Early development of artificially spawned southern mullet,Liza richardsonii (Smith, 1846)

The embryonic development of artificially spawned southern mullet, Liza richardsonii, eggs and the development of the larvae to 46 days are described and illustrated using drawings and photographs. The floating eggs hatched in sea water at 18–24°C after 46–60 h. Newly stripped eggs usually had more than one oil droplet (up to 16) which merged during development. Free embryos averaged 2,36 mm at hatching and had distinct yellow pigment.     

Eggs ultrastructure and early development of Franciscodoras marmoratus (Pisces: Doradidae)

This study presents, for the first time, information on the eggs and early development of Franciscodoras marmoratus, fish of São Francisco river, Brazil. To analyse the egg ultrastructure and morphological events of embryogenesis, a total of 36 F. marmoratus specimens (18 males and 18 females) were captured and subjected to spawning induction. Gametes were collected by manual extrusion, and fertilization was conducted using the dry method. After fertilization, eggs were kept in incubators with water temperature of 24°C. The embryonic development was monitored using a stereomicroscope until hatching. There was a 67% positive response to hypophysation by the females and the fertilization rate was 73.8 ± 6.2%. The oocytes are discoid, yellow, adhesive and covered by a thick jelly coat. Under the electron scanning microscope, the oocytes presented a surface with pore canals and funnel‐shaped micropyle with a smooth vestibule. Recently extruded oocytes had a mean diameter of 1.27 ± 0.4 mm and after hydration was 1.91 ± 0.05 mm. The jelly coat was 0.34 ± 0.03 mm thickness, and the perivitelline space was 0.19 ± 0.04 mm. Eight phases of the embryonic development were identified, and embryogenesis was completed at 47 h after fertilization, at 24°C water temperature. The recently hatched larvae had 2.76 ± 0.57 mm of total length. These results provide useful information for the successful breeding and reproductive strategies of fishes.     

Effects of Temperature on In Vitro Short‐Term Storage of Sterlet Sturgeon (Acipenser Ruthenus) Ova

Artificial propagation of sturgeons is becoming increasingly important for recovery efforts as well as for commercial production. Sterlet Acipenser ruthenus is a common Eurasian sturgeon with a small body size and one of the fastest reproductive cycles among the sturgeons. The practical question being addressed in this study was how long fertilization of ovulated eggs can be delayed without substantially reducing the hatching rate, and an ancillary question is under what' temperature conditions do eggs retain good quality. Broodstock were injected with homogenized carp pituitary extract (CPE); ovulated eggs from three females were allocated to various treatment groups for temperature storage (control, 7°C, 11°C, 15°C and 19°C) until fertilized. Storage times at the regulated temperatures prior to fertilization were for 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 h. After the selected storage times in ovarian fluid, eggs were fertilized and transferred to incubation cages and then they were counted. Three replicates were allocated to each storage period and temperature. Hatched larvae were counted at 7‐day post‐fertilization. We found that sterlet eggs do not need to be fertilized immediately after collection. Reasonably good quality was retained for several hours if temperature conditions are fairly cool and stable. Eggs retained good quality when stored at 7°C and 11°C for up to 10 h with 54.1 ± 2.9 to 69.9 ± 7.9% hatching success, but egg quality was significantly reduced after 5‐h storage at 19°C (p < 0.01) and 7.5‐h storage at 15°C (p < 0.05) compared to cooler temperatures. Uniform temperatures between 7°C and 11°C can be considered as appropriate for storage of eggs in ovarian fluid for up to 10 h. This information can have practical application to routine hatchery practice for acipenserids, as well as for certain research protocols.     

First Production of Larvae Using Cryopreserved Sperm: Effects of Preservation Temperature and Cryopreservation on European Eel Sperm Fertilization Capacity

Sperm cryopreservation is a useful tool in captive fish reproduction management, that is to synchronize gamete production, especially in the case of species as the European eel, where the time of female spawning readiness is unpredictable. Several protocols to cryopreserve sperm of this species have been described, but until recently fertilization trials were not feasible. This study evaluated the effect of cold storage of diluted sperm prior to fertilizations and tested whether a previously defined protocol for European eel sperm cryopreservation can be successfully applied in fertilization trials to produce viable offspring. In our experiment, the sperm motility was evaluated after the extraction and the best samples were selected and pooled. Until stripping of eggs and fertilization, diluted sperm samples were maintained at either 4 or 20°C, or cryopreserved, following existing protocols. Fertilization of two egg batches was attempted. Diluted sperm caused a similar percentage of fertilized eggs and a similar number of embryos and larvae, independently of storage temperature (4 or 20°C). The cryopreserved sperm resulted in a lower percentage of fertilized eggs, but embryos developed and a few larvae (‘cryolarvae’) were obtained 55 h after fertilization in one of the two egg batches. This result evidences that the tested cryopreservation protocol is applicable for eel reproduction management, although improvements will be required to enhance fertilization success.     

