A sandwich ELISA to detect VHSV and IPNV in turbot

The recent demonstration that reared turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L) is a natural host for salmonid rhabdoviruses has made their rapid detection relevant to these fish species. A unique protocol to select and use non-competitive monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) for two high-sensitivity sandwich ELISAs has been developed to detect both infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) in turbot kidney extracts to assess the possibility of using them in field diagnosis. For maximum sensitivity, turbot kidney extracts can be two-fold diluted with high-ionic strength buffers and assayed for the presence of the major viral proteins (VMS rhabdovirus nucleoprotein N/Nx and/or IPN birnavirus protein VP3). The use of control plates coated with irrelevant mouse antibodies (IgG1 and IgG2a) in parallel ELISAs allows for a precise estimation of possible false positives. Turbot kidney extracts with low levels of virus might now be assayed directly without using cell culture, with high precision and in a short time during the acute phase of these viral diseases in reared turbot.     

Growth and age at first maturity in turbot and halibut reared under different photoperiods

The effect of extended photoperiods on growth and age at first maturity was investigated in 166 (79 females and 87 males) individually tagged Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus and in 114 (50 females and 64 males) individually tagged turbot Scophthalmus maximus. The halibut were reared at 11 °C on four different light regimes from 10 February to 6 July 1996: simulated natural photoperiod, (LDN), continuous light (LD24:0), constant 8 h light and 16 h darkness (LD8:16) and LD8:16 switched to continuous light 4 May 1996 (LD8:16–24:0). From 6 July 1996 to 9 February 1998 the LD24:0 and LD8:16–24:0 were reared together under continuous light and the LDN and LD8:16 together under natural photoperiod. The turbot were reared at 16 °C on three different light regimes: constant light (LD24:0), 16 h light:8 h darkness (LD16:8), or simulated natural photoperiod (LDN). After 6 months on the different photoperiods, the turbot was reared together on LDN for approximately 12 months until first maturation. Juveniles subjected to continuous light (halibut) or extended photoperiods (halibut and turbot) exhibited faster growth than those experiencing a natural photoperiod or a constant short day. Moreover, when the photoperiod increased naturally with day-length or when fish were abruptly switched from being reared on short-day conditions to continuous light, a subsequent increase in growth rate was observed. This growth enhancing effect of extended photoperiods was more apparent on a short time scale in Atlantic halibut than in turbot, but both species show significant long-term effects of extended photoperiods in the form of enhanced growth. In both species lower maturation of males was seen in groups exposed to extended or continuous light compared to LDN and this could be used to reduce precocious maturation in males leading to overall increase in somatic growth. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Purification and characterization of stomach protease from the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

Proteolytic activity in the different parts of the digestive tract of the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) were studied in this work. One pure protease was isolated from turbot stomach and its behavior was studied. Results showed the optimum pH for proteases in the different parts of the digestive tract of the turbot were pH 2.0 for the stomach, pH 8.0 for the pylorus cecum, pH 8.0 for the foregut, pH 8.5 for the midgut, and pH 8.0 for the hindgut. The activity of proteases in the different parts of the digestive tract were in the sequence pylorus cecum protease > stomach protease > foregut protease > midgut protease > hindgut protease. The stomach protease was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose F.F. and Sephadex G-100. The purified enzyme gave a single band in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Its molecular weight was found to be approximately 42,000 Da. The enzyme is stable at pH 1.0–9.0 and at temperatures below 40°C. Its activity was maximum at pH 2.0 and 40°C. When reaction time was prolonged the optimum temperature of the enzyme tended to decline. The enzyme was activated by Mn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ and inactivated by Fe³⁺. It was fully inhibited by pepstatin and partially inhibited by PMSF, TPCK, PCMB, and NBS. These results imply the enzyme is a pepsin.     

Hypoosmoregulation of larvae of the turbot,Scophthalamus maximus: drinking and gut function in relation to environmental salinity

Measurement of blood osmolarity of pre-metamorphic turbot larvae demonstrated that hypoosmoregulation is well established in larvae 6 days post-hatch (121 degree-days) and older. Blood osmolarity of 121–420 degree-day larvae reared in 100% seawater was significantly greater than blood osmolarity of larvae reared in 50% seawater. Hypoosmoregulation involved drinking, but instantaneous drinking rates of 340 degree-day larvae reared in 100% seawater were only slightly more than those of similarly aged larvae reared in 50% seawater. Adaptation to environmental salinity involved changes in gut water absorption; 65–74% water absorption occurred in larvae reared in seawater compared to 30–35% water absorption in larvae reared in 50% seawater. Gastrointestinal water absorption occurred prior to the rectum. In seawater this occurred alongside a decrease in gut fluid osmolarity but desalting was apparently less significant than in adult fish. Absolute water absorption by the gut of 340 degree-day larvae reared in seawater was about 2-fold that of larvae held in 50% seawater, while the osmotic gradient between internal body fluids and environmental media differed by 4-fold, which implies changes the in water permeability of skin and/or developing gills.     

