Prevalence,intensity and histopathology of Zeylanicobdella arugamensis infestation on groupers reared on different aquaculture systems

The marine leech, Zeylanicobdella arugamensis, is a major threat to aquaculture in grouper-producing countries including Indonesia. This study aimed at investigating prevalence, intensity and histopathology of the ectoparasite in humpback and hybrid groupers cultured in different rearing systems. A total of 260 groupers (60 humpback groupers and 200 hybrid groupers) were used for samples. The marine leech was observed on skin, fins, gills and mouth, followed by histopathological assay on the skin tissue. The results showed that prevalence of the leech in both groupers was higher when they were cultured in the floating net cages compared with the hatchery, p < .05. Furthermore, humpback grouper had a higher prevalence than hybrid grouper when they were cultured in a similar system, p < .05. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in intensity between the two groupers, p > .05. Within the hybrid groupers, the highest prevalence was obtained from hybrid groupers reared in the earthen ponds. Histopathological studies showed that the infected groupers exhibited inflammation, congestion and erosion of the epidermis layer. Hybrid grouper had more severe histopathological lesions in the skin tissues. These results suggested that species and type of aquaculture system had significantly determined the prevalence, intensity and severity of lesion in Z. arugamensis infestation.     

Recent update on the prevalence of Vibrio species among cultured grouper in Peninsular Malaysia

Vibrio infections are common among marine fish and lead to serious problems in the aquaculture sector. This study reports a recent occurrence of Vibrio species (spp.) isolated from cultured groupers in Peninsular Malaysia using the gyrB and pyrH genes. A total of 147 Vibrio strains were successfully isolated from 77 (64%) groupers using culture method and subjected to gyrB and pyrH sequencing for species identification and confirmation. Results showed that 89% of Vibrio strains were identified and clustered to six groups of Vibrio spp., while 11% were not clustered to any Vibrio spp. using the gyrB sequences. Meanwhile, by analysis of the pyrH sequences all the 147 Vibrio strains (100%) were successfully identified and clustered into 11 groups of Vibrio spp., including the gyrB non‐identified strains. The pyrH gene provides a better resolution for identification of Vibrio spp. compared with the gyrB gene. Thus, the pyrH gene was more suitable for a rapid determination of Vibrio spp. distribution in Peninsular Malaysia. Using the pyrH gene, our study found higher prevalence of Vibrio vulnificus (33%), V. alginolyticus (24%) and V. parahaemolyticus (22%), followed by V. rotiferianus (5%), V. harveyi (3%), V. tubiashii (2%), V. campbellii (2%), V. ponticus (1%), V. diabolicus (1%), V. owensii (1%) and others Vibrio sp. (7%). Thus, the results of this study revealed that the occurrence of pathogenic vibrios among grouper fish is still high in Malaysian aquaculture. In addition, the pyrH gene was proved as a suitable marker for rapid identification of Vibrio species compared with the gyrB gene.     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels with different protein‐to‐energy ratios on growth performance,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile red‐spotted grouper,Epinephelus akaara

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile red‐spotted grouper (7.85 ± 0.03 g fish^?1). Nine semi‐purified diets were formulated containing varying protein levels (440–520 g kg^?1, dry matter) and lipid levels (60–120 g kg^?1, dry matter). The weight gain of juvenile Epinephelus akaara was affected by dietary protein (p = .005) and its interaction with dietary lipid (p = .020). Viscerosomatic index, intraperitoneal fat ratio and whole‐body lipid level increased with increasing dietary lipid level (p < .001). Nitrogen retention was not affected by dietary protein and lipid, while lipid retention decreased with increasing dietary lipid level (p < .001). The plasma blood urea nitrogen increased with increasing dietary protein level (p = .003). This study showed that diet with 520 g kg^?1 protein and 60 g kg^?1 lipid with 30.58 mg kJ^?1 P:E provided a maximal growth for this species. Moreover, an increase in dietary lipid levels (from 60 to 90 g kg^?1) could reduce the protein requirement (from 520 to 480 g kg^?1) without affecting the growth performance, while higher fat deposition was observed in fish fed high‐lipid diets.     

Antiparasitic activity of the medicinal plant Dillenia suffruticosa against the marine leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Hirudinea) and its phytochemical composition

Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Annelida: Hirudinea), a marine parasitic leech, is currently affecting different species of cultured groupers, hybrid groupers, snappers and sea bass in Malaysia. Dillenia suffruticosa (Dilleniaceae), a medicinal plant found in Sabah, has been selected in our experiment to kill the leeches as a natural control method. The leech‐infested hybrid groupers were collected from aquaculture facilities, and the isolated leeches were challenged against methanol extract of D. suffruticosa leaves. The experiment was carried out using various concentrations of the extracts such as 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml. The methanol extract showed significant antiparasitic activity against Z. arugamensis with 100% mortality at a concentration of 100 mg/ml in 14.39 ± 3.75 min., followed by 50 and 25 mg/ml in 32.97 ± 9.29 and 41.77 ± 5.40 min., respectively. The phytochemical composition of the extract was determined using GC‐MS analysis to understand the nature of the principal compounds responsible for its antiparasitic properties. The leaves of D. suffruticosa demonstrated the presence of different bioactive compounds of various natures with varying percentages. Thus, it could be revealed that the methanol extract of D. suffruticosa mainly contains vital phytochemical compounds and showed an effective antiparasitic activity against the harmful leeches of hybrid groupers.     