花斑裸鲤的人工繁殖试验

于2015年4月在四川省凉山科华水生态工程有限公司水产良种场使用LRH-A2＋DOM分2批对来自黄河水系的24尾（以雌鱼计）野生花斑裸鲤亲鱼进行人工催产。雌鱼在挤卵前死亡5尾,1尾未产卵,平均催产率为75.5%;18尾雌鱼共产卵14.3万粒,受精卵13.1万粒,受精率为91.6%;获初孵仔鱼10.2万尾,孵化率77.9%。研究结果表明,在非产区进行花斑裸人工繁殖是可行的。     

Effect of adjuvants on in ovo vaccination against Newcastle disease on hatchability,performance and antibody titres in commercial pullets

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of in ovo administration of aluminium hydroxide (AH) and/or mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) adjuvants along with lentogenic VG/GA strain‐Avinew to alleviate the embryonic pathogenicity of Newcastle disease virus. Six hundred and thirty fertilized Bovans eggs were divided into nine groups of 70 each incubated in a commercial hatchery and administered with eight types of in ovo injections in a factorial design of 2 × 2 × 2 including with/without AH, MOS and Newcastle disease vaccine (NDV), and one uninjected group on day 18 of incubation. Hatchability was higher in the eggs received MOS and/or AH adjuvants plus NDV compared those injected with NDV alone which confirmed the attenuation of NDV. However, the average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of pullets hatched from NDV‐injected eggs were significantly reduced, but did not affect growth performance during 0‐42 days of age. The performance of pullets hatched from eggs injected with AH, MOS or their mixture with NDV was not significantly different during all growth periods. Pullets from MOS + vaccine injected eggs had significantly higher antibody titres against NDV compared to those hatched from either injected with saline or uninjected on d 28 (p < .05). In addition, AH plus vaccine and MOS significantly improved total anti‐SRBC and IgG respectively. Histological observation revealed that injection of MOS adjuvant into eggs led to increase crypt depth, whereas AH injection caused a reduction in villus surface area of jejunum in chicks on d 14 post‐hatch. It is concluded that in ovo MOS injection as compared to AH may be more effective to attenuate the embryonic pathogenicity of in ovo NDV injection.     

Comparative Analysis of the Oocytes and Early Development of Two Species of Curimatidae Teleost Fish

Curimatella lepidura and Steindachnerina elegans are small forage fish, constituting an important link in the food chain, serving as food for larger commercial fish. In this study, characteristics of the eggs, of the oocyte's surface ultrastructure and of the embryogenesis are first described for these species. Absolute fecundity was 40864 ± 8769 oocytes for C. lepidura and 22089 ± 8710 oocytes for S. elegans. Oocytes of both species are yellowish, weakly adhesive and with a post‐fertilization diameter of 1019.5 ± 20.6 μm and 978.75 ± 29.16 μm for C. lepidura and S. elegans, respectively. The ultrastructural analysis, using scanning electron microscopy, showed that the oocyte's surface of both species has pore canals over the entire surface and a funnel‐shaped micropyle. At 24°C, the embryonic development of C. lepidura was completed 25 h after fertilization, and blastopore closure occurred in 7 h 30 min. In S. elegans, larvae hatched 20 h after fertilization, and blastopore closure occurred in 7 h 15 min. The fertilization rate was 74.5 ± 7.96 and 71.2 ± 10.8% for C. lepidura and S. elegans, respectively. This study provides important support for clarifying phylogenetic relationships and in ecological and zoological understanding of Neotropical Curimatidae fish.     

