Chronic effect after acute exposure to commercial petroleum fuels on physiological status of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of bacterial flora associated with pond water, gills, and intestine of polycultured healthy common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were carried out and identified to species level where possible. Total viable bacterial counts in the pond water ranged from 9.2?±?5.5?×?10³ to 6.6?±?5.1?×?10⁴ colony-forming units (cfu)/mL; in the gill filaments of carp and catfish, 3.3?±?3.8?×?10⁶ to 7.9?±?5.6?×?10⁶ and 1.1?±?4.6?×?10⁵ to 2.3?±?5.2?×?10⁶ cfu/g, respectively; and in the intestine of carp and catfish, 1.4?±?2.9?×?10¹⁰ to 1.7?±?6.0?×?10¹¹ and 2.7?±?3.4?×?10¹⁰ to 1.0?±?4.5?×?10¹¹ cfu/g, respectively. Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria dominated the populations: 90% in carp, 89% in catfish, 80% in water, and 86% in the total populations. Altogether, 14 bacterial species of 10 genera were identified in total populations. Pond water bacteria had a reflection on the bacterial composition of the gills and intestine of carp and catfish. Aeromonas hydrophila, Shewanella putrefaciens, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus sp., and Vibrio vulnificus appeared as the common bacteria in the populations, where the first three were highly significantly abundant (P?<?0.0001). Moreover, A. hydrophila was the most significantly dominant bacteria (32%; P?<?0.005) among the total populations. Pantoea sp. and Pasteurella pneumotropica were present only in carp and catfish, respectively, but Corynebacterium urealyticum and Micrococcus sp. were present only in pond water.     

Quantitative and qualitative studies on bacterial flora of hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus) cultured in earthen ponds in Saudi Arabia

The bacterial flora of the rearing pond water and sediment as well as the gills and intestine of healthy hybrid tilapia cultured in Saudi Arabia was estimated quantitatively and qualitatively, the isolates being identified at genus or species level. Total viable counts of bacteria (measured as colony‐forming units, cfu) were in the range 5.6 ± 0.8 × 10³ to 2.4 ± 1.2 × 10⁴ cfu mL^?1 in pond water; 9.3 ± 1.1 × 10⁶ to 1.9 ± 1.5 × 10⁸ cfu g^?1 in sediment; 7.1 ± 0.7 × 10⁵ to 8.7 ± 1.1 × 10⁶ cfu g^?1 in the gills of tilapia; and 3.4 ± 1.8 × 10⁶ to 5.8 ± 0.4 × 10⁷ cfu g^?1 in the intestine of tilapia. In total, 15 bacterial genera and 18 species were identified. Pond water and sediment bacteria reflected the bacterial composition in the gills and intestine of tilapia. In contrast to gill bacteria, more diversification was observed in intestinal bacteria. Corynebacterium urealyticum, Shewanella putrefaciens and Aeromonas hydrophila predominated in all samples. In pond water, C. urealyticurn, S. putrefaciens, A. hydrophila, Flavobacterium sp. and Pseudomonas sp. were the most predominant bacterial species (prevalence > 10%), whereas A. hydrophila, C. urealyticum, S. putrefaciens and Escherichia coli were predominant in pond sediment, and C. urealyticum, S. putrefaciens and A. hydrophila were predominant in both the gills and intestine of tilapia.     

Bacterial Populations of African Catfish,Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) Cultured in Earthen Ponds

The aim of this study was to investigate the load and distribution patterns of the aerobic bacterial flora associated with pond water, sediments, gills, and intestines of healthy African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, cultured in Saudi Arabia. Counts of viable bacteria ranged from 7.9 ± 4.4 10³ to 4.3 ± 5.7 10⁴ colony forming units (cfu)/mL in water; 1.3 ± 2.7 10⁸ to 7.4 ± 4.6 10⁹ cfu/g in sediments; 8.7 ± 1.8 10⁶ to 6.6 ± 5.8 10⁷ cfu/g in gill filaments; and 8.8 ± 6.2 10⁸ to 4.3 ± 2.8 10¹⁰ cfu/g in intestines. The bacterial flora was predominantly comprised of gram-negative rods, accounting for 75% of the total isolated strains. Altogether, 11 bacterial species of 8 genera were identified: Aeromonas hydrophila, Shewanella putrefaciens, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus sp., Corynebacterium urealyticum, and Vibrio vulnificus were the most common with the first three dominating (prevalence > 14%) in every population studied.     

