肠道内无食物,内积黄色黏液。将患病虹鳟组织匀浆液无菌接种虹鳟鱼生殖腺细胞系(rainbow trout gonad cell line,RTG-2)细胞,盲传3代均出现典型的细胞病变。人工感染实验显示死亡率高达90%,并出现与自然患病鱼相同的症状。多重RT-PCR检测发现,自然发病鱼、人工感染鱼以及病变RTG-2细胞均为传染性胰腺坏死病病毒(infectious pancreatic necrosis virus,IPNV)阳性,其主要结构蛋白VP2基因与美国分离株基因组1型聚为一支,且同源性分析表明,WZ160509-VP2与IPNV-VP2(AY026345)的同源性最高,序列一致性为95.8%。组织病理学观察显示,患病鱼胰腺细胞空泡变性,坏死;肝细胞空泡变性,坏死;肾小球轻度炎症,毛细血管通透性增加,肾小囊腔内有红色絮状蛋白类物质渗出,肾小管上皮细胞空泡变性。研究表明,从该养殖场患病虹鳟中分离到的病毒为IPNV。     

一株鳢科鱼源弹状病毒的分离及鉴定

为研究近来鳢科鱼类疫病频发的病因,实验对采集的患病杂交鳢病料分别从细菌学和病毒学两方面进行病原分离和鉴定。排除细菌感染的可能后,通过细胞培养技术、回归感染实验、电镜技术、分子生物学技术等进行病毒学分析,最终分离到一株弹状病毒,命名为HSHRV-C1207(Hybrid Snakehead Rhabdovirus-C1207)。实验结果显示,该病毒在EPC、FHM、GSB、SFC、CIK等 8种细胞中都能复制,并对其中6种细胞产生明显的细胞病变效应(CPE)。用分离的病毒进行回归感染实验,可使感染的杂交鳢复制出自然发病鱼的相同症状,且死亡率达90%。感染病料组织液的EPC细胞固定后经电镜观察,发现细胞质内有大量子弹状病毒聚集,直径约60 nm,长度约为160 nm,形态和排列方式与已报道的鱼类弹状病毒相似。参考OIE中传染性造血器官坏死病毒(IHNV)、病毒性出血性败血症病毒(VHSV)、鲤春病毒血症病毒(SVCV)的检测引物及根据乌鳢弹状病毒(SHRV)、鳜鱼弹状病毒(SCRV)、比目鱼弹状病毒(HIRRV)的G蛋白基因设计特异性引物,分别对自然发病病料组织、接种病料组织的细胞进行RT-PCR扩增,仅针对SCRV的引物能扩增出大小约350 bp 的片段。对HSHRV-C1207株的G基因进行序列测定和分析,结果表明其核苷酸序列同SCRV和SHRV的同源性分别为93.8% 和 20.4%,推导的氨基酸序列同源性分别是93.7%和18.3%。用G基因推导氨基酸序列与其它弹状病毒的G蛋白进行系统进化树分析,表明该毒株与水泡性病毒属聚为一支,其中与SCRV的亲缘关系最近,而与属于诺拉弹状病毒属的SHRV相距甚远,可能为SCRV的变异株或一个新的毒株。     