The Influencing Factor of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryonic Transfer in the Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus)

This study was conducted to explore the influencing factors of ova in vitro fertilization (IVF) and transfer of the fertilized ova into the oviduct of recipient hens. The efficiency of fertilization was compared using three aspects: (i) the different time of ova collection and transfer, (ii) egg‐laying period of recipient hen; and (iii) semen volume. The following results are observed: 72%, 40% and 0% of ova were found in ovarian sac in 30～40 min, 50～60 min and more than 90 min post‐oviposition, respectively; 20%, 18%, 14% and 5.8% of ova were fertilized with 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 ml semen, respectively; and 33% and 100% of healthy chickens were hatched from fertile ova with 0.1 and 0.5 ml of semen, respectively. All oocytes obtained from ovary and mid‐oviduct were unfertilized. Embryos were transferred into recipient hens 30 min ± 10 min post‐oviposition, and 70% of shelled eggs were produced. There were no eggs produced in the other transfer times. This demonstrated that live chicken can be obtained by IVF of ova collected shortly after oviposition. It was important that the ovum was transferred into the oviduct infundibulum of recipient hens immediately or shortly after oviposition.     

Effects of latex from "Amapazeiro"Parahancornia amapa (Apocynaceae) on blowfly Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) post-embryonic development

Nowadays, insect control is usually carried out using chemical insecticides, but insect resistance and other negative side effects have prompted the search for alternatives. Biopesticides provide a positive alternative to synthetic pesticides because they have low impact on the environmental, low toxicity to humans and low costs among other advantages. This research was carried out to evaluate the activity of Parahancornia amapa (Huber) Ducke (Apocynaceae) lyophilized latex on the post embryonic development of Chrysomya megacephala (F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Larvae treated with 1.0% latex showed a shorter post embryonic development period (larval, pupal and newly hatched larvae to adult); whereas larvae treated with 3.0% latex provoked a prolongation of these periods. Viability (53%) was also very low at the newly hatched larvae to adult period for larvae treated with 3.0% latex, indicating that latex from P. amapa at high concentrations could change C. megacephala post embryonic development.     

Survivability of Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus in Fertilized Eggs of Masu and Chum Salmon

Abstract

The possibility of vertical transmission of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) was studied with the eggs of masu (cherry) salmon Oncorhynchus masou and chum salmon O. keta. The surfaces of eggs and sperm were contaminated with IHNV (10^3.8-10^4.8 50% tissue culture infective dose [TCID50]/egg) and then the eggs were fertilized. Eggs just after fertilization and embryonated eggs also were infected by injection with IHNV (10^3.8 TCID50/egg) directly into the yolk. During incubation, eggs were held in running water at 10°C. Mortality of the eggs or hatched progeny was determined and isolation of IHNV on the surface or inside of the eggs was determined during the incubation period. No mortality occurred and no virus was detected in fertile eggs from contaminated gametes. For injected eggs, IHNV was not detected on the surface of masu and chum salmon eggs after 1 d of incubation. Infectivity of IHNV inside the eggs decreased gradually and could not be detected after 1 month of incubation. This rate of IHNV reduction in the fertilized egg was similar to that found in a mixture of IHNV and homogenized yolk contents. Several individual yolk components also showed anti-IHNV activity. When eyed eggs were injected with IHNV, the embryos of both masu and chum salmon became infected, and the concentration of virus increased rapidly and reached more than 10^6.5 TCID50/fish. The cumulative mortality of eggs injected at the eyed stage for both masu and chum salmon was 90%. The susceptibilities of hatched-out larvae of masu and chum salmon to IHNV were different; cumulative mortality was more than 90% in masu salmon and 20–30% in chum salmon artificially infected with the virus. We concluded that vertical transmission of IHNV is doubtful because the virus is apparently unable to survive in eggs before the eyed stage.     

The association between body strike and dermatophilosis of sheep under controlled conditions

The association of dermatophilosis with body strike of sheep caused by Lucilia cuprina was studied in a controlled environment. When sheep with areas of wet normal fleece and areas of wet fleece containing scabs induced by infection of the skin with Dermatophilus congolensis were exposed to gravid L. cuprina the files oviposited only on dermatophilosis-affected areas. In wet dermatophilosis-affected fleece, naturally oviposited L. Cuprina eggs hatched and the larvae developed to the second instar stage. Artificially implanted L cuprina eggs hatched in both wet dermatophilosis-affected fleece and wet normal fleece. In wet dermatophilosis-affected fleece the larvae from implanted eggs developed normally but in wet normal fleece they did not develop past the first instar stage. It was concluded that wet but otherwise uncomplicated dermatophilosis lesions are attractive to L. cuprina and provide sufficient protein to allow larval development to take place.     

