双斑东方鲀循环水养殖水体细菌群落结构分析

利用16S rRNA高通量基因测序技术研究了双斑东方鲀(Fugu bimaculatus)循环水养殖系统养殖水体细菌种群结构特征,并比较养殖患病(溃疡症)的双斑东方鲀的水体细菌群落结构与健康的之间的差异,探讨细菌群落结构与双斑东方鲀细菌性病害发生的相关性。研究结果表明,双斑东方鲀循环水养殖水体细菌群落的优势细菌门为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes),优势细菌纲为γ-变形菌纲(Gammaproteobacteria)、黄杆菌纲(Flavobacteriia)、α-变形菌纲(Alphaproteobacteria),优势细菌目为黄杆菌目(Flavobacteriales)、硫发菌目(Thiotrichales)、红细菌目(Rhodobacterales)、交替单胞菌目(Alteromonadales)、弧菌目(Vibrionales),优势细菌科为黄杆菌科(Flavobacteriaceae)、硫发菌科(Thiotrichaceae)、红细菌科(Rhodobacteraceae)、弧菌科(Vibrionaceae)、交替假单胞菌科(Pseudoalteromonadaceae)。患病的和健康的循环水养殖水体细菌群落种类组成相似度高,细菌群落多样性指数无较大差异,在同一分类水平上各细菌群落丰度占比差异显著;二者核心微生物(属)的差异明显,健康的循环水养殖水体核心细菌群落以Polaribacter属为主;患病的循环水养殖水体核心细菌群落以弧菌科的发光杆菌属(Photobacterium)和弧菌属(Vibrio)为主,而发光杆菌属和弧菌属的多数种类属于病原菌或条件致病菌。双斑东方鲀患病(溃疡症)与养殖水体细菌群落的弧菌属丰度占比高有关。该研究结果对双斑东方鲀循环水养殖细菌性病害的监测、预警、诊断及管理控制具有重要的意义。     

凡纳滨对虾淡化养殖池塘浮游细菌群落时空变化及其对理化因子的响应

浮游细菌调控是对虾养殖水体环境控制策略的核心内容,探究浮游细菌群落构建的一般规律,可进一步推动对虾养殖水体水质调控技术的研究。运用16S rRNA高通量测序技术,对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)淡化养殖池塘进行了12次周际调查。结果显示,48个样品共获得2 854个操作分类单元(Operational taxonomic units, OTU,97%相似性),序列比对发现古细菌2门1纲1科1属,细菌30门59纲98目199科433属,其中优势菌群25属。优势菌群在组成上有较高的相似性,但各池优势菌群在分布和相对丰度变动上有较大差异。各池系统发育多样性指数总平均值为77.57,变幅为24.39～111.65;香农多样性指数总平均值为3.96,变幅为2.64～5.06;物种丰富度指数总平均值为716,变幅为229～1 054。非度量多维标度分析(Non-metric multidimensional scaling, NMDS)表明各池塘浮游细菌群落在养殖初期差异较大,中、后期差异减小,冗余分析(Redundancy analysis, RDA)显示活性磷、碱度、溶...     

夏季环鄱阳湖区典型养殖水体富营养化特征与评价

为了解环鄱阳湖区典型养殖水体夏季富营养化状况,于2014年7月和8月对环鄱阳湖区48个标准化精养池塘水体的物理化学指标及浮游生物群落多样性进行随机调查分析,结果表明:在气温较高的夏季,总氮污染以泥鳅(Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)养殖水体最为严重,总磷污染最严重的水体主要养殖中华鳖(Trionyx sinensis),高锰酸盐指数与Chl-a含量均以泥鳅养殖水体最高;所调查的精养池塘水体中共鉴定出浮游植物8门10纲16目40科61属95种,各养殖水体中均以蓝藻门(Cyanophyta)为最优势种群,硅藻门(Bacillariophyta)、绿藻门(Chlorophyta)为次优势种群;不同养殖水体中浮游植物密度与生物量变化范围分别为(5.53～63.98)×10~6 cells/L和9.24～55.04 mg/L,其中中华鳖养殖水体中浮游植物密度最大,而泥鳅养殖的浮游植物生物量最高;不同养殖类型水体浮游植物的Margalef丰富度指数变化范围为1.12～2.78,Shannon-Weaver多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数普遍偏低,且以铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)为单一优势种,其中中华鳖养殖水体中浮游植物群落结构最为简单、不均匀;评价结果表明环鄱阳湖典型养殖水体已经达到严重富营养化程度,且处于重度污染水平;除此之外,随着水体中各类污染物质浓度升高,浮游植物群落丰富度随之下降,浮游植物群落结构将趋于简单和不均匀,从而出现单优物种。     

