Bacteria associated with early life stages of halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus L., inhibit growth of a pathogenic Vibrio sp.

Abstract Bacteria capable of inhibiting growth of a pathogenic Vibrio sp. were isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of cultured halibut larvae during the first feeding and weaning stages. No such bacteria were found among isolates from the surface of eggs or the gastrointestinal tract of yolk sac larvae. The fraction of pathogen-inhibitors among the total number of isolates ranged between 0–100% (first feeding) and 0–66% (weaning). All pathogen-inhibitors were Gram-negative rods, and 95% were oxidase and catalase positive fermentative isolates, capable of producing acid aerobically from a varying range of carbohydrates. These isolates possessed the characteristics of the Vibrio/Aeromonas -group, but only 19% were sensitive to the vibriostatic agent 0/129. Isolates from eggs and yolk sac larvae were dominated by bacteria belonging to the Cytophaga/Flexibacter/Flavobacterium - group. The high fraction of isolates with the ability to inhibit growth of the pathogenic Vibrio sp. among the total number of isolates indicates that pathogen inhibition may be an important mutualistic role of the intestinal flora of early life stages of halibut.     

Brain myxoboliasis of bullhead,Cottus gobio L., due to Myxobolus jiroveci sp. nov.: light and electron microscope observations*

Abstract A new myxosporean, Myxobolus jiroveci sp. nov. has been found to infect the brain of bullhead, Cottus gobio L., in several localities in Czechoslovakia and England. Trophozoites, up to about 200 μm in size, were encountered in various regions of the brain where they occupied the space within the distended myelin sheath of the axons. Trophozoites provoke local compression and atrophy of the neighbouring nervous tissue. Host reaction — mostly glial cell proliferation, less often perivascular lymphocytic infiltration — can be associated with heavy infections. The sporoplasmosomes, spherical, double membrane-bound dense bodies in the sporoplasm of mature spores, are described and compared with similar bodies of other myxosporeans and with the haplosporosomes found in representatives of the phylum Haplosporea.     

Notes on kidney-infecting species of the genus Sphaerospora Thélohan (Myxosporea), including a new species S. gobionis sp.nov., and on myxosporean life cycle stages in the blood of some freshwater fish

Abstract Freshwater fish in Czechoslovakia were examined for species of the genus Sphaerospora Thélohan, 1892 and for myxosporean life cycle stages in the blood. In addition to perch infected with S. pectinacea Bocharova & Donets, 1974, renal tubules of seven host species harboured thus far unidentified Sphaerospora species. A new species, S. gobionis sp.nov. is described from renal tubules of Gobio gobio. In populations of Gobio gobio, Tinea tinea and Rutilus rutilus harbouring infections with different Sphaerospora species, organisms identified as mobile myxosporean life cycle stages were detected in the blood, where they undergo a proliferative cycle. These organisms were reminiscent of stages in the blood of common carp fingerlings, supposedly identical with Sphaerospora renicola Dyková & Lorn. It is possible that the blood stages found in the three cyprinid hosts represent stages of the life cycle of their respective Sphaerospora species. If this is correct, further studies may show if the presence of proliferative stages in the bloodstream is a character distinctive of the genus Sphaerospora.     

Eimeria branchiphila sp.nov. sporulating in the gill filaments of roach, Rutilus rutilus L.

Abstract. Eimeria branchiphila sp. nov. is described from the roach, Rutilus rutilus L., collected in Bulgaria. Sporulated oocysts were found in gill secondary lamellae and less frequently were associated with melano-macrophage centres in the spleen and in kidney interstitial tissue. In the gills, parasite cells identified as zygotes and sporulation stages were also encountered. This unusual site of sporulation represents a mechanism of sporocyst dispersal previously not recorded in fish coccidia.     

Management by life cycle of wolffish, Anarhichas lupus L., a new species for cold-water aquaculture: a technical paper

Interest in the cultivation of wolffish arose in recent years due to their high-quality meat and fast growth in captivity. In wolffish, an almost juvenile organism, more than 20 mm long, hatches from the egg and can be fed dry pellets just after that. This makes the technology for wolffish breeding much simpler than for other marine fishes, even salmonids. This paper is devoted to common wolffish. Anarhichas lupus L., as the captive breeding of this species has been studied most completely. Experience with broodstock management, insemination, incubation of eggs, start feeding, and growth of rearing juveniles until maturation is described, based mainly on investigations made in Norway and in the Russian Federation. The conditions for obtaining maximum production in the shortest time are assessed. Prospects for using wolffish in aquaculture are briefly discussed.     