Follicle culture enhances fertilizability and cleavage of bovine oocytes matured in vitro

The fertilization and cleavage of bovine oocytes matured by intra- or extra-follicular methods were investigated. Oocytes were fertilized in vitro or in the rabbit oviduct and cleavage was assessed after in vitro culture of in vitro fertilized oocytes and after in vivo culture (rabbit oviducts) of xenogenously fertilized oocytes. The effect of fertilization with fresh-diluted or frozen-thawed semen were also examined. The intra-follicular method did not increase the nuclear maturation rate as compared with the extra-follicular method (57.9 and 52.7%, respectively). However, the proportions of in vitro fertilized eggs (54.8%) and of cleaved eggs (two to eight cells; 34.6%) in the rabbit oviduct for 48 h after xenogenous fertilization were higher (P less than .025) in the intra-follicular oocytes than those of the extra-follicular oocytes (37.1 and 21.3%, respectively). It was also found that the use of fresh-diluted semen resulted in more cleaved eggs from the rabbit oviduct than the use of frozen-thawed semen (43.4 and 23.3% in the intra-follicular oocytes, P less than .025; 31.0 and 7.8% in the extra-follicular oocytes, P less than .05), while the appearance of cleaved eggs following in vitro fertilization was extremely low (0 to 6.6%). The present results demonstrated that the intra-follicular culture method of bovine oocytes provided a physiological environment for cytoplasmic maturation leading to higher fertilizability and development than the conventional in vitro culture of extra-follicular oocytes.     

The Impact of Egg Ozonation on Hatching Success,Larval Growth,and Survival of Atlantic Cod,Atlantic Salmon,and Rainbow Trout

The direct exposure of fish eggs to ozonated water has generated interest as a means of ensuring pathogen-free eggs without the use of harsh chemicals. However, there are numerous knowledge gaps, including safe contact times, exposure levels, and potential long-term effects on aquaculture species in both freshwater and seawater. The effect of different ozone (O₃) doses (0.5–1.0, 1.5–2.0, and 2.5–3.0 mg of O₃/L for 90 s) on recently fertilized eggs of Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua and eyed eggs of Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar and Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss was evaluated in comparison with the effects of two commercial disinfectants: Perosan (0.004 mg/L) and Ovadine (100 mg/L). The impact of ozone application was evaluated based on hatching success, larval nucleic acid concentration, larval growth, and survival. Overall, results indicated that ozonation of Atlantic Cod eggs at a dose less than 3.0 mg/L for 90 s produced no negative effect on the larvae up to 30 d posthatch. Furthermore, ozonation of Atlantic Salmon and Rainbow Trout eggs generated no negative effect on the larvae, based on monitoring until 85% yolk sac re-absorption (16 d posthatch).

Received May 6, 2014; accepted October 24, 2014     

Induction of Gynogenesis and Androgenesis in Goldfish Carassius auratus (var. oranda)

Chromosome engineering was used to develop lines that expressed the stable phenotypic characteristics of goldfish, Carassius auratus (var. oranda). To obtain androgenetic individuals, carp eggs were irradiated and fertilized with sperm from goldfish bearing telescopic eyes. The fertilized eggs were divided into four groups and three of them were subjected to heat-shock treatment at 42°C for 2.0 min at 34, 37 and 40 min after fertilization. All groups exhibited low viability of embryos and after hatching the embryos were severely deformed on the head, yolk sac and tail and exhibited 100% mortality, within 2 days after hatching. To obtain gynogenetic individuals, a thin layer of carp milt was subjected to ultraviolet irradiation for 26 min to neutralize its genetic material and used to fertilize a mixture of eggs derived from three different variations of C. auratus individuals with characteristics such as round fat body, triple tail, red and black colour and telescopic eyes. The fertilized eggs were divided into six groups and five of them were subjected to heat-shock treatment at 39.5°C for 2.5 min at 15 (group 2), 20 (group 3), 30 (group 5) and 45 (group 6) min after fertilization. The percentage of fertilized eggs that survived ranged from 20 to 50% and the percentage of larval survival in groups 2–5 was 22–28% with lower levels in groups 1 and 6, ranging from 10–12%. However, 40–60% of the larvae exhibited severe deformities on the head, yolk sac and tail, whereas the rest developed normally. Fish with the typical oranda phenotype were observed in all the groups and about 1% of the fish were characterized by a triple tail but there was no fish with telescopic eyes. The results indicate that gynogenetic individual goldfish can be produced but that the induction of androgenesis requires further improvement of the techniques.     

