Rapid Multiparameters Approach to Differentiate Fresh Skinless Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Fillets from Frozen-Thawed Ones

Food authenticity is one of the major issues in the mind of today’s consumers. The sale of frozen-thawed fish fillets under the “fresh fillet” label is considered as a commercial fraud. However, their close sensory properties complicate the differentiation. This study focused on analyzing the composition of exudate (pressured flesh juice) in order to rapidly differentiate between fresh and frozen-thawed skinless fillets of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Protein concentration, α-D-glucosidase specific activity, nucleotides and related compounds (NRCs) concentration, and free calcium concentration were measured in exudates corresponding to fresh or frozen-thawed sea bass fillets. Significant increases of these four parameters were observed in exudates from frozen-thawed fillets, especially with a twofold increase in NRCs and free calcium concentrations. These results suggest that NRCs and free calcium concentrations can be promising indicators to rapidly detect mislabeling of fresh fillets.     

Detection of Frozen-Thawed Cycles for Frozen Tilapia (Oreochromis) Fillets Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Due to the ambient temperature fluctuation during the process of storage, transportation, and sale, frozen fillets may go through frozen-thawed cycles that result in quality changes. In order to detect the frozen-thawed cycles in frozen tilapia fillets, near infrared spectroscopy was applied. The thawing loss, cooking loss, moisture content, total volatile basic nitrogen, and texture profile of fillets in seven frozen-thawed cycles were analyzed to reflect the change of quality. A total of 60 fillets were used to collect the spectra on both dorsal and belly flesh in frozen and thawed state from the first to the seventh cycle. The results showed that there is a better discrimination among the once and the repeated frozen-thawed samples in the frozen state than the thawed state. Frozen samples were still conducive to the differentiation and had higher classification accuracy, ranging from 80% to 93.33%. Dorsal flesh was more beneficial for the differentiation than belly flesh and had the highest accuracy, ranging from 86.67% to 93.33% in the frozen state. These results showed that the nondestructive and fast detection of repeated frozen-thawed cycles in frozen tilapia fillets can be accomplished by near infrared spectroscopy, which has enormous potential for practical application.     

Chemical Composition of Fresh and Salted Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) Roe

The original "Eskimo" cardiovascular health benefit of omega-3 fatty acids was ascribed to EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). The two readily available fish body oils (from U.S. menhaden and Japanese sardines) have approximately 180 mg of EPA/gram, accompanied by much less (120 mg) DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The EPA was recognized as the source of a prostaglandin (PGI₃) acting as an agent to keep the vascular walls soft and flexible, thus hindering atherosclerosis and vascular constriction, but DHA presented a problem as no such role for it was known. Australian researchers identified DHA as preventing cardiac arrhythmia because they used tuna body oil (DHA ~5 x EPA) in their research. Generally our analyses of salmon muscle triglycerides seem to show DHA > EPA. Total salmon muscle lipids in fillets obtain extra DHA from phospholipids. In the United Kingdom an official medical body now recommends eating fish twice a week and "oily" fish once a week. Examination of DHA for a legitimate health claim in the cardiovascular system, and in infant neural developments and nutrition, and maternal nutrition, offers an alternative market exploiting the most recent developments. These matters should be investigated by the salmon aquaculture industry.     

Comparison of Collagen Distribution and Muscle Structure Between Cultured Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) and Cultured Yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata)

ABSTRACT

The collagen distribution in cultured specimens of amberjack and yellowtail were assessed by histochemical observation in relation to the meat texture of the fish. Major structural alteration was observed in the level of pericellular connective tissue of yellowtail that had higher muscle lipid content; these changes are likely to be associated with the large-scale changes in muscle firmness resulting from the weakening of the cellular binding force. However, lipid deposition was limited to the myocommata in amberjack muscle; lipid deposition was not observed in the pericellular connective tissue, which is the likely reason why amberjack maintained firmer meat texture.     