不同管理方式下秋季刺参养殖环境中菌群结构分析

2017年11月(秋季),在辽宁省大连市青堆子海域(N39.78°,E123.32°)的自然纳潮、微孔曝气和养水机调水3种管理方式的矩形海参(Apostichopus japonicus)养殖池塘中,按照《国家海洋调查规范》(GB/T12763)规定的方法采集水样和泥样,用高通量测序技术研究秋季不同水质调控方式下刺参养殖池塘水体和底泥中菌群群落结构特征。试验池塘面积为5.1 hm²,南深北浅,泥沙池底,实验期间各池塘不投饵和药。结果显示:三种池塘的底泥菌群多样性要高于水体中;养水机池塘水体中的菌群多样性高于其他两种池塘,微孔曝气池塘底泥中菌群多样性最高。水样和泥样中第一优势菌门都是变形菌门(Proteobacteria);次优势菌门有所不同,养水机、微孔曝气和自然纳潮池塘中,水样和泥样分别为:厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和绿湾菌门(Chloroflexi)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)。三种池塘内优势菌群群落构成相同,但其各自门、纲和属的...     

光合细菌对水产养殖环境细菌群落结构的影响

为了解光合细菌(Photosynthetic bacteria)在水产养殖应用中的作用机制,采用PCR-DGGE技术研究不同浓度光合细菌对养殖水体和底泥两个微环境细菌群落的影响。结果显示:水样菌群和底泥菌群有显著差异,各聚为一簇,水样菌群多样性比底泥丰富且波动性更大,泥样菌群则相对稳定,受外源菌群影响较小;添加光合细菌可显著增加水体菌群多样性,促使SAR11族未培养α-变形菌等固有菌群数量增加,从而影响水样菌群结构;同一阶段不同处理水样菌群多聚在一起,显示出较高结构相似性,不同处理并未造成组间菌群结构明显差异;光合细菌投加12 d后出现浓度减少。鉴定分析发现水样中46个菌群归属21个属,底泥11个菌群归属6个属,其中水样和底泥共同含有3个属,水样和底泥菌群主要隶属于蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌纲(Bacteroidetes)和绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)。     

两种三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)养殖塘中浮游细菌的季节变化

结合基于细菌16S rRNA基因的T-RFLP技术与克隆测序技术,对象山港三疣梭子蟹、脊尾白虾混养模式下改良塘M1(塘底铺网四周铺砂)以及传统塘M2(土塘)水体不同季节细菌群落结构和多样性进行分析。结果显示,M1、M2养殖塘水体细菌群落主要由变形纲门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria)组成。养殖过程中,细菌群落结构随时间发生了显著变化,不同养殖塘水体细菌群落结构变化的方向不同。M1养殖塘水体由放线菌门主导的群落结构向蓝藻菌门以及变形菌门主导的群落结构发展,M2养殖水体由蓝藻菌门主导的向变形纲门主导的群落结构发展,说明养殖后期改良塘水体有利于蓝藻细菌的生长。无论是M1还是M2,拟杆菌门在8-9月含量最高,且养殖过程中在M2水体的含量始终高于M1。随着养殖时间的推移,M1养殖塘水体细菌群落由多样性指数高的稳定性结构向多样性指数低的不稳定性结构转变,而M2水体养殖后期仍保持较高的多样性指数。PCA分析结果显示,M1养殖塘水体细菌群落差异性大于M2,说明M2水体细菌群落对环境变化的抵御能力大于M1。相关性分析结果显示,不同养殖塘水体细菌群落分布受环境的影响效应不同。     