黑龙江地区鲤春病毒血症病毒的分离与基因型分析

对2015—2016年黑龙江不同地区的40个养殖场送检的鲤(Cyprinus carpio)进行鲤春病毒血症病毒(spring viremia of carp virus,SVCV)的细胞培养分离、PCR鉴定、病毒滴度测定、病毒表面糖蛋白(glycoprotein,G)氨基酸序列聚类分析及基因分型研究。细胞培养结果显示,来自4个不同养殖场的鲤组织样本能够感染鲤上皮细胞(epithelioma papulosum cyprini,EPC)产生典型细胞病变(cytopathic effect,CPE),收集病毒悬液分别称为Shlj1~Shlj4。PCR鉴定结果表明,该4株病毒均为SVCV。病毒滴度实验测算出SVCV Shlj 1~Shlj 4的滴度分别为10~(6.28)、10~(6.88)、10~(7.57)和106.38 TCID50/mL。Shlj的糖蛋白基因核苷酸序列的聚类分析和遗传进化分析结果显示,Shlj 1~Shlj 4与Gen Bank收录的中国参考株A2、BJ0505-2和美国参考株USA、212364聚为一簇,同源性为98.4%~99.8%;Shlj 1~Shlj 4毒株之间的糖蛋白核苷酸序列相似性在98.6%~99.8%,其中Shlj 3与美国SCVC毒株USA、212364具有最高的核苷酸相似性(99.8%),Shlj 2与英国参考毒株880163具有最低的相似性(88.0%)。糖蛋白氨基酸序列比对结果显示,Shlj4中氨基酸突变最多,与另3个毒株差异较大。基因型分析结果显示,Shlj 1~Shlj 4均为基因Ia型。本研究结果表明,黑龙江地区2015—2016年间的SVCV检出率约为10%,并且来源于不同养殖场的病毒分离株的核酸序列呈现不同程度的差异,该结果进一步证明SVCV毒株在中国不同的鲤养殖环境中正在不断地进化。     

传染性造血器官坏死病毒微型基因组表达干扰素对病毒的抑制效应

为构建传染性造血器官坏死病毒(IHNV HLJ-09)微型基因组并表达虹鳟IFN,采用RT-PCR扩增IHNV HLJ-09株的N、P、L、G和NV蛋白基因并亚克隆入真核表达载体pCI中,构建辅助质粒pCI-N、pCI-P、pCI-L、pCI-G和pCI-NV;将扩增获得的IHNV基因组两末端序列、增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)报告基因、虹鳟I型干扰素(IFN)基因克隆到真核表达载体pCI中构建出表达EGFP的IHNV微型基因组pCI-LFGT和表达IFN的IHNV微型基因组pCI-LFIT;将pCI-LFIT质粒转染已接种IHNV HLJ-09毒株的EPC细胞,实时荧光定量PCR法测定细胞中IHNV G基因RNA。结果显示:构建的微型基因组不论与辅助病毒还是与5个辅助质粒共转染,外源基因均能正确表达;pCI-LFIT质粒转染已接种病毒的EPC细胞组与对照组相比其中的病毒核酸显著减少。     

虹鳟源嗜冷黄杆菌的分离鉴定及致病性

为确定患病虹鳟的病原,本实验从患病鱼溃烂肌肉中分离到2株细菌,分别命名为CH06和CH07,经回归感染证实分离菌株为导致此次虹鳟患病的病原菌,并进一步对其形态特征、理化特性、分子特征、血清型及耐药性进行分析。结果显示,CH06和CH07株在TYES琼脂平板上呈煎蛋状外观,产黄色素,氧化酶和过氧化氢酶呈阳性,能水解明胶和酪蛋白,不能水解淀粉,不能利用果糖、半乳糖和七叶苷等。16S rRNA比对结果显示,CH06和CH07株与嗜冷黄杆菌模式株NBRC 15942的同源性分别为99.35%和99.42%。综合菌株理化和分子特性确定CH06和CH07株为嗜冷黄杆菌。利用多重PCR方法鉴定CH06和CH07株的血清型均为1型(Fd型);多位点序列分型(MLST)分析表明,CH06和CH07株的基因型分别为ST-12和ST-78型,且均属于CCST10克隆型。人工感染结果显示,CH06和CH07株对虹鳟幼鱼具有较高致病性,其半致死浓度(LD_(50))分别为7.1×10~5和1.1×10~5 CFU/mL,攻毒剂量与临床病症出现时间呈反比,从人工感染实验鱼的肌肉、脾脏等组织中可重新分离到嗜冷黄杆菌。组织病理变化显示,病鱼肝细胞肿胀,空泡变性,部分肝细胞溶解坏死,细胞核溶解消失;脾脏充血、出血,淋巴细胞减少,红细胞和含铁血黄素增多;肌纤维间隙增宽、断裂、弯曲不齐,部分肌细胞肌浆溶解呈蜂窝状。CH06和CH07株对10种抗菌药物的耐药谱略有不同,均对氨苄西林和甲氧苄啶-磺胺甲噁唑敏感;CH06株对恩诺沙星、氟苯尼考等耐药,而CH07株对恩诺沙星和氟苯尼考中度敏感。本研究首次报道了我国虹鳟源嗜冷黄杆菌的分离鉴定及生物学特性,以期为虹鳟细菌性冷水病的防控提供科学依据。     