Comparison of conventional and molecular techniques to investigate the intestinal microflora of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The concept of the use of probiotic organisms or prebiotic compounds to modify the fish gut microflora is becoming a popular topic for investigation. A major flaw in many such studies is a failure to consider fully the nature of the established microflora, which is to be modified pre-, or probiotically. Since it is widely accepted that a large proportion of bacteria are non-culturable, the use of conventional bacteriological (culture) techniques alone to investigate fish intestinal microflora may be expected to bias results. We report a study designed to investigate the normal intestinal microflora of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using both conventional bacteriological and molecular methods.Over an 18 month period, the intestinal microflora of a single population of laboratory-raised rainbow trout was investigated. Bacteria isolated using bacteriological techniques were identified using the BiOLOG system and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Dominant bacteria consistently were Aeromonas sp. and Carnobacterium piscicola, demonstrating that the microflora is stable in fish kept in defined conditions. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis was used to investigate anaerobic and non-culturable bacteria. An obligate anaerobe, Clostridium gasigenes, was shown to be among the dominating intestinal microflora.     

Secretion of hatching enzyme and its proteolytic activity in coregoninae (Coregonus albula L andC. lavaretus L) embryos

After the electrial stimulation Coregoninae embryos secreted the hatching enzyme (chorionase) within 0.1–0.5 h, and the dissolution of their chorions lasted 1.2–2.0 h, depending on embryo's developmental stage (DS 13 or DS 14) and water temperature (5.2 or 9.6–9.8°C).Crude chorionase (hatching liquid) ofCoregonus albula andC. lavaretus was collected in large quantities by means of the electric stimulation of eggs. In both species the temperature optimum of proteolytic activity of the crude chorionasc was 30°C; the activity was lost at temperatures < 3-2°C and > 35–40°C. The maximal proteolytic activity was observed at pH 8.5; a rapid decrease in enzyme activity was evident at pH < 7.0, and the activity was zero at pH 6.The temperature-activity curve of chorionase may reflect the adaptation of Coregoninae to hatching immediately after the ice cover recedes from lakes, whereas the rapid decrease of enzyme activity at pH 7 -pH 6 can affect adversely the process of hatching in acidified lakes.     

养殖日本真鲈和大口黑鲈原料特性比较

为了解养殖海水鲈鱼日本真鲈(Lateolabrax iaponcas)和淡水大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)原料特性及加工可适性,测定了养殖日本真鲈和大口黑鲈的形态参数、基本成分、蛋白质组成、p H值、采肉率、熟肉率、系水力、滴水损失、鱼肉色泽和质构参数,并对养殖日本真鲈和大口黑鲈原料特性进行比较分析。结果表明:日本真鲈和大口黑鲈的形体参数和色泽差异显著(P0.05),两者的鱼头、鱼骨和内脏所占比例均较高;粗脂肪含量差异较大(P0.05),大口黑鲈粗脂肪含量是日本真鲈的2.70倍;粗蛋白总含量差异不大,但各种蛋白的含量有显著性差异(P0.05),日本真鲈的总基质蛋白含量高于大口黑鲈;大口黑鲈鱼肉较日本真鲈p H略低,熟肉率低,滴水损失率和失水率分别为日本真鲈的2.20倍和2.06倍;大口黑鲈和日本真鲈的质构参数均存在显著性差异(P0.05),大口黑鲈质构特性优于日本真鲈,口感较好。综合分析表明日本真鲈适合加工鱼糜等产品,而大口黑鲈适合生鱼片、鱼片等加工。两种鱼在加工过程中产生的下脚料较多,应合理利用下脚料提高其附加值。     

Histopathological changes and tissue residue concentrations of monosex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus,L) fries exposed to oxytetracycline

Aquaculture International - The current study evaluated the biosafety of oxytetracycline (OTC) exposure for 30&nbsp;days in monosex Oreochromis niloticus fries. The fries were exposed to OTC...     