Faecal coliforms in pond water, sediments and hybrid tilapia Oreochromis niloticus×Oreochromis aureus in Saudi Arabia

Total bacterial load, total coliforms faecal coliforms in pond water, sediment, intestine of hybrid tilapia Oreochromis niloticus×Oreochromis aureus and pigeon Columba livia faeces were investigated monthly over a period of 1 year from July 1999 to June 2000. Fish were collected randomly by a cast net. Samples were analysed for coliforms using the multiple‐tube fermentation technique. Results showed total viable bacterial counts in the pond water, sediment, intestine of tilapia and pigeon faeces ranging from 1.8±0.9×10² to 6.0±1.2×10⁴ cfu mL^?1, 3.2±1.2×10⁵ to 2.8±1.5×10⁷ cfu g^?1, 8.2±1.6×10⁵ to 9.9±1.5×10⁷ cfu g^?11.0±0.4×10⁷to9.7±0.2×10⁹ cfu g^?1respectively. The most probable number (MPN) of coliforms and faecal coliforms ranged from 287±12 to ≥1600±0 100 mL^?1 in pond water; the MPN ranges for sediment, tilapia intestine and pigeon faeces were 257±29 to ≥1100±0 g^?1, 237±46 to ≥1100±0 g^?1 and 403±98 to ≥1100±0 g^?1 respectively. The abundance of normal bacteria coliforms was greater in the warm months than in the cold months. Ground water was free from any sort of coliform organisms, and there were no sources of human faecal matter in the pond. So, it is clear that faecal coliforms from pigeon faeces significantly contaminated (P<0.05) the ponds and tilapia intestines. Escherichia coli was the only coliform organism found in pond water, sediment, intestine of tilapia and pigeon faeces.     

Bacterial Flora of Artemia Cultured in Earthen Saline Ponds

Aerobic bacteria in pond water, sediments, and Artemia in earthen saline ponds in Saudi Arabia were quantified. Total viable counts (TVC; mean ± SD) in pond water ranged between 7.9 ± 4.8 × 10³ and 1.6 ± 3.7 × 10⁴ colony forming units (cfu)/mL; in sediments between 7.1 ± 4.2 × 10⁶ and 6.5 ± 3.8 × 10⁷ cfu/g; on Artemia surfaces, 3.9 ± 0.9 × 10³ and 1.0 ± 2.9 × 10⁴ cfu/Artemia; and in Artemia homogenate, 4.6 ± 2.4 × 10⁷ and 3.2 ± 3.6 × 10⁸ cfu/g. The bacterial flora was predominantly Gram-negative rods, accounting for 89% of total isolates. Altogether, nine bacterial species of seven genera were identified. Bacteria in pond sediments were the most diverse compared to other populations. In all populations, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio sp., and Staphylococcus sp. were dominant (P < 0.005). The bacterial flora of pond water and sediments were reflected in the bacterial composition on and in Artemia.     

高产鱼池中异养细菌的初步研究

对无锡市效区“河埒渔业一队”典型高产鱼池中异养细菌种类、数量及群落组成的分析测定,它表明在1984年3月至10月试验期间,试验鱼池水体中总细菌数和异养细菌数分别在1.30×10~5～15.90×10~5个/ml和1.56×10~4～14.50×10~4个/ml。鱼池淤泥中总细菌数和异常细菌数分别在1.20×10~6～68.0×10~5个/克和1.94×10~5～19.90×10~5个/克。同时经分析得知,试验鱼池中细菌数量的波动与鱼池水温等理化因子各有不同的相关关系。试验鱼池水体中共分离出11个属的异养细菌,其中优势菌为氮单胞菌属(Azomonas)等具固氮能力的菌属;淤泥中共分离出8个属的异养细菌,其中优势菌为芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)等革兰氏阳性菌属。假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)的细菌普遍存在于鱼池的水体及淤泥中。试验表明,高产鱼池中的细菌数量变化有一定规律性,细菌数量及异养细菌的群落组成与鱼池的鱼产量有一定的关系。     

