池塘循环水槽养殖模式下吉富罗非鱼的生长及生理响应变化

为探讨在池塘循环水槽养殖模式下吉富罗非鱼不同养殖密度的生长特性和生理指标变化,评估吉富罗非鱼在池塘循环水槽养殖模式下的适宜养殖密度,以吉富罗非鱼为实验对象,设计传统池塘养殖模式放养密度5尾/m~2 (SD1组),池塘循环水槽养殖模式放养密度180尾/m~2 (SD2组)和270尾/m~2 (SD3组),比较各组吉富罗非鱼的生长性能,分析血液生化指标和肝脏HSP70 mRNA表达量的变化规律。结果显示,经过120 d的养殖,SD2组吉富罗非鱼终末体质量、特定生长率和绝对生长率显著高于SD1和SD3组。SD2和SD3组存活率、体质量差异系数和饵料系数低于SD1组。SD2组血清皮质醇、血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、溶菌酶水平和肝脏HSP70 mRNA的相对表达量在30 d时显著高于SD1组。SD3组血清皮质醇和葡萄糖水平在60 d后持续上升,120 d时显著高于SD1组,谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、溶菌酶水平和肝脏HSP70 mRNA的相对表达量在60、90 d时显著高于SD1组,甘油三酯在整个实验期显著低于SD1组。SD2组吉富罗非鱼在养殖前期受到环境胁迫,中后期适应环境;SD3组在养殖中后期受到环境胁迫,长期处于应激状态。吉富罗非鱼生长和血清生理指标,池塘循环水槽养殖吉富罗非鱼的适宜养殖密度为180尾/m~2,在该密度下罗非鱼能适应养殖环境,养殖效果优于传统养殖模式。     

鱼腥草对无乳链球菌引起吉富罗非鱼肝脏损伤的修复作用

为探讨池塘种植鱼腥草对无乳链球菌引起吉富罗非鱼肝脏损伤的修复作用,在养殖池塘中分别种植0%(对照组)、5%、10%和15%池塘面积的鱼腥草,养殖90 d后进行无乳链球菌人工感染,分别在感染后0、24、48和72 h采集吉富罗非鱼肝脏,进行肝脏生化、抗氧化性能、组织病理和热休克蛋白70基因(HSP 70)表达研究。结果显示,感染后48和72 h对照组肝脏谷丙转氨酶(ALT)和谷草转氨酶(AST)活性最高,种植鱼腥草各组吉富罗非鱼肝脏ALT活性在感染前后均无显著性变化,感染后72 h,10%组吉富罗非鱼肝脏AST活性已恢复到感染前水平。抗氧化指标显示,种植鱼腥草能减缓链球菌感染引起吉富罗非鱼肝脏总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)下降,显著提高肝脏中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)等抗氧化酶的活性,增加自由基清除能力,减少脂质过氧化丙二醛(MDA)的产生。组织病理学观察显示,对照组吉富罗非鱼感染后48 h肝窦明显淤血,肝索排列紊乱,肝细胞脂肪变性,而各种植鱼腥草组吉富罗非鱼在感染后仅表现为肝细胞明显嗜酸,肝窦轻度扩张。定量PCR结果显示,每组吉富罗非鱼肝脏HSP 70表达量在感染后都显著升高,感染后各时间点对照组吉富罗非鱼肝脏的HSP 70表达量均显著高于鱼腥草种植组。研究表明,种植鱼腥草能显著改善链球菌感染所造成的吉富罗非鱼肝脏AST和ALT上升,提高抗氧化应激能力,减轻链球菌感染引起的病理损伤;吉富罗非鱼通过肝脏HSP 70高表达促进受损蛋白质的早期修复与降解,种植鱼腥草具有抗炎作用和提高鱼体抵御病原菌的能力。     

罗非鱼5个不同品系低温致死的研究

在室内人工降温条件下,进行了美国品系奥利亚罗非鱼及4个尼罗罗非鱼品系(美国品系、埃及品系、泰国品系和吉富品系)耐寒能力的试验,计算每个品系罗非鱼的半致死低温(LT50值)和低温累计存活小时数(CDH值),评估各品系耐寒力的大小.试验结果表明,美国品系奥利亚罗非鱼的死亡温度是8.6～9.6℃,其余4个尼罗罗非鱼品系的死亡温度在9.4～10.4℃.各罗非鱼品系的LT50值由高到低的顺序是:吉富尼罗>泰国尼罗>美国尼罗>埃及尼罗>美国奥利哑;CDH值由高到低的顺序是:美国奥利亚>埃及尼罗>美国尼罗>泰国尼罗>吉富尼罗.美国奥利亚罗非鱼的耐寒能力最强,极显著高于其他罗非鱼品系;吉富尼罗罗非鱼的耐寒能力极显著低于其余4个罗非鱼品系.     