Settling velocity and total ammonia nitrogen leaching from commercial feed and faecal pellets of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L. 1758) and seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax L. 1758)

The physico-chemical characteristics of particulate wastes of Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax were investigated. Changes in the dimensions, settling velocity and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) leached from commercial feed pellets were investigated after soaking. Also, the settling velocity and TAN leached from faecal pellets of these fish were assessed at 15 and 25 °C. The settling velocity of feed pellets was influenced positively by pellet weight and negatively by immersion length as a result of changes in pellet dimensions after soaking. The settling velocity of faecal pellets was determined by pellet weight. The experimental design did not allow identification of any consistent effect of water temperature on settling velocity. Total ammonia nitrogen leaching over time from feed and faecal pellets was successfully explained by means of a first-order kinetic equation. For feed pellets, water temperature significantly affected the speed of the process and the time at which the maximum TAN leached was reached, but did not influence the maximum TAN leached. Leaching was related to feed pellet size, and so the smaller the pellet, the higher the leaching. Total ammonia nitrogen leaching from faecal pellets was greater per unit weight than in feed pellets. However, neither water temperature nor fish species influenced TAN leaching from faeces.     

软颗粒饲料与鲜杂鱼糜对大黄鱼养殖水质的影响

在水温18．0～21．0℃、盐度21．0～25．8下,给平均体质量为280．0 g／尾的大黄鱼投喂软颗粒饲料（试验组）和鲜杂鱼糜（对照组）,评价两种饲料对环境影响,其中试验组、对照组各设3个平行,空白组（不放鱼也不投料,仅有砂滤海水）不设平行。试验结果表明,试验组和对照组养殖水中总氮、总磷和化学需氧量含量均与空白组差异显著（P＜0．05）,对照组最高,空白组最低;试验组与对照组水中总磷差异不显著（P＞0．05）,而总氮和化学需氧量含量均差异显著（P＜0．05）;试验组水中沉积物总量显著少于对照组（P＜0．05）;试验组水中沉积物中总氮、总磷总量均显著少于对照组（P＜0．05）。软颗粒饲料对养殖环境的影响显著小于鲜杂鱼糜,可在海水鱼类网箱养殖中应用推广。     

Cell and tissue reactions of turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L.) to Tetramicra brevifilum gen. n., sp. n. (Microspora)

Abstract. Tetramicra brevifilum gen, n. sp, n. is described from the connective tissues throughout the body musculature of turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L.). Uninucleate spores (4.8·2 μm) are characterized by a large posterior vacuole, electron dense inclusion bodies in cytoplasm and nucleus and short filaments with 3–5 coils (50 μm extruded). Sporogony is apansporoblastic and tetrasporoblastic, within a host vacuole. Features of the xenoma (2 mm diameter) include a microvillous surface layer with microtubules and microfilaments and a reticulate nucleus with numerous nucleoli. Adherence between adjacent xenomas results in composite cysts of various sizes and shapes depending on site, being dendritic in the myomeres, arms extending between the fibres. Effects on the host, other than eventual destruction of the host cell, include displacement of muscle fibres in myomeres with loss of attachment to myocommata. Breakdown of the xenoma with release of spores into the connective tissue matrix was associated with a localized necrosis affecting surrounding muscle fibres, with leucocyte infiltration and collagen deposition. Spores phagocytosed by macrophages were destroyed in vacuoles, some with multi-laminate walls. Experimental infections established by intramuscular injection at marked sites remained localized, which suggested that xenomas afford sufficient scope for spore production without the need of secondary invasion. The swimming efficiency of turbot would be impaired in severe infections leading to lowered growth rates and increased mortality in wild populations due to predation and starvation. Feeding hierarchies exist in turbot and the disease could prove significant in farming conditions.     

Communal spawning of brook and river lampreys (Lampetra planeri and L. fluviatilis) is common in the Oir River (France)

Lasne E, Sabatié M‐R, Evanno G. Communal spawning of brook and river lampreys (Lampetra planeri and L. fluviatilis) is common in the Oir River (France). Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 323–325. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – The taxonomic status of river Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) and brook lampreys (L. planeri) has been repeatedly questioned due to the high morphological similarity of these species. Here, we report a high frequency (54%) of communal spawning involving both species in the Lampetra redds of a French coastal river. These observations suggest that reproductive isolation between the two species may not be as strong as previously supposed.     