Microbially matured water: a technique for selection of a non-opportunistic bacterial flora in water that may improve performance of marine larvae

Before transfer to larval incubators, water was membrane filtered to remove >95% of the bacteria and then transiently maintained in a biofilter that promoted recolonization of the water by non-opportunistic bacteria. The process is termed microbial maturation of the water. Hypothetically the bacterial flora in the matured water should protect the marine larvae from colonization and proliferation by opportunistic bacteria. Testing of the hypothesis demonstrated 76% higher survival of yolk sac larvae of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in matured than in membrane filtered water. Proliferation of opportunistic bacteria was observed in the rearing water after hatching of turbot eggs (Scophthalmus maximus), but to a less extent in the microbially matured water. In the early phase of first feeding of turbot larvae, the matured water induced qualitative differences in the gut microflora. Significantly higher initial growth rate of the turbot larvae in the matured water affected 51% higher average weight of 13 days old larvae than in membrane filtered water. Algal addition to the matured water enhanced the larval growth further. The experiments conducted supported the proposed hypothesis that microbial maturation selects for non-opportunistic bacteria, which protects the marine larvae from proliferation of detrimental opportunistic bacteria.     

The physiological response of the turbot to multiple net confinements

The effects of multiple net confinements on the physiological stress response of the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) were investigated. To allow for repeated blood sampling from individuals, fish were cannulated in the afferent branchial artery and were exposed to multiple 9 min net confinement episodes separated by either 4 h or 24 h. In fish stressed twice 4 h apart cumulative effects in plasma cortisol, glucose and free fatty acid concentrations were evident after the second handling stress. Although plasma Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations were not increased further by the second net confinement, the elevation in plasma concentrations were more sustained compared to turbot handled only once. In a second experiment where turbot were net confined five times, with a 24 h recovery period between each net confinement episode, there was no evidence of any physiological accommodation with repeated exposures. For most circulatory parameters, there was also no evidence of any cumulative effect apparent. Plasma glucose concentrations were, however, elevated to a significantly higher degree with repeated net confinements. Although turbot were tolerant to the handling procedures, with no mortalities recorded, episodes of multiple handling of this species should be separated by at least 24 h if cumulative physiological disturbances are to be avoided. The significance of cumulative increases in plasma glucose concentrations is discussed. Present address: Aquaculture Associates International, The Firs, Glasshouse Hill, Codnor, Derbyshire, DE5 9QT, UK     

大菱鲆脂质代谢相关基因PPARs的组织表达及其对高温胁迫的响应

为研究大菱鲆过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体家族(PPARs)的组织分布和高温胁迫下PPARs在肾脏中的表达情况。实验采用荧光定量PCR(qPCR)技术检测PPARs基因3种亚型在大菱鲆不同组织中的表达情况以及高温胁迫下大菱鲆肾脏中PPARs的表达情况。qPCR结果显示,大菱鲆PPARs 3种亚型的组织分布存在显著差异。PPARα1和PPARα2在心脏中的表达量显著高于其他组织;PPARβ在大菱鲆的各个组织中普遍表达;PPARγ在大菱鲆的鳃中出现了显著性的高表达。大菱鲆肾脏中PPARs的mRNA水平随着温度升高呈现出不同的响应模式。PPARα随温度升高表达水平先显著降低,后有所升高;PPARβ的表达量在14、20、23和25℃时差异不显著,当温度升高至大菱鲆的致死温度28℃时,表达量出现了显著性的升高;PPARγ在14℃时表达水平很低,但随着温度的升高不断增加。研究表明,大菱鲆中存在PPARα、PPARβ和PPARγ3种亚型,而且三者可能以组织特异性的方式参与脂质代谢的调节,首次指出PPARs 3种亚型在温度胁迫中的表达变化,对PPARs的研究将推动鱼类脂代谢研究,揭示鱼类PPARs在脂质代...     