基于宏基因组学的中华绒螯蟹养殖池塘水体微生物群落结构和功能组成分析

养殖水体中的微生物群落结构及功能组成对养殖生态系统具有重要作用。为了全面系统评估中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)养殖中后期水体微生物群落结构和功能组成,于2022年6―10月逐月监测上海市崇明区中华绒螯蟹养殖池塘内水质指标,同时基于宏基因组学技术分析了养殖期内水体中微生物物种组成及功能结构特征,并探讨了二者与环境因子的关系。结果显示,该养殖池塘在养殖中后期主要超标水质指标为pH、高锰酸盐指数、总磷和总氮。在养殖期水体中,6―8月的微生物群落多样性以及7―8月的微生物群落丰富度处于较高水平,优势门为细菌中的变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)、蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)和病毒中的尾噬菌体门(Uroviricota),而在属水平上,丰度占比前10的优势属在多组之间均存在显著差异,如7月蓝藻门微囊藻属(Microcystis)细菌和8―10月的有尾噬菌体目(unclassified_o_Caudovirales)病毒丰度明显高于其他月份。微生物的主要功能为代谢功能包括能量代谢、全局和概览图、氨基酸代谢等,不同月份的功能组成存在显著差异,尤其是6―7月代谢途径丰度明显高于8―10月,而优势细菌变形菌门、放线菌门和拟杆菌门是上述功能的主要贡献者。环境因子对微生物群落结构和功能组成的影响趋势一致,叶绿素a和pH是影响最显著的环境因子,溶解氧、总磷的影响作用稍弱。在养殖水体中,丰度占比较大的致病菌为肠道沙门氏菌(Salmonella enterica)、爱德华氏菌(Edwardsiella ictaluri)和金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)。研究结果可为中华绒螯蟹养殖池塘水体微生物群落结构和功能组成研究提供基础数据,并可为养殖水质调控及生态系统构建提供理论依据。     

凡纳滨对虾养殖环境及肠道微生物群落特征分析

为探究凡纳滨对虾养殖过程中其肠道和养殖环境微生物群落的结构及变化,本实验采用Illumina MiSeq测序平台,基于16S rRNA基因的测序结果,对46和86 d虾龄的凡纳滨对虾肠道以及养殖水样、底泥中的微生物群落进行分析。结果显示,86 d时微生物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数显著高于46 d,水样中的Shannon-Wiener指数显著低于底泥和凡纳滨对虾肠道;有35个门、70个纲、152个目、274个科以及420个属在水样、底泥和虾肠道中均能检测到,其中虾肠道和底泥间共有菌类较水样中更多。微生物群落随养殖时间增加发生变化,46与86 d的差异性门类为放线菌门、绿菌门、丝状杆菌门、浮霉状菌门和TM6,相对丰度随时间增加而增高。水样、底泥和虾肠道中有相对固定的优势菌群,在水样、底泥和虾肠道中主要的门类均为变形菌门、拟杆菌门和放线菌门,优势纲类为α变形菌纲、β变形菌纲以及放线菌纲,除此以外,虾肠道与底泥共有的优势纲为δ变形菌纲、γ变形菌纲以及芽单胞菌纲;从目、科、属的分类水平上看,水样、底泥和虾肠道中菌类相对丰度各异,鲜有明显重叠的优势菌类,在水样、底泥和虾肠道中均为一种未分类的属占优势地位,水样中优势属为hgcI_clade,底泥和虾肠道中优势属为Ambiguous_taxa。研究结果进一步解释了虾肠道和环境微生物群落结构之间的相关性以及随虾龄增长呈现的差异性。     