吉富等品系尼罗罗非鱼的起捕率差异

在常规土质鱼池中进行了吉富“８８”、“７８”和埃及等四品系尼罗罗非鱼的起捕率比较试验。结果表明吉富品系的三网累计起捕率显著地高于其他品系（Ｐ〈０．０１）。１９９５年的试验中，吉富的三网累计起捕率为６７％、“８８”为３８％，“７８”为２３％，埃及为２２％。１９９６年的试验中，吉富的三网累计起捕率为８１．５％，“８８”为６２％，试验结果表明吉富品系尼罗罗非鱼的起捕率较高。     

新吉富罗非鱼健康养殖技术要点

新吉富罗非鱼是上海海洋大学李思发教授以1994年引进的"吉富"品系尼罗罗非鱼为基础群体,经过14年9代系统选育后获得的新品种。新吉富罗非鱼是通过国家农业部审定的水产养殖优良品种,被列入农业部全国重点推广养殖品种。本试验是根据《罗非鱼优质品种培育、推广及产业化关键技术集成与创新》子项目"罗非鱼高效养殖模式开发"进行的,从2012年4月20日放养新吉富罗非鱼越冬苗至     

链球菌胁迫对罗非鱼生化指标及免疫功能的影响

利用腹腔注射链球菌Streptococcus sp.的方式制造链球菌胁迫模型,研究了链球菌胁迫对体质量(100±10)g吉富罗非鱼Oreochromis niloticus生化指标及免疫功能的影响。结果发现:罗非鱼感染链球菌后血清尿素氮、肌酐含量以及肝脏溶菌酶、谷丙转氨酶、黄嘌呤氧化酶活性均下降,与0h组差异显著,表明链球菌感染后罗非鱼体内的免疫水平降低,抗氧化水平降低,清除自由基的能力下降。     

吉奥罗非鱼(新吉富罗非鱼♀×奥利亚罗非鱼♂)和4个近缘遗传型罗非鱼的遗传差异的RAPD、SSR比较分析

以1个新型杂交鱼-吉奥罗非鱼(新吉富罗非鱼♀×奥利亚罗非鱼♂)群体,4个近缘遗传型罗非鱼群体[奥尼(尼罗罗非鱼♀×奥利亚罗非鱼♂)、新吉富罗非鱼、尼罗罗非鱼、奥利亚罗非鱼]为实验材料,采用RAPD和SSR技术,比较分析这两个杂交种间及它们同亲本间的遗传差异.RAPD方面:①群体多态座位比例(P)-吉奥(20.4%)>新吉富(18.5%),但<奥利亚(21.4%)<奥尼(21.7%)<尼罗(22.3%);②Nei'S平均遗传相似系数(Ip)-吉奥(0.9086)<新吉富(0.9231),但>奥利亚(0.8895)>尼罗(0.8588)>奥尼(0.8069);③香农多样性指数(Ha)-吉奥(0.1326)>新吉富(0.1103),但<奥利亚(0.1514)<尼罗(0.1742)<奥尼(0.2410);④群体两两间遗传相似系数(Ipop)-吉奥-奥尼(0.9444)<吉奥-尼罗(0.9496)<吉奥-新吉富(0.9544),但>吉奥-奥利亚(0.9383).SSR方面:①平均有效等位基因数(Ne)-吉奥(2.43)>新吉富(2.31)>尼罗(1.94)>奥利亚(1.18),但<奥尼(2.82);②平均遗传杂合度(H)-吉奥(0.700)>尼罗(0.570)>奥利亚(0.497)>新吉富(0.398),但<奥尼(0.816);③群体的多态信息含量(PIC)-吉奥(0.661)>尼罗(0.568)>奥利亚(0.513)>新吉富(0.420),但<奥尼(0.692);④依据遗传距离构建的NJ树和UPGMA树,奥利亚罗非鱼单独为一支,吉奥等4种罗非鱼为一支.总的说来,RAPD和SSR两种技术检测结果所反映的群体遗传信息一致.这表明,无论是吉奥还是奥尼,两个杂交种在遗传上都同各自的母本较近,这同作者先前揭示的形态和生长等方面的母本效应一致.     