Haemorrhagic septicaemia in the hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans×Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) caused by Aeromonas hydrophila

Intensive culture of the hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) in Brazil is responsible for the occurrence of diseases and consequent economic losses. However, the causative agents are not well known. The objective of this study was to isolate and to characterize the pathogenic agent responsible for mortalities in cultured surubim and to demonstrate its virulence. Ten fish from a fish farm located in the Mato Grosso do Sul State (Brazil) were collected and 14 haemolytic bacteria characterized as Aeromonas hydrophila were isolated from the kidneys (eight) and brain (six). As an experimental challenge, fish weighing 98.1±23.6 g were injected with 1 mL of saline solution and 2 × 10², 2 × 10⁴, 2 × 10⁶ and 2 × 10⁸ CFU A. hydrophila mL^?1. Fish infected with 2 × 10⁸ CFU showed increased external and internal symptoms and mortality of 50±12.5% after 96 h. Increased A. hydrophila concentration was responsible for a decrease in haematocrit percentage and erythrocyte number, lymphocytes and eosinophils, as well as an increase in monocytes, neutrophils, serum agglutination titre and serum antimicrobial activity. It was concluded that A. hydrophila was responsible for characteristic symptoms of bacterial haemorrhagic septicaemia as well as important haematological and immunological alterations, which led to surubim mortality.     

Improvement of intestinal barrier,immunity, and meat quality in common carp infected by Aeromonas hydrophila using probiotics

The fish pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila causes gastrointestinal tract infections and hemorrhagic septicemia and represents a widespread risk in aquaculture. This study aimed to determine whether compound probiotics could improve the intestinal barrier, immunity, and meat quality of common carp infected by A. hydrophila by feeding them compound probiotics. Carp were assigned to one of four groups: (1) control (no infection, no probiotics); (2) control?+?probiotic; (3) A. hydrophila infected; and (4) the A. hydrophila?+?probiotic group. At the beginning of the experiment, the carp were injected with either saline (0.86%) or A. hydrophila (4.87?×?10⁷ CFU/mL). After 2 weeks of the feeding regime, results suggested that in A. hydrophila infected carp, dietary probiotics regulated the intestinal microflora as evidenced by a reduced abundance of Proteobacteria and increased amounts of Firmicutes and Fusobacteria in the intestine. In addition, dietary probiotics ameliorated both villus swelling and the decrease in villus height induced by A. hydrophila (P?<?0.05). Moreover, probiotics prevented the A. hydrophila-induced decline of Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1 levels in the intestine (P?<?0.05). The addition of probiotics into the feed also increased acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and lysozyme (LZM) activity in the serum (P?<?0.05), in comparison to the A. hydrophila group. Importantly, when compared to A. hydrophila-infected carp, compound probiotics alleviated the decrease in muscle nutrient quality (P?<?0.05). In summary, we show that dietary compound probiotics can prevent the impact of A. hydrophila infection on the intestinal function and disease resistance, while ensuring carp muscle quality.

     

Bacteria in shrimp pond sediments: their role in mineralizing nutrients and some suggested sampling strategies

Strategies for sampling sediment bacteria were examined in intensive shrimp. Penaeus monodon (Fabririus), ponds in tropical Australia. Stratified sampling of bacteria at the end of the production season showed that the pond centre, containing flocculated sludge, had significantly higher bacterial counts (15.5 × 10⁹ g-¹ dw) than the pond periphery (8.1 × 10⁹g^?1 dw), where the action of aerators had swept the pond floor. The variation in bacterial counts between these two zones within a pond was higher than that between sites within each zone or between ponds. Therefore, sampling effort should be focused within these zones; for example, sampling two ponds at six locations within each of the two zones resulted in a coefficient of variation of ± 5%. Bacterial numbers in the sediment were highly correlated with sediment grain size, probably because eroded soil particles and organic waste both accumulated in the centre of the pond. Despite high inputs of organic matter added to the ponds, principally as pelleted feeds, the mean bacterial numbers and nutrient concentrations (i.e. organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) in the sediment were similar to those found in mangrove sediments. This suggests that bacteria are rapidly remineralizing particulates into soluble compounds. Bacterial numbers were highly correlated with organic carbon and total kjeldahl nitrogen in the sediment, suggesting that these were limiting factors to bacterial growth.     