Comparison of rhabdoviruses associated with epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) with respect to their structural proteins, cytopathology and serology

Abstract. Seven rhabdoviruses isolated from fish suffering from epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) were compared in terms of their morphology, cytopathogenicity, antigenic relatedness and structural polypeptide composition. All strains exhibited a bullet-shaped morphology, but the T9204 isolate was found to be longer and more variable in length than the other strains. Sixteen fish cell lines investigated showed some variation in susceptibility to each isolate, but the cytopathic changes induced by T9204 in SSN-2, RSN, GCP, ONP, FHM, AS and MUL lines were significantly different from the other isolates. Polyclonal antisera raised against the BPV, 20E and SL11 strains neutralized six isolates (BPV, 02, 19, 20E, A4 and SL11), but not T9204. Conversely, anti-T9204 serum only neutralized homologous virus. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that BPV, 02, 19, 20E, A4 and SL11 had virtually identical protein profiles, whereas T9204 differed both in the number of protein bands and in their migration pattern. Western blots of these gels identified the proteins specific to T9204 that reacted with anti-T9204 serum. Therefore, the isolates represent two distinct species of fish rhabdoviruses, but as yet, no causal relationship with EUS, or any other disease condition, has been established.     

Comparison of methods for estimating age composition with application to Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)

We consider various methods for estimating age composition from length and age samples. The standard age–length key (ALK) approach does not use information from the length frequency distribution, so we develop likelihood-based methods with and without seasonality, growth curves, and cohort-specific growth effects.Asymptotic variances of the estimated age proportions are derived and converted into ‘equivalent sample size’, i.e. the sample size that would achieve the same variance if only age data were collected at random. This is used to compare and evaluate the information obtained from various models using likelihood and from ALK. The methodology is illustrated by analysing a large data set on Southern Bluefin Tuna Thunnus maccoyii. For younger fish, there are considerable gains (in equivalent sample size) over ALK from using likelihood estimation, and further gains from allowing for within-season growth. Sampling designs can improve the estimation of age composition of targeted older age ranges.     

Purification and partial characterization of GtHs (cfLH and cfFSH) from Indian walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) (L.) and development of a homologous ELISA for cfLH

Two gonadotropins (GtH; Qa and Qb) were purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography from the pituitaries of Indian walking catfish (Clarias batrachus). The presence of GtH during purification was assessed by in vitro oocyte maturation and in vivo steroidogenic activity, and their identities were determined by elution profiles, molecular weight, biological activities and yield. The molecular weights of Qa and Qb were 37 and 42 kDa, respectively, and composed of distinct subunits (Qa: 20 and 14 kDa and Qb: 26 and 18 kDa). Polyclonal antibodies raised against Qa immunostained Qa, Qb and pituitary GtH cells. A competitive Qa‐ELISA was developed whose sensitivity was 6.25 ng mL^?1 (1.25 ng well^?1) with intra‐ (3.5%) and inter‐ (12.4%) assay coefficients of variation. Displacement curves parallel to the standard were obtained with plasma and pituitary extracts of catfish, Qb and carp GtHII. The assay was validated by measuring the plasma Qa levels after LHRH treatment and in relation to ovarian growth in the female catfish during different reproductive phases. Based on the results, Qa and Qb corresponded to fish LH and FSH respectively. The findings will increase the knowledge of the mechanisms controlling fish reproduction and identification of sensitive phases in fish in captivity for hormonal manipulation.     

Ultrastructural study of epitheliocystis organisms from gill epithelium of the fish Sparus aurata (L.) and Liza ramada (Risso) and their relation to the host cell

Abstract. Ultrastructural study of epitheliocystis organisms from gills of Sparus aurata (L.) and Liza ramada (Risso) revealed in each fish a new form of the organism which differed from epitheliocystis organisms previously described. In their size range, the presence of a plasma membrane, a trilaminated cell wall and a central nucleoid, these organisms resembled chlamydial organisms (PLT). However they differed from them in the following respects: in both species several morphological forms were recognized; hyphae or mycelium-like forms and individual units, not comparable to any of the successive units described for Chlamydia organisms. Both organisms were contained within an inclusion in the host cell, but in epitlieliocysts from S. aM7-ata apparently intracytoplasmic forms were also observed. Ultrastructural studies of the cytoplasmic wall of the epitheliocystis inclusion in S. aurata suggest that the epitheliocystis cyst remains contained in a single unruptured hypertrophied cell, while in i. ramada the final cyst is formed through the coalescence of several epithelial cells.     