温度对拟穴青蟹循环水养殖系统微生物群落结构的影响

为探究温度对拟穴青蟹(Scylla paramamosain)循环养殖水体中微生物群落的影响,深入理解环境因子与养殖水体微生物群落之间的相关性。在水温分别为18℃、22℃、26℃、30℃和32℃的循环养殖系统中进行拟穴青蟹养殖,采用16S rRNA高通量测序技术对不同温度下的养殖水体微生物群落组成进行分析。结果表明:(1) Alpha多样性指数显示5组水样中细菌群落多样性指数大小为t26t22t30t32t18,物种丰度大小为t22t26t32t30t18。温度可以导致养殖水体中微生物群落多样性发生变化,但并未发现二者之间直接的相关性。(2) 5种温度下的养殖系统中细菌群落共有31门、43纲、94目、185科和351属,变形菌门(Proteobacteria)为循环养殖水体中绝对优势菌门。在养殖系统水温为26℃时,养殖水体中氮磷污染物含量相对较高,其水中脱氮除磷菌属的相对丰度也显著高于其他4组。(3)由花瓣图和UPGMA聚类分析图进行相似性分析可知,水体微生物群落对温度的变化有着良好的响应, 5组水样的细菌群落结构总体相似性较低,其中最高温度32℃和最低温度18℃的水体中细菌群落结构最为相似。(4)水体中微生物群落结构和与环境因子的相关性分析显示,氮磷营养盐中的总磷(TP)和硝酸盐(NO3–-N)对水中微生物群落特征具有显著性影响,而温度是导致养殖水体中氮磷营养盐差异化的主要原因。上述研究结果初步解释了温度对拟穴青蟹循环养殖水微生物群落的作用机制,为下一步深入研究拟穴青蟹循环水养殖系统中环境变化与微生物的相互关系提供参考。     

添加芽孢杆菌对池塘中理化因子和细菌群落结构的影响分析

为研究添加芽孢杆菌对池塘水体理化因子和细菌群落结构的影响,采用高通量测序技术分析了实验组(添加芽孢杆菌池塘)与对照组(普通池塘)水体和底泥细菌群落结构,同时分析了两种池塘水体和底泥的理化指标。结果显示,8、9月实验组池塘水体中TN、NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量显著低于对照组,底泥中的NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N、TN和TP含量显著高于对照组。实验组池塘水体中发酵单胞菌属(Zymomonas)、玫瑰单胞菌(Roseomonas)、脱氯单胞菌(Dechloromonas)和噬几丁质菌属(Chitinophaga)细菌丰度显著高于对照组。在这些细菌群落中,脱氯单胞菌、噬几丁质菌属有去除硝酸盐的作用,发酵单胞菌属、玫瑰单胞菌具有脱氮的功能。实验组池塘水体Chao1指数和Shannon指数显著高于对照组。水体中优势细菌群落中的噬氢菌属(Hydrogenophaga)、Geothermobacter、Haliscomenobacter与硝酸盐、总磷呈负相关性,与氨氮、总氮呈正相关性。研究表明,通过向池塘添加芽孢杆菌,可以改变水体中细菌群落的结构,从而实现对池塘理化因素的调节。研究结果为降低水产养殖尾水对水域环境的污染具有一定的借鉴意义。     

Rare serotype occurrence and PFGE genotypic diversity of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from tilapia in China