人工感染的刺激隐核虫各期虫体的超微结构

从天然感染的卵圆鲳鲹（Trachiruotus blochii）分离到1株刺激隐核虫（Cryptocaryon irritans）,再经人工感染的方法收集各期虫体,制成电镜样品,对虫体进行超微结构研究。刺激隐核虫质膜的基本结构与淡水的多子小瓜虫的质膜相似,分为3层;外限制膜、外胞膜和内胞膜。刺激隐核虫的质膜小泡内充满大量电子致密物质（EDM）。幼虫、幼体和滋养体均具有复杂的口器,由胞咽、口肋、双动基体口纤毛和线带等组成,但不具备膜口类纤毛虫所具有的独特的细胞器：Lieberkuhn氏器。单动基体的体纤毛存在于幼虫、幼体和滋养体,但在包囊期,体纤毛和口器消失。各期虫体的胞质中具有线粒体、高尔基体和脂肪体等细胞器,有的阶段具有粘液囊、伸缩泡、食物泡、共生细菌等。粘液囊在大小、形态和分布上与多子小瓜虫的不同。文中分析了刺激隐核虫在形态上与多子小瓜虫的诸多差异,认为刺激隐核虫的分类更适合归于原口类（Promotome）,而不是膜口类（Ophryoglenina）。     

Growth of Artemia franciscana fed Isochrysis sp. and Chaetoceros muelleri during its early life stages

Survival, growth (length and weight), development, proximate composition, and energy content of Artemia franciscana fed for 7 days with Isochrysis sp. (TISO) or with Chaetoceros muelleri (CHGRA) were compared to evaluate the food value of these microalgae. Mean daily survival was not significantly different, and ranged from 86% to 93%. Diet‐related differences in growth were noted from the third day, and mean final dry weights (DWs) were 171 and 327 μg ind^?1 for Artemia fed TISO and CHGRA respectively. Rates of development were different between diets, with a higher developmental index for Artemia fed TISO before day 3, and a higher index for Artemia fed CHGRA for the rest of the experiment. Chemical analysis showed that carbohydrates decreased to approximately 35% of the initial value in Artemia during the first 24 h, after which they remained approximately stable and similar with both diets. In percentage of total DW, lipids and proteins remained close to their respective initial values, but A. franciscana fed TISO had a higher ash content. A major difference between the two microalgae was the higher protein content of TISO, but this did not result in better growth. Of the two, TISO was richer in docosahexaenoic acid, which might explain the initial faster development, but CHGRA was a better source of eicosapentaenoic acid, which is the most probable explanation of the higher food conversion index, specific growth rate, and energy gain of A. franciscana fed this algae.     

Movement of adult edible crab (Cancer pagurus L.) at the Swedish West Coast by mark-recapture and acoustic tracking

Movements of the edible crab Cancer pagurus were investigated from mark-recaptures in the Skagerrak and Kattegat. Crabs were released in 1968–1973 and in 2003 from six main areas along the Swedish west coast, and from one offshore bank in the Kattegat. Recaptures were reported for up to 7 years after the release. Sex-specific differences in migration were found: females migrated significantly longer distances than males, and higher proportions of males stayed within the area of release (60 and 48% of males versus 28 and 19% of females) were recaptured within 1 km of the release site: initial and recent mark-recapture studies, respectively. The movement direction varied with sampling location, however females tended to move in a net southerly direction. The range of mean rates of movement within the first month were 325–345 m d⁻¹ for females and 202–299 m d⁻¹ for males. Over longer time periods mean rates of movement were significantly lower. There was no significant impact of size class on the distance migrated. Short-term (2 months) movements of nine male edible crabs were studied with acoustic transmitters and active tracking. The movement pattern varied among individuals: some stayed in the same area for weeks whereas some made regular movements every day during the tracking period. The difference in migration pattern of females and males, and the largely southward migration of females is consistent with the hypothesis that the migration is related to reproduction. By moving to the south to release their larvae, females may compensate for larval dispersion in the northbound current along the Swedish west coast. The observed migration pattern indicates advisable management options in Sweden for this commercially fished species: protection of areas with high proportion of egg-bearing females from fishing, especially in the Kattegat. Significantly, local management only on a small spatial scale is not recommended as the resource is seasonally shared, if not the effect on the crab population is monitored.     

Spinal curvatures and an encephalotropic myxosporean, Triangula percae sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Ortholineidae), enzootic in redfin perch, Perca fluviatilis L., in Australia

Abstract. A new myxosporean, Triangula percae sp. nov., (Myxozoa: Ortholineidae) from the brain of redfin perch, Perca fluviatilis L., is described. Spinal curvatures are prevalent in many perch populations in Victoria, Australia, Triangula percae infection was detected in all perch displaying spinal curvatures and in 67% of normal perch from Lake Nillahcootie in north east Victoria. Perch populations exhibiting spinal curvatures in several other waterways were also infected with Triangula percae but the infection was absent in one population which was apparently normal. Triangula percae infection is, thus, considered to be the cause of a proportion of the spinal curvatures. Certain fish surviving outbreaks of epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) also developed spinal curvatures, which may have been due to viral infection of the central nervous system.     