大菱鲆内脏结节病病原的分离与鉴定

2017年8月,天津市滨海新区某养殖场大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)发生病害,累计死亡率约为25%,患病鱼体表无明显症状。通过肉眼和病理组织切片观察发现,患病鱼肾脏、脾脏、肝脏和肠道存在大量圆形结节,肾脏、肝脏和脾脏组织病变明显,肾小管坏死,肝细胞脂肪变性,脾脏中存在大量的坏死细胞。此外,在脾脏和肾脏组织中发现大量的抗酸杆菌。利用传统病原菌分离方法,从具有典型症状的濒死大菱鲆肾脏组织分离到优势菌株myco-10,利用该菌株注射攻毒能导致健康大菱鲆66.7%的死亡率,且表现出与自然发病鱼相同的症状。采用16S rDNA、Hsp65、ropB基因序列分析,构建系统发育树并结合细菌形态特征、生理生化测试对菌株myco-10进行鉴定,结果显示,菌株myco-10的16SrDNA、Hsp65、ropB基因序列与分枝杆菌属细菌(Mycobacteriumspp.)相似度最高,且在系统发育树中与海分枝杆菌(Mycobacteriummarinum)和溃疡分枝杆菌(Mycobacteriumulcerans)聚为一簇,生理生化反应与海分枝杆菌一致。综合生理生化特征和基因序列分析结果,将菌株myco-10鉴定为海分枝杆菌。这是中国首例分枝杆菌引起大菱鲆病害的报道,可为大菱鲆内脏结节病的防治提供参考资料。     

Effects of acute temperature decreases on turbot fry and juveniles

Turbot fry (10–20 mm) and juveniles (85–110 mm) were transferred directly from 16.0–16.5 C to 1.0 C, 2.5 C, 5.5 C or 8.0 C seawater. The fry were more sensitive to cold water than juveniles. The fry survived for 1 week at 8.0 C but not at 5.5 C, whereas juveniles survived at 5.5 C but not at 2.5 C. Transfer of juveniles to 1.0 C and 2.5 C seawater caused a high mortality, a marked increase in plasma Cl^- concentration, decrease in muscle water content, and hyperglycaemia. Acclimation to 5.5 C (juveniles) or 8.0 C (fry and juveniles) markedly reduced the sensitivity to 1.0 C exposure.     

Effects of dietary water content on meal size, daily food intake, digestion and growth in turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.)

When fed once daily with wet squid, turbot (30–50 g) accustomed to dry pellets require many days to increase intake to meet their feed requirement (≈ 10 mg dry matter g⁻¹ bw meal⁻¹). Adaptation takes 1–2 days if several daily feedings are given. With dried squid, they ingest about 20% of the wet squid bulk because the stomach contents expand when moisturised. In contrast, turbot eat enough wet squid to fill most of the available stomach volume (≈ 7.6 mL 100 g⁻¹ bw). When presented in gelatine capsules, food water content is masked and does not affect the volume ingested. Moistening the contents shortens the delay before gastric emptying starts to one-third (0.6 h) compared with dry food (1.9 h). Daily dry-matter intake increased when dry contents were moistened but only if two or more meals were offered per day. Turbot adapt their digestion to supply water for dry diets but this may add extra metabolic costs. When offered 20 mg dry matter g bw⁻¹ day⁻¹, divided into four equal meals, turbot grew faster and more efficiently with moist than with dry squid. Protein, energy and dry-matter digestibilities were also enhanced. The increased daily protein absorption did not increase ammonia release, indicating that the extra protein was used for somatic growth.     

鳗弧菌O1/O2二价灭活疫苗免疫大菱鲆的抗体持续期和免疫保护期

本研究分析了鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)O1/O2血清型二价灭活疫苗免疫大菱鲆后的抗体持续期和免疫保护期。以鳗弧菌O1血清型VAM003株和O2血清型VAM007株为抗原制备了福尔马林灭活二价疫苗,将疫苗按照三种剂量(10~7 cells/尾、10~8 cells/尾、10~9 cells/尾)以腹腔注射途径免疫大菱鲆,在免疫后3 d、7 d、14 d、30 d、60 d、90 d、120 d、150 d,用血清凝集实验检测了免疫鱼血清的VAM003和VAM007抗体效价,用攻毒实验检测了疫苗的免疫保护率(RPS)。结果显示,在免疫后7 d三个剂量组的大菱鲆均产生了特异抗体,并获得27%～60%的RPS。三个剂量组大菱鲆的O1血清型抗体持续期分别90 d (10~7 cells/尾组)、150 d (10~8 cells/尾组)、150 d (10~9cells/尾组),而三个剂量组大菱鲆的O2血清型抗体持续期均150 d。三个剂量组的大菱鲆获得的免疫保护持续期均150 d;以RPS75%为有效免疫保护,各剂量组大菱鲆抵抗O1血清型病原感染的有效免疫保护期为:14～120d(10~7 cells组)、14～120 d (10~8 cells/尾)、14～150 d (10~9 cells/尾),抵抗O2血清型病原感染的有效免疫保护期为:14～60 d (10~7 cells组)、14～120 d (10~8 cells/尾)、14～120 d (10~9 cells/尾)。研究结果表明鳗弧菌二价灭活疫苗可为大菱鲆提供有效而稳定的免疫保护,获得的抗体持续期和免疫保护期为该疫苗的临床中试研究提供了基础。     