Previously, we reported 10 PEGE types of 85 tilapia Streptococcus agalactiae(GBS), which shifted from Streptococcus iniae in China, by using PEGE method. Presently, larger and more representative tilapia GBS were isolated, for the ?rst time in China, to characterize their serotypes and genetic diversities more precisely than had done before. 168 GBS strains were distributed in ?ve provinces of China, in which Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan were the major ones, holding36.9%(62/168), 37.5%(63/168) and 19.6%(33/168), respectively. Serotypes, Ia, Ib and III, were observed in these strains and the most predominant one was Ia(95.2%), which mainly distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan. Ia initially occurred in 2009, it shoot up to 32.1% in 2010,but decreased to 16.1% in 2011 before went up to 45.2% in 2012. Ib sporadically occurred during2007–2011, III onlyoccurred in 2012. 14 different PFGE types, including 4 new types(N, O,P and Q), were observed, in which B, D, F and G were the predominant types, holding 83.9%(141/168) of the total GBS strains. Ia corresponded to 11 PFGE types(A–H, N–P), in which type D predominated(51%). Ib represented 3 genotypes(I, J and Q) and III harbored only 2genotypes(N and F). Type N and Fsynchronously presented in Ia and III. In summary, the genetic diversity of tilapia GBS varied by serotypes and changed with geographical locations and years.Although Iastillpredominated, new rareserotypeIII alreadyoccurred in China.     

Growth hormone (GH) and reproduction: a review

Interaction between growth and reproduction occurs in many vertebrates and is particularly obvious at certain stages of the life cycle in fish. Endocrine interactions between the gonadotropic axis and the somatotropic axis are described, the potential role of GH being emphasised. A comparative analysis of these phenomena in mammals, amphibians and fish, suggests a specific role of GH in the physiology of puberty, gametogenesis and fertility. It also shows the original contribution made by studies on the fish model in this field of investigations.     

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.     

Controlled infection of Poecilia reticulata Peters (guppy) with Tetrahymena by immersion and intraperitoneal injection

Tetrahymena is a protozoan parasite, which infects guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters, and causes substantial economical losses in commercial farms worldwide. Studies of guppy infected by Tetrahymena require standardized infection protocols. The LD50 for Tetrahymena infection of guppies by intraperitoneal (IP) injection was calibrated, and the level obtained was 946 parasites per fish. Guppy infection with Tetrahymena by immersion, imitating the natural route of infection via the integument, was studied under normal or stress conditions. Exposure to cold and netting (CNI) and to cold only (CI) followed by immersion exposure to 10 000 Tetrahymena per mL resulted in 22.5% and 19.2% mortality, respectively, as compared to 14.2% and 10% in groups that were netted only (NI) or non‐stressed (I). Histopathology revealed that immersion infection resulted in a systemic infection. Lysozyme levels, measured 3 weeks after infection, were significantly higher in the CNI group (288 μg per mg protein) compared with CI‐, NI‐ and I‐treated groups (94.5, 64 and 62.3 μg mg^?1, respectively). There was no evident parasite immobilization activity in body homogenates, suggesting no development of acquired immunity. Re‐infection by IP injection revealed no increase in protection in any of the treatment groups, mortality range of 56.3–75%, higher than in the non‐exposed control (40.6% mortality).     

Evaluation of a Fast Method Based on the Presence of Two Restriction Sites in the Mitochondrial ND5 (mt ND5) Gene for the Identification of Scomber Species

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the suitability of a method based on the presence of two restriction sites (for Hae III and Hindf I) in the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (mt ND5) gene to identify Scomber species. The evaluation was performed on 144 reference and market samples by sequencing of the entire 505-bp fragment of the mt ND5 gene and of a 464-bp fragment of the Kocher fragment of the cytochrome b gene (mt Cytb). Sequence analysis of any of the two fragments allows the identification of each of the four Scomber species, but S. japonicus and S. colias had the same restriction sites at the ND5 amplicon and would not have been differentiated by this analysis. Similarly, loss of the Hae III site in some S. scombrus individuals would have misidentified them as not being Scomber. All the market products were correctly labeled except one acquired in Spain labeled as originating in the Atlantic and containing S. japonicus.     