“吉富”系列罗非鱼生长性状的配合力、杂种优势与遗传相关分析

"吉富"系列罗非鱼是中国当前养殖的主要罗非鱼种类。该研究以3个品系"吉富"尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)(新吉富、吉富、吉诺玛)为研究材料,应用3×3完全双列杂交设计构建了9个组合,采用数量遗传学方法对各组合子一代的体质量、全长、体长、体高和体宽5个生长性状的配合力、杂种优势与遗传相关进行了分析。结果表明:5个生长性状均未检测到一般配合力,而特殊配合力效应达62%以上,表明这些性状主要受到特殊配合力的影响;进一步的杂种优势分析发现吉诺玛♀×新吉富♂、新吉富♀×吉诺玛♂、吉富♀×新吉富♂这3个组合的杂种效果明显,其中以吉诺玛♀×新吉富♂为最佳组合;5个生长性状之间均存在显著的遗传相关与表型相关(P0.05),可进行多性状的聚合利用。该研究结果为"吉富"系列罗非鱼的配套利用提供了有益的资料和数据,同时为开展罗非鱼配套系育种提供了依据。     

不同水温下无乳链球菌在尼罗罗非鱼体内的动态分布及其消除规律

本研究以腹腔注射无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae, WC1535菌株)后的尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus,GIFT strain)为研究对象,研究不同水温下无乳链球菌在尼罗罗非鱼体内的动态分布及消除规律。首先,分析25℃、29℃和33℃3个实验组罗非鱼的感染累积死亡率;其次,对3个实验组罗非鱼进行无乳链球菌的体外分离、培养和计数;然后,分析感染后不同实验组罗非鱼脑、肝脏、脾脏和肾脏组织中无乳链球菌的浓度。结果显示,随着水温的升高罗非鱼的累积死亡率也随之升高,25℃、29℃和33℃组的累积死亡率分别为6.67%、25.56%和78.90%。菌落统计结果显示,随着水温的升高,无乳链球菌在罗非鱼体内的增殖速度加快,同时,单位质量组织(脑、肝脏、脾脏和肾脏)中无乳链球菌的最大载菌量也随之升高。本研究还发现,无乳链球菌在罗非鱼脾脏中的浓度最高,在肾脏中的存活时间最长。综上可知,尼罗罗非鱼感染无乳链球菌后,体内各组织中链球菌的增殖、消除速度均与水温密切相关。本研究为研究无乳链球菌的致病机制奠定基础,也为通过合理调控水温及施药等措施防治尼罗罗非鱼链球菌病的暴发提供科学依据。     

大黄素、维生素C及其配伍对团头鲂感染嗜水气单胞菌后生理生化指标的影响

为综合评价大黄素、高剂量维生素C及其配伍对团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala Yih)抗嗜水气单胞菌感染能力的影响,选取1 200尾健康的团头鲂,体质量为(133.44±2.11)g,随机分成4组,其中1组为对照组,投喂基础日粮,另外3组在基础日粮中分别添加60mg/kg大黄素、700 mg/kg维生素C、60mg/kg大黄素+700mg/kg维生素C(配伍组).饲养60 d后,经腹腔注射感染嗜水气单胞菌,并在攻毒前后检测团头鲂血液和肝脏的生化指标以及肝脏2种热休克蛋白70s(HSP70s)mRNA的表达水平;另从各池中取10尾鱼进行同样的攻毒试验,统计攻毒后各时间点鱼的累积死亡率.结果表明,攻毒后,与对照组相比,大黄素、维生素C组不同程度地提高了血清总蛋白(TP)、溶菌酶(LSZ)和碱性磷酸酶(AKP)的水平,肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性以及HSC70和HSP70 mRNA的表达水平,降低了血清皮质醇(COR)、血糖(GLU)、谷丙转氨酶(GPT)、谷草转氨酶(GOT)、甘油三酯(TG)以及肝脏丙二醛(MDA)的水平;配伍组中,这些指标的变化趋势虽与上述类似,但大多与对照组的差异不显著(P＞0.05),且未表现出协同增效作用.此外,各组鱼血清胆固醇(CHOL)的含量在攻毒前后的差异均不显著(P＞0.05).统计也表明,大黄素和维生素C组鱼的累积死亡率在攻毒后24 h、48 h均显著低于对照组(P＜0.05),而配伍组试验鱼的累积死亡率与对照组差异均不显著(P＞0.05).由此可见,在基础日粮中添加大黄素60 mg/kg或维生素C 700 mg/kg,可提高鱼体的非特异性免疫力、抗氧化能力以及2种HSP70s mRNA的表达水平,增强鱼体抗病原菌感染的能力.二者配伍则效果不佳.     