大鲵虹彩病毒贵州分离株MCP基因的克隆与原核表达

根据Gen Bank中大鲵虹彩病毒主衣壳蛋白MCP(major capsid protein,MCP)基因序列(序列号:KF512820),设计一对特异性引物,以大鲵虹彩病毒贵州分离株基因组DNA为模板,PCR扩增大鲵虹彩病毒MCP基因并测序,与Gen Bank中大鲵虹彩病毒MCP基因进行比对,然后将其亚克隆到原核表达载体p ET-32a(+)中,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)感受态细胞,经IPTG诱导后进行Western blot分析。结果显示:PCR扩增出长度为1 392 bp的片段,与Gen Bank中大鲵虹彩病毒MCP基因核苷酸序列相似性为99.7%~99.9%,SDSPAGE电泳显示该重组蛋白的相对分子质量约为67×103。免疫原性检测结果表明,该重组蛋白可与兔抗大鲵虹彩病毒阳性血清特异性反应,具有免疫原性。     

赤点石斑鱼与鞍带石斑鱼杂交子一代肌肉营养成分分析与评价

为分析赤点石斑鱼与鞍带石斑鱼杂交子一代的营养组成,参照国家标准,测定了体质量(182.84±29.35) g杂交石斑鱼肌肉的常规营养成分、氨基酸和脂肪酸组成,并对肌肉营养价值进行了评定。试验结果显示,杂交石斑鱼肌肉水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪和灰分的含量分别为(74.07±0.71)%、(21.52±0.78)%、(4.03±0.15)%和(1.29±0.07)%。肌肉鲜样中测定了17种氨基酸,总量为(19.88±0.15)%;必需氨基酸和鲜味氨基酸总量分别为(8.64±0.13)%和(7.64±0.16)%,必需氨基酸指数为85.19,必需氨基酸组成符合联合国粮农组织/世界卫生组织标准。肌肉鲜样中含有17种脂肪酸,饱和脂肪酸、单不饱和脂肪酸和多不饱和脂肪酸分别占肌肉脂肪酸总量的(27.63±1.15)%、(22.75±1.22)%和(32.59±1.90)%,其中二十二碳六烯酸和二十碳五烯酸占肌肉脂肪酸总量的(19.27±1.27)%。研究表明,赤点石斑鱼与鞍带石斑鱼杂交子一代具有较高营养价值,可作为新品种进行开发。     

盐度对珍珠龙胆石斑鱼幼鱼渗透调节与耗氧率的影响

为研究盐度对珍珠龙胆石斑鱼（）渗透调节与耗氧率的影响，设计实验一，将（162.5±12.1）g珍珠龙胆石斑鱼置于不同盐度（6、12、18、24、30）下养殖10 d，测定血清渗透压及Na⁺、Cl^-、K⁺离子浓度。实验结果表明，随盐度的升高血清渗透压及Na⁺、Cl^-、K⁺离子浓度也随着升高，各组[Na⁺]：[Cl^-]比值无显著差异（>0.05）；经回归分析得到血清等渗点渗透压为365.95 mOsm/kg，所对应盐度为12.75。实验二，将（26.4±2.7）g幼鱼置于不同盐度（6、12、18、24、30）下养殖30 d，测定在开始暴露后0 h、3 h、24 h、72 h鳃Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase活性及表达和第30天耗氧率，结果表明鳃Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase活性随盐度的增大呈“U”形变化；鳃Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α1基因表达量波动较大，在72 h后随盐度增大先降低后增加，变化趋势与酶活性一致；第30天耗氧率随盐度的增加先降低后增加又降低。综上所述，珍珠龙胆石斑鱼幼鱼10 d内能够完全适应6~30盐度急性变化，耗氧率除了受离子渗透调节的影响，还可能与其生活史阶段有关。     

真鲷虹彩病毒自然感染杂交石斑鱼“褐龙斑”的组织病理分析

褐龙斑是雌性褐石斑鱼(Epinephelus bruneus)和雄性鞍带石斑鱼(E. lanceolatus)杂交产生的子代。作为杂交石斑鱼的新品种，国内外尚没有褐龙斑疾病的报道。2017年7月，某养殖场褐龙斑出现急性死亡，10 d内累积死亡率高达80%。现场调查发现，病鱼外观无明显异常，但反应迟钝，伏底死亡。临床检查和剖检可见脾和肾严重肿大、易碎。组织病理切片观察发现，各组织中存在数量不等的嗜碱性、细胞质均一、直径为10~15 µm的肿大细胞。超薄组织切片中发现，肿大细胞胞质内存在大量直径为130~150 nm的虹彩病毒样颗粒。使用特异性的PCR引物，从病鱼脾、头肾等组织中均检测到真鲷虹彩病毒(Red seabream iridovirus, RSIV)的高强度感染。测定了该病毒主要衣壳蛋白(Major capsid protein, MCP)基因1362 bp的全长编码区，构建了19种(株)虹彩病毒系统发育树，结果显示，该病毒属于虹彩病毒科肿大细胞病毒属RSIV类群。本研究首次描述了褐龙斑虹彩病毒病的组织病理特征，揭示了褐龙斑是RSIV新的敏感宿主，为杂交石斑鱼病毒病的诊断与防治提供了重要的参考依据。