Imported ornamental fish are colonized with antibiotic‐resistant bacteria

There has been growing concern about the overuse of antibiotics in the ornamental fish industry and its possible effect on the increasing drug resistance in both commensal and pathogenic organisms in these fish. The aim of this study was to carry out an assessment of the diversity of bacteria, including pathogens, in ornamental fish species imported into North America and to assess their antibiotic resistance. Kidney samples were collected from 32 freshwater ornamental fish of various species, which arrived to an importing facility in Portland, Oregon from Colombia, Singapore and Florida. Sixty‐four unique bacterial colonies were isolated and identified by PCR using bacterial 16S primers and DNA sequencing. Multiple isolates were identified as bacteria with potential to cause disease in both fish and humans. The antibiotic resistance profile of each isolate was performed for nine different antibiotics. Among them, cefotaxime (16% resistance among isolates) was the antibiotic associated with more activity, while the least active was tetracycline (77% resistant). Knowing information about the diversity of bacteria in imported ornamental fish, as well as the resistance profiles for the bacteria will be useful in more effectively treating clinical infected fish, and also potential zoonoses in the future.     

Effect of iodophor disinfection of non‐hardened Salmo trutta eggs on their bacterial and fungus load

This study investigated the efficiency of iodophor disinfection (135 ppm active iodine for 15–30 min) of non‐hardened Salmo trutta eggs against different groups of bacteria and against fungus. Egg samples were taken from non‐disinfected and from disinfected eggs, microorganisms were cultured on specific nutrient media and their mass was measured by turbidimetric methods. Bacteria and fungus mass of non‐hardened eggs could be reduced but not eliminated by iodophor disinfection with 135 ppm active iodine for 15 min. The extent of reduction was 47–65% (Experiment 1). The efficiency of disinfection increased with disinfection time as the reduction in bacteria and fungus mass was 40–55% after 15 min and 58–74% after 30 min (Experiment 2). Disinfection efficiency of iodophor solution diluted in water (reduction 49–57%) and of iodophor solution diluted in sodium chloride solution iso‐osmolar to the oocytes (reduction 52–61%) was similar (Experiment 3). The reduction in bacteria and fungus mass was persistent as it was 39–72% lower in embryos deriving from disinfected eggs than in embryos deriving from non‐disinfected ones (Experiment 4). In conclusion, the tested disinfection method is inadequate to eliminate pathogens completely but it could positively influence immune defence of eggs and embryos.     

Nitrogenous waste excretion and accumulation of urea and ammonia inChalcalburnus tarichi (Cyprinidae), endemic to the extremely alkaline Lake Van (Eastern Turkey)

The endemic, anadromous cyprinidChalcalburnus tarichi is the only fish species known to occur in alkaline Lake Van (Eastern Anatolia, Turkey). EightC. tarichi were maintained individually in Lake Van water (17 – 19°C; pH 9.8; 153 mEq·I^–1 total alkalinity; 22 total salinity) and tank water samples analyzed for 24 h in 2 to 4 h intervals. At zero time, < 1µM ammonia was present and urea was undetectable in the tank water; at 24 h, total ammonia and urea made up 114±32 and 35±25µM, respectively. Over the experimental period, ammonia-N and urea-N excretion averaged 1041±494 and 607±169moles·kg^–1 fish·h^–1, respectively. The extent of urea excretion was highly variable between specimens. Uric acid excretion was not detectable.Urea was present at high concentrations in all tissues and plasma (25 – 35moles·g^–1·ml^–1) of freshly caughtC. tarichi; total ammonia content of the tissues was by a factor of 1.9 (liver) to 3.0 (brain) lower. High arginase activity (2.4±0.2 U·min^–1·g^–1) was detected in the liver ofC. tarichi but ornithine carbamoylphosphate transferase, a key enzyme of the ornithine-urea-cycle, was absent. Ureagenesis is likely through degradation of arginine and/or uricolysis. High glutamine synthetase activity (11±0.6 U·min^–1·g^–1) and low ammonia content in brain suggest that, like other teleosts,C. tarichi has an efficient ammonia detoxification in the brain, but in no other tissue.Nitrogenous waste excretion at alkaline pH is discussed. The ability ofC. tarichi to excrete high levels of ammonia at extremely alkaline pH is unique among teleosts studied so far. The mechanism of ammonia excretion under Lake Van conditions remains to be elucidated.