3种品系尼罗罗非鱼生长及高密度胁迫后生理响应变化的比较

以‘吉富’、‘新吉富’、‘埃及尼罗’3种不同品系尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)为研究对象, 通过不同品系之间生长与高密度胁迫反应的比较, 探讨3种尼罗罗非鱼的生长特点与应激后生理响应的变化规律。将初始规格基本一致的3种品系尼罗罗非鱼饲养100 d后, 吉富罗非鱼特定生长率最高, 新吉富其次, 两者间无显著差异(P>0.05), 埃及尼罗罗非鱼特定生长率显著低于吉富罗非鱼(P<0.05)。吉富与新吉富罗非鱼的内脏比显著高于埃及尼罗(P<0.05); 3种尼罗罗非鱼的肥满度之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。养殖实验结束后, 进行48 h的急性高密度(100 g/L)应激实验。应激48 h内, 吉富与新吉富罗非鱼血清总蛋白、葡萄糖、谷草转氨酶、胆固醇与溶菌酶活力/水平以及肝HSP70mRNA水平呈先上升后下降的变化。应激48 h后, 埃及尼罗罗非鱼血清皮质醇水平与应激前相比无显著差异(P>0.05), 吉富与新吉富罗非鱼的皮质醇水平显著高于应激前(P<0.05); 埃及尼罗罗非鱼血清溶菌酶活力与肝HSP70 mRNA水平在应激后48 h内始终高于应激前(P<0.05)。研究结果表明, 短期高密度胁迫可提高3种尼罗罗非鱼血清葡萄糖与甘油三酯的利用, 并诱发肝损伤。埃及尼罗罗非鱼的抗高密度应激能力高于吉富和新吉富罗非鱼。

     

Physiological responses and HSP70 mRNA expression of GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under cold stress

An investigation on the physiological responses and HSP70 expression under cold stress was conducted on Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Tilapia were acclimated at 28°C as control and then the water temperature was reduced from 28°C to 15°C at a rate of 1°C h^?1, and serum biochemical indices, antioxidant enzymes and expression of HSP70 mRNA were analysed on days 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 after exposure to 15°C. The concentration of serum K, Na, Cl and Ca concentration showed instability during cold stress. Glucose rapidly increased on day 0 followed by a declining trend. Triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein‐cholesterol signifi‐cantly decreased and high density lipoprotein‐cholesterol showed instability during cold stress. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were prominently elevated under cold stress. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities showed a remarkable rise on day 0.5 under cold stress, and gradually decreased thereafter. HSP70 mRNA level significantly increased both in liver and muscle under cold stress, especially on days 0.5 and 1. These results suggest that cold influences several physiological responses of tilapia, and the cold resistance and cold tolerance of tilapia will benefit from the enhancement of antioxidant enzymes activities and upregulated HSP70 mRNA expression.     