ICSI受精卵胞质注射生产转基因猪胚胎的初步研究

试验旨在探讨单精子胞浆内注射（intracytoplasmic sperm injection,ICSI）法生产猪体外受精卵和应用猪ICSI受精卵进行胞质注射生产转基因胚胎的可行性。首先对比了猪体外受精（in vitro fertilization,IVF）受精卵与ICSI受精卵的胚胎发育效率;然后观察了猪ICSI受精卵的双原核形成时间及效率,对精子注射到胞质后6~18 h分6个时间段进行地衣红染色,对比精子进入卵胞质后的状态及原核形成;最后对猪IVF受精卵受精后8~10 h及ICSI受精卵受精后12~14 h进行EGFP-N1质粒（20 ng/μL）胞质注射,观察胚胎发育效率及转基因效率。结果表明,ICSI受精卵的胚胎发育率（卵裂率89.4%和67.9%、囊胚率36.5%和16.1%）显著优于IVF组（P<0.05）,适合用于猪的体外受精卵试验;猪ICSI受精卵双原核在精子注射到卵胞质后12~14 h形成,双原核形成率为54.90%,显著高于其余5个试验组（P<0.05）;ICSI受精卵胞质注射组胚胎卵裂率（86.2%和66.3%）、囊胚率（30.0%和13.6%）及转基因效率（18.5%和0）均显著高于IVF受精卵胞质注射试验组（P<0.05）。本试验结果为采用ICSI受精卵进行胞质注射生产转基因猪的研究奠定了基础。     

Effect of condensed tannins on egg hatching and larval development of Trichostrongylus colubriformis in vitro

The effects of condensed tannins extracted from seven forages on the viability of the eggs and first stage (L1) larvae of the sheep nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis were evaluated in in vitro assays. The extracts of condensed tannins were obtained from Lotus pedunculatus (LP), Lotus corniculatus (LC), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium), sainfoin (Onobrychus viciifolia), Dorycnium pentaphylum (DP), Dorycnium rectum (DR) and dock (Rumex obtusifolius). Extracts containing 200 to 500 microg/ml reduced the proportion of eggs that hatched. The larval development assay was used to evaluate the effect of the extracts on the development of either eggs or L1 larvae to L3 infective larvae. Development was allowed to proceed for seven days by which time the larvae in control incubations had reached the infective L3 stage. Extracts containing 200 microg/ml from LP, DP, DR or dock prevented egg development, and only 11, 8 and 2 per cent of the eggs developed to L3 larvae with extracts from LC, sulla and sainfoin, respectively. When the concentration was 400 microg/ml no eggs developed to L3 larvae. The addition of the extracts after hatching also inhibited the development of L1 to L3 larvae; 200 microg/ml extracted from LP, LC, sulla, sainfoin, DP, DR and dock resulted in only 14, 18, 17, 15, 14, 16 and 4 per cent of L1 larvae developing to the L3 stage compared with 85 per cent for controls, and 400 microg/ml further reduced the development of L1 larvae. Statistical analyses showed that when the extracts were added before hatching they were significantly (P<0.001) more effective at inhibiting the larval development than when they were added after hatching. The condensed tannins from dock had the greatest inhibitory effect on egg development followed by the tannins from DR, sainfoin, DP, LP, sulla and LC.     

In Vitro Development of Bovine Embryos after Fertilization using Semen from Different Donors

Contents: The aim of this study was to determine whether the semen donor and/or heparin concentration influences the rate of fertilization of bovine follicular oocytes and their subsequent embryonic development in vitro. Frozen-thawed semen from five highly fertile bulls was treated with one of four concentrations of heparin (0.5,1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 μg/ml) on a 5 x4 factorial basis in an IVM-NF programme. Zygotes/oocytes were cultured in frozen-thawed bovine oviduct cell-conditioned medium for 6 days. The use of semen from different bulls resulted in significantly (P < 0.001) different rates offertilization, as judged by cleavage rates of the oocytes at 72 h post insemination, and subsequent embryonic development through the'8-cell-block'(P < 0.05) in vitro. Development up to the morula/blastocyst stage, however, did not differ significantly (P = 0.06) among groups of oocytes fertilized with spermatozoa from different bulls. Heparin levels ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 μg/ml did not differ in their effect on in vitro fertilization as judged by the rate of normally cleaved oocytes (P = 0.14). The overall parthenogenetic division rate at 72 h post insemination was 12.4% and was not influenced by the heparin concentration. There was a linear relationship (P < 0.001) between fertility estimates based on AI and the estimates basedon the first cleavage following in vitro fertilization.     