Antibacterial activity of oxytetracycline on microbial ecology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) gastrointestinal tract under laboratory condition

The antibacterial effect of oxytetracycline (OTC) on bacterial load, pathogen and possible development of antibiotic resistance in intestinal flora of apparently healthy Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was investigated under laboratory condition. OTC, a broad spectrum approved antibiotic widely used in aquaculture, was fed to Nile tilapia through medicated diet at a rate of 2 g/ kg of feed for consecutive 7 days in treatment 1 (T₁) and 30 days in treatment 2 (T₂). Changes in physico‐chemical parameters of water were also recorded where pH and dissolved oxygen influenced bacterial load and coliform count respectively. At the start of the experiment, initial bacterial load in fish intestine was 1.61 ± 2.25 × 10¹⁰ cfu/g, which after OTC treatment decreased significantly (p < .05) to 3.06 ± 2.08 × 10⁸ cfu/g on day 7 and 3.45 ± 4.46 × 10⁷ cfu/g on day 30 when compared with the control group. Among the 10 bacterial genera identified in the intestine, 4 potential public health concern bacteria viz., Salmonella, Escherichia, Enterobacter and Staphylococcaus were predominant. There was a sharp increase in bacterial load on day 18 in T₂ that may be attributed to the development of antibiotic resistance in intestinal bacteria. Antibiotic susceptibility test for isolates against seven antibiotics: amoxycillin, ciprofloxacin, co‐trimoxazole, erythromycin, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin and tetracycline using disc diffusion method revealed significantly increased resistance of Gram‐negative rods (p < .05) that possibly caused increased frequency of OTC‐resistant microorganisms. In conclusion, short‐ and long‐term exposure to OTC treatment affected the distribution of bacterial genera including pathogens in the Nile tilapia gastrointestinal tract and concomitantly influenced their antimicrobial resistance.     

In vivo transfer of plasmid pRAS1 between Aeromonas salmonicida and Aeromonas hydrophila in artificially infected Cyprinus carpio L.

This study investigated the possible in vivo transfer of plasmid pRAS1 between Aeromonas salmonicida and A. hydrophila inhabiting two different organs of Cyprinus carpio L. To distinguish transconjugants from naturally occurring antibiotic resistant bacteria, twelve luminescent transposon‐tagged A. hydrophila strains using miniTn5luxCDABEKm2 transposon were generated. In conjugal transfer experiments, fish were conditioned with the donor bacteria and subsequently immersed in water containing the recipient strain. Bacteria were recovered from gills and intestines and isolated by growth on selective plates. Transconjugants were identified by their resistance to the pRAS1 encoded antimicrobials and by light emission. In vivo transfer frequencies ranged between 10^?3 and 10^?6 and were somewhat lower in intestines, compared to gills. Transfer frequencies were also smaller relative to those obtained in vitro. The minimal amount of donor and recipient bacteria needed to yield detectable transconjugants in vivo was 1 × 10⁴ CFU mL^?1. Implications of this plasmid transfer in natural settings and its possible consequences to human health are discussed.     

Comparison of rice straw and bamboo stick substrates in periphyton-based carp polyculture systems