Evaluation of the link between gyrodactylosis and streptococcosis of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Streptococcus iniae and Gyrodactylus niloticus are two common pathogens of cultured Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. We studied concurrent infection of tilapia by G. niloticus and S. iniae and evaluated whether parasitism in tilapia with Gyrodactylus increased susceptibility and mortality following immersion infection with S. iniae. Results showed that death mainly occurred in fish with G. niloticus and challenged with S. iniae (G-S group). The accumulative mortality (42.2%) was significantly higher in the G-S group than in fish not infected by the parasite (6.7%), but exposed to S. iniae. Bacteriological examination revealed S. iniae from > or =92% of dead or moribund fish challenged with S. iniae. Gyrodactylus not only damaged fish epithelium and provided entry for invasive bacteria but also was found to harbour viable cells of S. iniae for 24 and 72 h. Streptococcus iniae was isolated from 60% and 40% of G. niloticus collected from fish infected by intraperitoneal injection or immersion, respectively, at 24 h post-challenge. The present study confirms that parasitism of tilapia by G. niloticus increased host mortality following exposure to the bacterial pathogen S. iniae.     

尼罗罗非鱼出肉率与可量性状的相关性

运用统计分析方法研究了吉富品系和埃及品系尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochro misniloticus)2龄成鱼雌、雄个体的出肉率和可量性状之间的相关性。结果显示,尼罗罗非鱼的平均出肉率为38.68%,雄性个体出肉率比雌性个体略高,吉富品系出肉率比埃及品系略高。尼罗罗非鱼出肉率与可量性状间存在较强的线性关系,拟合方程相关系数为0.985。在有显著意义的可量性状相关系数中(P0.01),与肉片质量和出肉率的相关性均最高的可量性状为体质量,相关系数分别为0.964和0.575;其次为体高、体长和体厚。而头长与肉片质量、出肉率均呈负相关关系。雄性个体的相关系数均高于雌性个体,在雄性个体中,出肉率与体质量的相关系数为0.630,与体高的相关系数为0.617,均为中等程度相关。对可量性状之间的比值与出肉率进行相关性分析,相关系数普遍比单个性状高,特别在雄性个体中表现明显。其中相关系数较高的比例组合有身长/头长比值(0.765)、体长/头长比值(0.732)、身长/体厚比值(0.703),均达到较强程度的相关,比单个性状的相关性有明显提高。结果表明,利用可量性状预测罗非鱼的出肉率是可行的。     

低温驯化下4种不同品系罗非鱼血清皮质醇与免疫相关指标的变化

选取4种不同品系罗非鱼, 分别为吉富罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)、奥尼罗非鱼(O. niloticus×O. aureus)、红罗非鱼(O. nilotica♂× O. mossambica♀)和奥利亚罗非鱼(O. aureaus)。在26℃水温下饲养3周后, 选取规格基本一致的罗非鱼(体质量50.73 g±4.23 g)进行低温驯化实验。水温以3℃/d的速度从26℃降至8℃, 分别于水温为26℃、20℃、14℃和8℃时进行采样, 比较不同驯化阶段4种不同品系罗非鱼血清皮质醇和免疫相关指标的变化规律。结果表明, 与26℃时的免疫指标相比, 水温降至8℃时, 吉富与红罗非鱼血清皮质醇水平显著升高; 然而血清C3、C4、IgM以及头肾C型溶菌酶mRNA水平显著下降(P<0.05), 血清中高皮质醇水平对鱼体的免疫产生了抑制作用。水温为8℃时, 奥尼罗非鱼血清皮质醇、IgM和补体C3以及头肾抗菌肽mRNA水平显著升高; 奥利亚血清皮质醇、C4和IgM以及头肾C型溶菌酶mRNA水平与26℃时相比无显著差异, 然而血清溶菌酶与C3水平降低。驯化实验结束后, 比较了4种不同品系罗非鱼在8℃水温下48 h内的累积死亡率。吉富与红罗非鱼组累积死亡率较高, 分别达到43.3%和40.0%; 奥尼罗非鱼其次, 为23.3%; 奥利亚罗非鱼最低, 为20.0%。较高的血清IgM和头肾溶菌酶和抗菌肽mRNA水平可能有助于提高奥尼和奥利亚罗非鱼的抗低温应激能力, 增加低温时的成活率。本研究通过分析4种品系罗非鱼不同驯化阶段血清皮质醇和免疫相关指标, 探讨不同品系罗非鱼在低温驯化过程中的免疫保护机制, 旨在为下一步抗低温新品系罗非鱼的选育提供理论依据。

     