Larval biology of rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (Acarina: Ixodidae) in Free State Province, South Africa

The objective of this study was to determine certain aspects of the biology of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus larvae under laboratory and field conditions. Larvae allowed 48 h to select a vertical questing substrate preferred 90 cm rods in length to those of 60 or 30 cm, while in a separate experiment migration from rods 5 cm or 25 cm in length to rods 45 cm in length continued between 48 h and 72 h after larval release. Hatching of the larval progeny of engorged female ticks exposed to ambient field temperatures during the period June to August, occurred synchronously during the third or fourth week of November. With a single exception, larvae that hatched during November and between April and July survived for 38 days or longer, while those that hatched from December to March survived for 31 days or less. Questing larvae were present on vegetation throughout the year, with most being recovered during January and February. Parasitic larvae were present on cattle from October to May with most being collected during January and February.     

Development and spatial distribution of the free-living stages of Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis on pasture: A pilot study

Abstract

AIMS: To measure the development of Teladorsagia (=Ostertagia) circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis eggs to third-stage infective larvae (L3) at different times of the year. Also, to measure the spatial distribution of L3 across herbage, soil and faeces, in order to assess whether spatial issues could be important in larval dynamics on pasture.

METHODS: Field plots were contaminated with sheep faeces containing approximately 20,000 eggs of each of T. circumcincta and T. colubriformis on five separate occasions, viz 01 December 1996 (summer), 18 March 1998 (autumn), 17 June 1998 (winter), 15 October 1998 (spring), and 23 July 1999 (winter). Replicate plots (n=10) were harvested at intervals for up to 12 months after deposition of faeces, and the number and distribution of L3 were measured. Larvae were sampled from faeces (where these remained), herbage, and three soil zones to a depth of 145 mm.

RESULTS: There were large differences between contamination dates in the percentage of eggs that developed to L3. For both species the highest percentage development was for eggs deposited in December (7.8% and 25.9% for T. circumcincta and T. colubriformis, respectively) and the lowest for June (0.4% and 0.03% T. circumcincta and T. colubriformis, respectively). Development in winter was often delayed, and this was always associated with a low yield of larvae, probably due to compounding mortalities associated with long periods of exposure to low temperatures.

The relative distribution of L3 present on herbage, in faeces or in the soil varied between sampling times. However, overall the most L3 were recovered from soil (74% and 66% for T.circumcincta and T. colubriformis, respectively, averaged over all samples), and the lowest recoveries were from the herbage.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the data are limited, the results indicated that the highest percentage of eggs developed to infective larvae in summer and only minimal development occurred in winter. The data do not support the view that substantial contamination of pastures with sheep parasites occurs over winter. Large numbers of larvae were recovered from soil, which indicates that, assuming they can subsequently migrate onto herbage, soil is a potentially important reservoir ofinfective larvae in New Zealand. Therefore, the spatial distribution of L3 on pasture may affect both the dynamics and transmission of parasite populations. Further work on both these issues is warranted.     

Alterations in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs exposed to ionizing radiation during induced androgenesis

Ionizing radiation (IR) is applied to inactivate nuclear genome in the salmonid eggs to induce androgenetic development. However, it has been considered that doses of IR used to damage maternal chromosomes may also affect morphology of the eggs and decrease their developmental potential. Thus, the main goal of the present research was to assess alterations in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs caused by the high dose of IR administered during androgenesis. In the present research, rainbow trout eggs were irradiated with 350 Gy of X‐rays, inseminated and exposed to the high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) shock to develop as androgenetic doubled haploids (DHs). The distribution of lipid droplets in the irradiated and non‐irradiated rainbow trout eggs, survival rates and morphology of larvae from androgenetic and control groups were compared. It has been observed that non‐irradiated and irradiated eggs exhibited altered distribution of lipid droplets. Most of the eggs before IR treatment displayed rather equal distribution of the oil droplets. In turn, majority of eggs studied after irradiation had coalesced lipid droplets, a pattern found in eggs with reduced quality. Incidences of abnormally developed larvae were more frequently observed among fish that hatched from the irradiated eggs. Observed changes suggest X‐rays applied for the genetic inactivation of rainbow trout eggs may lead to decrease of their developmental competence.