An experiment was conducted to compare rice straw mat and kanchi (bamboo sticks) as substrates in periphyton‐based polyculture systems. The experiment had three treatments: (a) no substrate (control), (b) rice straw as a substrate (3 × 2.7 kg pond^?1) and (c) kanchi as a substrate (390 kanchi pond^?1). Fingerlings (n=40) of rohu, Labeo rohita (24.5±0.5 g); mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala (25.1±0.6 g); catla, Catla catla (25.8±0.5 g); common carp, Cyprinus carpio (27.6±0.6 g), and silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (30.4±0.9 g) were stocked at a 3:2:2:2:1 ratio and cultured for 90 days. There were no differences in the number of plankton, periphyton and macro‐zoobenthos among the treatments. The total plate count of bacteria was higher in the rice straw treatment (41 320 million cfu m^?2) than that in the kanchi treatment (11 780 million cfu m^?2). Growth and the final mean weight of rohu, catla and common carp were higher in the substrate treatments than those in the control. Rice straw and kanchi treatment, respectively, resulted in 38% and 47% higher combined total weight gain over control. Gross margin analysis showed that rice straw treatment resulted in more profit than the control and kanchi treatment. Therefore, rice straw has the potential to be used to increase production in the low‐input rural aquaculture.     

Response of the intestinal mucosal barrier of carp (Cyprinus carpio) to a bacterial challenge by Aeromonas hydrophila intubation after feeding with β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan

The effect of dietary β‐glucan on the bacterial community in the gut of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was examined after oral application of Aeromonas hydrophila. Carp received either feed supplemented with 1% MacroGard^®, a β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan, or a β‐glucan‐free diet. Fourteen days after feeding, half of the carp from each group were intubated with 10⁹ colony‐forming units (CFU) of a pathogenic strain of A. hydrophila. Gut samples were taken 12 hr to 7 days after application and analysed using microbiological and molecular biological techniques (NGS, RT‐PCR‐DGGE). The reaction of the mucosa and the microbiota to an A. hydrophila intubation differed in carp fed with β‐glucan compared to carp from the control group. In β‐glucan fed carp, the total bacterial amount was lower but the number of bacterial species was higher. Bacterial composition was different for carp from both treatment groups. The number of mucin filled goblet cells was reduced in carp fed the β‐glucan diet. Mucus was obviously released from the goblet cells and was probably washed out of the gut together with high numbers of bacteria. This might be protective against pathogenic bacteria and, therefore, feeding with β‐glucan may provide protection against infections of the gut in carp.     

Effect of dietary chitosan on growth performance,haematology, immune response,intestine morphology,intestine microbiota and disease resistance in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

A 75‐day experiment was conducted with juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) (4.80 ± 0.01 g) to evaluate effects of dietary chitosan on fish growth performance, haematology, intestine morphology and immune response. Six isonitrogenous (crude protein: 383 g kg^?1), isolipid (97.5 g kg^?1) and isocaloric (gross energy: 16.7 kJ g^?1) diets were formulated to contain 0, 1800, 4000, 7500, 10 000, 20 000 mg kg^?1 chitosan, respectively. The results showed that the growth was depressed when the fish fed with 10 000 mg kg^?1 chitosan. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride and low‐density lipoprotein decreased in 10 000 and 20 000 mg kg^?1 chitosan. On day 75, blood leucocyte phagocytic activity respiratory burst and alternative pathway of complement haemolytic activity were enhanced in 4000 mg kg^?1 chitosan. The number of goblet cell, intraepithelial lymphocyte of mid‐intestine and microvilli height of distal intestine increased at 4000 mg kg^?1 dietary chitosan. Dietary chitosan modulated intestine microbiota, depressed pathogen bacteria Aeromonas veronii‐like and improved Cellulomonas hominis‐like, Bacillus oceanisediminis‐like and two uncultured bacterium‐like species on day 75. Dietary 7500 and 10 000 mg kg^?1 chitosan enhanced the protection against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. In conclusion, oral administration of dietary 7500 mg kg^?1 chitosan for 75 days is recommended for the survival of gibel carp.     