吉富罗非鱼家系构建及抗病力检测

文章以吉富罗非鱼（GIFTstrainOreochromisniloticus）为研究对象,按照1雄配1雌原则进行家系配对,待家系鱼生长至50～60g·尾“时人工感染无乳链球菌（Streptococcusagalactiae）（菌株GD001）。通过对GD001菌株半数致死浓度测定及各家系感染死亡率的统计,研究了GD001无乳链球菌感染对各家系吉富罗非鱼抗病力的影响。结果表明,1）配对成功家系67个,经繁殖性能筛选后留种53个,家系留种率为79．1％;2）GD001菌株的半数致死浓度为4×108cfu·mL－1,感染后2～6d为死亡高峰期;3）GD001菌感染53个家系后有11个家系的成活率在90％以上,15个家系的成活率在70％～89％,19个家系的成活率在30％～69％,8个家系的成活率低于30％,表明不同家系对GD001菌株的抗病力存在着显著的差异（P〈0．05）。     

Comparative Performance of Four Strains of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Brackish Water Ponds in Indonesia

Four selectively bred strains of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were evaluated for production in brackish water ponds in Indonesia. Survival to 124 days was relatively low for all four strains (39%–48%), and growth during the later stages of the trial was poor (SGR < 1.5 %/day) due to water quality deterioration in the pond. Although the ‘Red’ tilapia strain demonstrated the best production parameters, red-colored tilapia bring lower prices in both our test markets (South Sulawesi and Aceh provinces). Of the four strains, the genetically enhanced supermale Indonesian tilapia?×?genetic improvement of farmed tilapia (GESIT×GIFT) cross provided the best economic return.     

The changes in cortisol and expression of immune genes of GIFT tilapia <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis> (L.) at different rearing densities under <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus iniae</Emphasis> infection

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of stocking density on serum cortisol (COR) levels and expression of immune genes in the head kidney of juvenile GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after Streptococcus iniae (S. iniae) infection. Juveniles (2700) were distributed into 30 tanks at five stocking densities (150, 300, 450, 600 and 750 g/m³), and each treatment had six replicates. After a 45-day feeding trial, a S. iniae challenge study was conducted for 96 h. Differences in mortality, serum COR and gene expression of C-type lysozyme, heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were analyzed. The levels of serum COR at all infected treatments were significantly higher compared with the levels of pre-infection (P < 0.05). At 96 h post-infection, serum COR levels of high stocking densities (600 and 750 g/m³) were significantly higher than those of low-density groups (P < 0.05); the mRNA levels of C-type lysozyme, HSP70, IL-1β, TNF-α and IFN-γ were significantly lower in tilapia reared at 600 g/m³ group than in those reared at 300 g/m³ group (P < 0.05). Fish reared in high-density treatments (600 and 750 g/m³) exhibited significantly higher post-challenge mortality (43.3 and 40.0 %) at 96 h following S. iniae infection, and it was significantly higher than other groups (P < 0.05). The data suggest that when living in high stocking density, GIFT tilapia showed decrease in immune capability, together with increased serum COR and susceptibility to S. iniae.     

Passive immunization of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), with anti-Streptococcus iniae whole sera

Passive immunization of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, was conducted to determine whether anti- Streptococcus iniae whole sera (ASI), heat inactivated anti- S . iniae whole sera (HIASI) and normal whole sera (NWS) were protective when intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected into tilapia. The ASI was produced in tilapia actively immunized (challenged) with virulent S. iniae by i.p. injection. An antibody response against S. iniae was demonstrated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 18% of the immunized fish died because of the S. iniae infection. The actively immunized tilapia demonstrated a secondary antibody response and immunity to S. iniae after challenge with S. iniae by i.p. injection. Survival was 100% in the actively immunized fish. The NWS was obtained from tilapia free of ASI antibody and susceptible to S. iniae infection (40% mortality). In two separate experiments, significantly higher mortality was noted in tilapia passively immunized with NWS (33 and 53%) and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (30 and 60%), in comparison with mortalities of 0 and 10% or 3.3 and 6.7% in the fish passively immunized with ASI or HIASI 14 days after S . iniae infection by i.p. injection ( P  = 0.0003 and 0.0023). Results suggest that immunity provided by ASI and HIASI was because of antibody against S. iniae . Inactivation of complement in the HIASI treatment further suggests that ASI antibody plays a primary role in immunity against S. iniae infection.