大菱鲆高温胁迫应答主效QTL候选基因的表达特性分析

为研究大菱鲆高温胁迫下相关应激基因的表达影响,采用Real-time PCR对本课题组已定位到的大菱鲆高温胁迫应答主效QTL中的4个候选基因(p53、UBE2H、ZNF469和MAGI2基因)在不同温度胁迫下的肝脏、鳃、脾脏、皮肤4个组织中的表达量进行检测。以大菱鲆正常生活水温14°C为对照组,20°C、23°C、25°C和28°C为实验组,进行数据分析。结果显示,4个基因在各个组织中均有表达,且表达量具有组织和温度特异性。其中UBE2H的表达量在4个组织中均呈现出先上升后下降的趋势,在肝脏、脾脏、皮肤组织中20°C时急剧上升并达到峰值且差异显著;在鳃组织中23°C时达峰值,差异显著。p53在4个组织中的表达量均有先上升后下降的趋势,但在鳃和皮肤组织中28°C时表达量急剧升高达到峰值且差异显著。ZNF469和MAGI2在4个组织中均在20°C时大量表达,并远高于其他温度。研究表明,在大菱鲆高温胁迫应答过程中p53基因与DNA修复和细胞凋亡密切相关,而UBE2H基因参与的泛素-蛋白酶体途径对p53基因具有反馈调节作用,是维持细胞稳态的关键基因;ZNF469和MAGI2在作为鱼类应答高温胁迫的生物标志物方面具有重要研究价值。     

Comparative composition and shelf-life of fillets of wild and cultured turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)

Turbot and Atlantic halibut are highly valued fish species. However,very little is known about fillet shelf-life characteristics associated withboth species. Thus, fillet -tocopherol content and proximate compositionof wild turbot (1.5 kg) and Atlantic halibut (1.1 kg)caught off the south coast of Ireland and the north-west coast of Iceland,respectively, were investigated. In addition, the susceptibility of fillets, storedunder retail conditions, to lipid oxidation and colour change was studied.Proximate composition analysis showed that turbot had significantly highermoisture (P < 0.001) and lower protein (P < 0.001) contents compared toAtlantic halibut. Atlantic halibut incorporated significantly higher (P <0.001) levels of -tocopherol into fillets than turbot. Over 14 days ofstorage on ice, fillets from Atlantic halibut exhibited significantly lower (P =0.020) levels of lipid oxidation than those of turbot. However, malondialdehyde(MDA) concentrations were generally very low, never exceeding 0.6 gg^–1 fillet. Turbot maintained a significantly higher (P< 0.001) pH over the storage period. The lightness (L^* values) offillets from both species increased over 14 days of storage, but wassignificantly higher (P < 0.001) in Atlantic halibut than in turbot. Turbotdeveloped a relatively intense yellow colour during storage (decrease in hueangle and increase in b^* values), whereas this was not the case forAtlantic halibut. The results of this study demonstrate that fillets of wildAtlantic halibut stored on ice, were less prone to lipid oxidation anddiscolouration than those of wild turbot. However, quality changes in turbotwere very small showing that both fish have tremendous shelf-life capacities interms of lipid oxidation. These findings are considered in the context of knownmaterial for farmed fish.     