Enzyme treatment of Trypanosoma danilewskyi (Laveran and Mesnil) increases its susceptibility to lysis by the alternative complement pathway of goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.)

This study examined whether in vitro-cultured Trypanosoma danilewskyi were susceptible to lysis in the presence or absence of anti-parasite antibodies and complement. Cultured trypanosomes were resistant to lysis by either immune or non-immune goldfish serum. However, trypanosomes treated with the proteolytic enzyme trypsin, which destroys surface proteins of the parasites, became susceptible to lysis when exposed to either immune or non-immune goldfish serum. The lysis by goldfish serum was dependent on the presence of heat-labile factors and occurred at 4 and 20 degrees C. The lysis was also dependent on the presence of Mg(2+) ions but not Ca(2+) ions. Furthermore, treatment of the parasites with different sialidases did not enhance their susceptibility to lysis by goldfish serum. Trypsinized parasites regained resistance to lysis after at least 6-h cultivation in the absence of trypsin and the restoration of full resistance was observed after 24-h cultivation. The resistance to lysis was abrogated when the protein synthesis inhibitor, puromycin, was added to the cultures. These results suggest that trypsinized trypanosomes were susceptible to lysis by goldfish complement (alternative pathway) and that protective surface proteins of the parasite were required for the resistance of normal trypanosomes to lysis.     

Increased spawning activity of female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (L.) after stocking density and photoperiod manipulation

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density and photoperiod in increasing the reproductive performance of Oreochromis niloticus. In experiment 1, a change in stocking density (from 47.7 to 6.8 kg m^?3) was performed, with groups of 48 females moved to single compartments. In experiment 2, 36 females experienced a 6L:18D photoperiod for 21 or 28 days (stocking density: 31.3 kg m^?3) before being placed in individual compartments (stocking density of 6.9 kg m^?3, 12L:12D photoperiod). The spawning rates in experiment 1 (32.2%) and in experiment 2 (21 days: 65.2%, 28 days: 36.1%) were significantly higher than those in the control (17.7%). On the other hand, hatching and swim‐up fry rates were significantly lower in experiment 2 – 21 days (41.3%, 40.4%) but not in experiment 1 (64.0%, 56.3%) compared with the control (67.0%, 62.3%). The spawning rate in experiment 2 – 21‐day treatment group was the highest, while the number of eggs collected per female was significantly lower than that in the control. In experiments 1 (20.8%) and 2 (21 days: 44.4%, 28 days: 19.4%), the daily spawning rates were the highest 3 days after maintaining females in single compartments. The current experiment demonstrates how specific stocking density changes can be used to induce higher spawning rates in Nile tilapia.     

Comparison of stress responses in wild and captive winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus Walbaum) broodstock

Chronic stress is responsible for many problems occurring in fish holding facilities, such as increased susceptibility to disease, reduced growth rate and suppression of the immune response. The goal of this study was to verify if wild winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus Walbaum) suffer from chronic stress when kept several months in captivity. We hypothesized that winter flounder not subjected to chronic stress in captivity would have similar or higher condition indices and similar stress response compared to fish from the wild. Our results showed that the condition index of winter flounder kept in captivity was higher (1.50) than those from the wild (1.33) even after one year of captivity. The intensity of the acute stress response following short‐term exposure to air was similar between wild and captive fish (no significant interaction between the factors ‘stress’ and ‘origin of the fish’). Body water content (an indicator of energy reserves) was lower (76.1%) compared to wild fish (79.8%) after one year of captivity, suggesting that the winter fast had been less energetically demanding in captive fish. These results indicate that no chronic stress was present in captive fish. On the other hand, the mortality during captivity was around 30%, which is high for the aquaculture industry. Further work to address this problem is required.