Distribution of X-cell disease in common dab, Limanda limanda L., in the North Sea, and ultrastructural observations of previously undescribed developmental stages

Abstract. The distribution and prevalence of common dab, Limanda limanda L., affected with X-cell lesions was investigated at various localities around the British Isles. Extreme variability in the prevalence of affected gills was recorded in the Moray Firth (NE Scotland), where samples obtained from hauls taken in close proximity ranged from nil to 60% of the collected dab. The condition was not detected in dab from the Irish Sea, and was found only sporadically in samples in the southern North Sea and the northwest coast of Scotland, Areas of high prevalence are typically coastal or relatively shallow habitats. The patchy distribution of the disease throughout dab populations suggests that an infectious agent may be involved in its aetiology. A method is described for rapid, accurate screening of fish samples for X-cell disease, which utilizes the autofluorescence of the X-cell. Ultrastructural studies of lesions from external and internal organs in dab disclosed some previously undescribed features of X-cells. Stages of the X-cell development which occurred in'nests', and possibly preceded the commonly found X-cells, were found in gill lesions. Electron dense inclusions found in X-cells in the spleen and kidney were rod- or dumbbell-shaped structures and possibly represented secretory granules.     

Quantitative changes in a serum protein,AS, during the life cycle of the lamprey,Petromyzon marinus L.

The electrophoretically fastest migrating protein in ammocoete serum, AS protein, was isolated and found to be an acidic glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 140,000 Daltons. Purified AS was injected into rabbits to produce a monospecific antiserum that was used in rocket immunoelectrophoresis to quantitate AS at different periods in the life cycle. AS was found to constitute approximately 70% of total serum protein in the ammocoete, remained at about the same value during transformation, and was reduced to 38% of total serum protein in the juvenile adult. In both male and female upstream migrant animals, AS was less than 0.5% of total serum protein. When juveniles were acclimated to seawater over a 10 week period, it was found that their AS level was reduced by 92% to 3.8% of total serum protein. These results are discussed in relation to changes in other serum proteins at various intervals of the lamprey life cycle.     

Observations of Dermocystidium sp. infections in bullheads, Cottus gobio L., from a river in southern England

Bullheads, Cottus gobio, with macroscopic external cysts on the skin and fins measuring up to 3 mm in diameter were detected in the River Allen and its tributaries in southern England between 1992 and 1998. The prevalence of these cysts was up to 50% at some sites. Examination of cyst contents revealed the presence of numerous spores, typical of the genus Dermocystidium, measuring 8 microm in diameter. The parasite developed within well-defined cysts, which were located in the hypodermal connective tissues of the host. No cysts were present on the fins of any of the fish examined. Histological examination revealed a cyst wall consisting of an inner layer of dense eosinophilic material similar to that reported for Dermocystidium spp. forming coenocytic hyphae. No evidence was found of systemic infection or hyphal formation. Spores contained a prominent refractile body, which gave a weakly positive reaction for polysaccharides with the periodic-acid Schiff reaction and was positively stained with acidic dyes. Several examples of ruptured cysts were seen in histological sections and in some of these cases the host epithelial layer was breached, allowing release of the spores to the environment. Morphological features of, and host response towards, the Dermocystidium sp. in bullheads are compared with similar infections in salmonids and other freshwater fish species.     

A uniform method for cryopreservation of semen of the salmonid fishes Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), Salmo trutta f. fario L., Salmo trutta f. lacustris L., Coregonus sp.

The present study describes a uniform method for cryopreservation of semen of Salmonidae (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), Salmo trutta f. fario L., Salmo trutta f. lacustris L., Coregonus sp.). It presents a new type of extender and experiments demonstrating that warming of frozen/thawed semen to 20°C prior to fertilization significantly increases the fertilization rate. Freezing is performed in straws in the vapour of liquid nitrogen and for insemination a diluent technique is used. The consistency of the method was tested by repeating the experiments with different batches of semen and eggs. The following fertilization rates (% of control) were obtained: Oncorhynchus mykiss: 89.6 ± 16.0% (mean ± standard deviation, n= 25, n of control = 20, sperm/egg ratio of 1.6 ± 0.2 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/ egg). Salmo trutta f. fario: 93.8 ± 6.4% (n= 12,9.9 ± 1.2 × 10⁶spermatozoa/egg), Coregonus sp.: 92.8 ± 2.4% (n= 6, 0.5 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/egg), Salmo trutta f. lacustris: 85.0 ± 8.4% (n= 12, 4.8 ± 1.4 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/egg).     

An ultrastructural study of the cellular response of the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., to Rhipidocotyle johnstonei nom. nov. (pro-Gasterostomum sp. Johnstone, 1905) Matthews, 1968 (Digenea: Bucephalidae)

Abstract. An ultrastructural study of the cellular response of plaice to Rhipidocotyle johnstonei nom. nov. Matthews, 1968, revealed a chronic inflammatory lesion containing cells mainly of the mononuclear phagocyte series. The 'granuloma' included monocytes, macrophages, epithelioid cells and multinucleated cells with peripheral fibrocytes. The presence of small numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells in the mature granuloma suggests a cell-mediated response. The parasite becomes adult within two months and survives for approximately 10 months, the capsules becoming increasingly fibrotic. Heavy infections in young fish cause fin erosion, haemorrhage and probably impair muscle function, increasing the risk of predation.