Immunogene expression in head kidney and spleen of common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> L.) following thermal stress and challenge with Gram-negative bacterium, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas hydrophila</Emphasis>

To evaluate the effect of thermal and microbial stress on the immune response of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), relative mRNA expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β] and other genes related to immune or stress response [inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), superoxide dismutase one (SOD1), and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)] was measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR). In addition, total protein and total immunoglobulin level in blood plasma of experimental common carp was also assayed. All the above parameters were estimated 24 h post-challenge with Gram-negative bacterium, Aeromonas hydrophila. Common carp (54.89?±?6.90 g) were initially exposed to 20 °C (control group) and 30 °C (thermal stress group) water temperature for 30 days, followed by experimental challenge with 2.29?×?10⁸ colony forming unit/mL (CFU/mL; LD₅₀ dose) of A. hydrophila. Exposure of fish to thermal stress and subsequently challenge with A. hydrophila significantly (P?<?0.05) increases the IL-1β mRNA expression in head kidney and spleen of common carp by ~?39.94 and ~?4.11-fold, respectively. However, TNF-α mRNA expression in spleen decreased ~?5.63-fold in control fish challenged with A. hydrophila. Thermal stress and challenge with bacterium suppresses the iNOS and GR mRNA expression in spleen of common carp. Moreover, significant (P?<?0.05) increase in total protein content of blood plasma (~?43 mg/g) was evident in fish exposed to thermal stress and challenged with A. hydrophila. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of elevated temperature stress and microbial infection in differential regulation of expression of several immunogenes in common carp.     

Bacterial diversity of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in brackish water in Saudi Arabia

The bacterial flora occurring in brackish pond water, sediment, gills and intestine of healthy tilapia cultured in Saudi Arabia were estimated both quantitatively and qualitatively, and the isolates were identified to genus or species level. Total viable count of bacteria ranged from 1.4±1.5×10³ to 8.6±2.7×10³ cfu ml⁻¹; 1.2±3.1×10⁶ to 7.3±1.1×10⁷ cfu g⁻¹; 8.7±1.9×10⁵ to 2.1±0.9×10⁶ cfu g⁻¹; and 2.8±2.4×10⁷ to 1.0±1.6×10⁸ cfu g⁻¹ in the pond water, sediment, gills and intestine of brackish water tilapia, respectively. In total, 19 bacterial species were identified. The bacteria were predominantly Gram-negative rods (87%). Pond water and sediment bacteria influenced the bacterial composition of gills and intestine of tilapia. In contrast to gill bacteria, more diversification was observed in intestinal bacteria. The predominant (prevalence >10%) bacterial species were Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio carchariae, Vibrio alginolyticus, Chryseomonas sp., Vibrio vulnificus, and Streptococcus sp. in all the populations with the exception of the sediment population where Streptococcus sp. was replaced by Shewanella putrefaciens. Vibrio spp. (58% of the total isolates) dominated the total bacterial population.     

Cage‐pond integration of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with carps

Cage‐pond integration system is a new model for enhancing productivity of pond aquaculture system. A field trial was conducted using African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in cages and carps in earthen ponds. There were four treatments replicated five times: (1) carps in ponds without cage, (2) tilapia at 30 fish m^?3 in cage and carps in open pond, (3) catfish at 100 fish m^?3 in cage and carps in open pond, (4) tilapia and catfish at 30 and 100 fish m^?3, respectively, in separate cages and carps in open pond. The carps were stocked at 1 fish m^?2. The cage occupied about 3% of the pond area. The caged tilapia and catfish were fed and the control ponds were fertilized. Results showed that the combined extrapolated net yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the catfish, tilapia and carps integration system (9.4 ± 1.6 t ha^?1 year^?1) than in the carp polyculture (3.3 ± 0.7 t ha^?1 year^?1). The net return from the tilapia and carps (6860 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) and catfish, tilapia and carps integration systems (6668 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) was significantly higher than in the carp polyculture (1709 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) (P < 0.05). This experiment demonstrated that the cage‐pond integration of African catfish and Nile tilapia with carps is the best technology to increase production; whereas integration of tilapia and carp for profitability.     