传染性造血器官坏死病核酸疫苗的构建及其抗性基因对环境细菌抗性的影响

本研究以传染性造血器官坏死病毒(infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus,IHNV)分离株XJ-13为研究对象,克隆其糖蛋白(glycoprotein,G)基因并连接到商业化载体pcDNA3.1(+),成功构建了真核表达载体pIHNxj-G。为了检测该载体作为核酸疫苗的可能性,本研究以2μg/尾的剂量采用背鳍基部注射免疫虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)鱼苗[(5±0.5)g]。在免疫后第4天及第30天,以100 TCID_(50)的剂量利用IHNV-XJ-13对虹鳟进行腹腔注射攻毒;在免疫后第4天及第7天,利用Real-time PCR技术检测虹鳟头肾及接种部位肌肉组织Mx-1基因表达情况;在免疫后第4天及30天检测虹鳟血清IHNV中和抗体效价;在免疫后65 d内,分别于不同时间点采集循环水池里的粪便、水以及虹鳟的肠内容物,进行氨苄青霉素抗性菌的分离鉴定。攻毒试验结果显示,核酸疫苗在免疫后第4天和第30天的相对保护率均高于90%;Mx-1基因检测结果显示,Mx-1基因在头肾和接种部位肌肉中均显著上调表达;中和抗体效价测定结果显示,在免疫后第4天,所有血清中均不存在中和抗体(效价均20);而在免疫后第30天,10尾虹鳟中有8尾血清中存在中和抗体,最高效价为160;抗性菌分离结果显示,分离到的氨苄青霉素抗性菌均是天然具有氨苄青霉素抗性的气单胞菌(Aeromonas sp.)和柠檬酸杆菌(Citrobacter sp.),并未分离到包括大肠杆菌在内的任何具有氨苄青霉素抗性的指示菌,且实验组和对照组的氨苄青霉素抗性菌的种类和数量均没有发生统计学意义的改变。本研究提供了具有良好保护效果的IHN核酸疫苗,并为IHN核酸疫苗的安全评价提供了基础数据。     

一株似鲇高原鳅源蛙病毒的分离与鉴定

从四川乐山某养殖场自然发病的似鲇高原鳅(Triplophysa siluroides)体内分离到一株病毒FYL140220。病毒感染鲤上皮瘤细胞系(epithelima popuasum cuprini,EPC)后,细胞呈现圆缩、坏死、脱落、明显空斑的病变特征。将自然发病鱼组织过滤除菌液和细胞培养病毒液分别接种健康似鲇高原鳅,试验鱼出现与自然发病鱼相同的症状,死亡率分别为30%和40%,而对照组无异常。对经FYL140220感染出现典型细胞病变(CPE)的EPC细胞制备超薄切片进行电镜观察,发现病毒呈正六边形,对称20面体,对角线直径约(103±7)nm;提取细胞培养病毒液、自然发病鱼和人工感染发病鱼的内脏器官总DNA进行蛙病毒主要衣壳蛋白(maior capsid protein,MCP)基因保守区域的PCR扩增,均能扩增出预期大小约500 bp的特异性条带。MCP基因同源性与遗传进化分析表明,分离株FYL140220与蛙病毒属成员聚为一支,尤其与大鲵蛙病毒与沼泽绿蛙病毒同源性最高,分别达99.8%和99.6%。结合PCR检测、电镜观察和系统发育分析,确认分离病毒FYL140220为蛙病毒,这是首次报道蛙病毒可自然感染似鲇高原鳅并致死。     

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.