Effects of dietary pyridoxine on disease resistance,immune responses and intestinal microflora in juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary pyridoxine on disease resistance, immune responses and intestinal microflora of fish. A total of 1050 Jian carp (11.71 ± 0.05 g) were randomly distributed into seven groups, feeding diets containing graded levels of pyridoxine (0.2, 1.7, 3.2, 5.0, 6.3, 8.6 and 12.4 mg kg^?1 diet). After 80 days of feeding, a challenge trial was conducted by injection of Aeromonas hydrophila for 17 days. Results indicated that with increasing dietary pyridoxine concentration up to 5.0 mg kg^?1 diet, survival rate after challenge with A.hydrophila and phagocytic activity of leukocyte were improved (P < 0.05), and plateaued thereafter (P > 0.05). Red blood cell and white blood cell counts were lowest when fed the diet containing 1.7 mg pyridoxine kg^?1 diet. Haemagglutination titre, lysozyme activity, acid phosphatase activity, total iron‐binding capacity, antibody titre and immunoglobulin M content followed the similar pattern to that observed with survival rate. Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus counts in intestine were not affected by dietary pyridoxine concentration (P > 0.05). These results suggested that pyridoxine could enhance immune response of fish.     

Haematological and biochemical profiles of carp blood following nitrite exposure at different concentrations of chloride

Haematological parameters of 2‐year‐old carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were assessed to study the protective effect of chloride on the health of fish exposed to elevated nitrite concentrations. Four groups of carp were exposed to different concentrations of nitrite and chloride for 96 h (group E1: 67 mg L^?1 NO₂^?, 11 mg L^?1 Cl^?; group E2: 67 mg L^?1 NO₂^?, 100 mg L^?1 Cl^?; group E3: 0 mg L^?1 O₂^?, 100 mg L^?1 Cl^? and group C: 0 mg L^?1 NO₂^?, 11 mg L^?1 Cl^?). The main haematological response of carp to an acute exposure to nitrite (group E1) was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in haemoglobin concentrations (53.40±6.61 g L^?1), haematocrit (0.21±0.02 LL^?1), erythrocyte count (1.13±0.12 TL^?1), leucocyte count (7.1±4.19 GL^?1) and lymphocyte count (5.28±2.51 GL^?1), and a significant increase in methaemoglobin concentration (90.50±4.38%, P<0.01) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (0.27±0.2 LL^?1, P<0.05). At higher chloride concentrations (group E2), a lower nitrite toxicity was observed. In group E2 carp, methaemoglobin made up 38.32±13.30%. Erythrocytes in carp exposed to nitrite showed qualitative changes. Compared with the control group C, group E1 carp showed a significantly higher number (P<0.05) of elongated erythrocytes, with the nucleus located at one cell pole (0.519±0.388 TL^?1). All erythrocytes of group E1 carp had remarkably clear cytoplasms compared with the cytoplasm in the control group C. The biochemical values found were comparable with those found in controls. The main histological lesions were found in the gills of carp exposed to nitrite and consisted of hyperplasia and an elevated number of chloride cells.     

草鱼养殖水体中参与氮转化途径的异养菌分析

为分析草鱼池塘中参与氮代谢的异养细菌比例及其代谢途径,从杭州郊区取得4个草鱼池塘的水样,每个水样通过涂布随即挑选100株菌株进行定性显色试验,并据此选取11株异养菌进行16S rRNA序列分析。结果表明,4个草鱼养殖池塘中NH4+-N和NO2--N的平均水平分别为5.597 mg/L和0.135 mg/L。池塘中可培养的异养菌平均为3.26×105cfu/mL,其中的89.75%参与了氮的不同代谢途径,其中31.25%的氨化菌和33.50%NO3--N(NO2--N)还原菌参与了NH4+-N的生成,32.45%的氨氧化菌参与了NH4+-N的降低;NO2--N生成途径主要包括蛋白质直接转化(11.26%)、氨氧化(4.25%)和硝酸盐氮还原(10.75%),而NO2--N降低主要通过15.50%的亚硝酸氧化菌、8.75%的NO2--N还原菌和10.75%的反硝化菌实现。结果提示,草鱼养殖水体中存在大量的异养硝化菌参与不同的氮代谢途径,且产生氨氮的异养菌比例远高于去除氨氮的菌,这是草鱼养殖水体中氨氮含量易偏高的原因。同时,11株不同功能的异养菌16SrRNA鉴定结果为寡养食单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas)6株、假单胞菌(Pseudomonas)3株、克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella)和肠杆菌(Enterobacter)各1株,而且细菌对氮源的利用具有菌株特异性。