Abnormal melanization and microstructural distortions of the shell of great scallop living in shallow water

Modifications of great scallop (Pecten moximus) shells have been noticed in many sites of scallop fisheries in Brittany, especially in shallow waters. These calcification abnormalities are linked to the appearance of a brown colouration of the internal calcified shell layer, due to the presence of a eumelanin associated with the insoluble organic matrix of the biocrystals. The appearance of this pigment generates many disturbances of the calcified foliated microstructure of the scallop internal shell layer. The mantle structure is not modified in brown shells as compared with white ones. No pathogenic signs such as hyperplasia or haemocytic infiltration have been observed. According to this observation, we hypothesize that the brown colour phenomenon is more a result of environmental disturbance rather than a symptom of a pathogenic disease.The colour abnormalities of the internal shell layer can be detected by a spectral analysis of its reflectance before it can be detected with the naked eye. This method, correlated to microstructural observations, gives a rapid and precise analysis of the appearance of the pigmentation on adult or juvenile scallops. It may be a useful method for the evaluation of the influence of environmental parameters, for example, on calcification and its abnormalities.     

Seasonal differences in effect of broodstock diet on spawning success in the great scallop

Great scallop (Pecten maximus L.) broodstock collected at two different seasons, spring (May) and winter (December), were given four different diets during conditioning. The spring group was spawned in late June, and the winter group in February.The highest number of veligers in the summer spawning (30 millions per 10broodstock), was produced using a diet consisting of 80% Tahitian Isochrysis galbana. In the winter spawning, broodstock given a dietconsisting of 80% diatoms (Skeletonema costatum/Chaetocerosgracilis) produced the highest number of veligers (29 millions per 10broodstock). Fecundity and the number of egg-releasing individuals were higher in the early summer spawning (June) than in the winter spawning (February), however, the total number of three days old veligers produced was nearly the same in the two seasons.     

Mortality control of scallop larvae in the hatchery

Larval mortalities occurring in molluscan hatcheries have often been associated with bacterial contamination, and more specifically with vibrios. Although batches of oyster and clam larvae have been routinely reared in the hatchery of Argenton (North Brittany, France) without antibiotics, high larval mortalities have been recorded with the great scallop, Pecten maximus, under similar conditions. For this species, an addition of antibiotics was found necessary and chloramphenicol was used at a concentration of 8 mg l^–1. However, this chemical has now been banned in Europe, making either substitution products or an improvement in the rearing procedures essential. Studies carried out have shown that neither a decrease in larval density (to 1 larva ml^–1) nor an increase in seawater change frequency (to one per day) had any positive effects. Furthermore, elective substances such as sugars were not suitable and the use of another antibiotic, erythromycin, led to inconsistent results. The only positive effects were obtained with lower levels of chloramphenicol, which does not resolve the problem. Because no alternative solutions have as yet been found, further research needs to be undertaken.     

Vitellogenin in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus): Induction of two forms by estradiol,quantification in plasma and characterization in oocyte extract

Two forms of vitellogenin were isolated by DEAE agarose ion-exchange chromatography from plasma of the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. The monomers have apparent molecular masses of 200 and 130 kDa, as indicated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and a total amount of phosphorus of 1.7 and 0.1%, respectively. Antibodies specific to the two forms, designated tVTG-200 and tVTG-130, were generated in rabbits and used to develop enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and in Western blot analyses of plasma and oocyte extract. SDS-PAGE of the oocyte extract showed a major protein band at 106.6, minor bands at 26.6, 24.2, and 23.7 kDa, and very faint bands at 83.4 and 17.5 kDa. Western blots of the oocyte extract revealed that the antiserum to tVTG-200 recognized strongly the protein bands at 24.2 and 23.7 kDa, and less strongly the bands at 25.1 and 22.6 kDa, whereas the antiserum to tVTG-130 recognized mainly the protein band at 106.6 kDa. The presence of both VTGs in untreated male tilapia was detected with the ELISAs using relatively high plasma volumes. Their presence in males was confirmed by VTG-like immunoreactive materials eluting from the ion-exchange column at the same positions as tVTG-200 and tVTG-130. The concentrations of the VTGs in males were several orders of magnitude lower than in vitellogenic females. Treatment of male tilapia with estradiol-17β (E₂) induced both VTGs within 24h. After 7 days, tVTG-130 reached a maximum concentration in plasma, whereas tVTG-200 continued to increase. Our findings demonstrate that the two vitellogenins are biochemically distinct, possibly differentially regulated, and made by both sexes.     

The use of leucaena leaf meal in feeding Nile tilapia

A 14 week experiment was carried out to study the effects of replacing three different levels (33%, 66%; and 100%;) of berseem leaf meal (BLM) by leucaena leaf meal (LLM) treated in four different ways (drying for 48 h at 60 C, autoclaved for 15 min, sprayed with 1% sodium hydroxide and incubated with rumen liquor for 24 h). Groups of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), fingerlings (5.07 g mean weight) were fed one of 13 isonitrogenous (30% crude protein) and isocaloric (19.67 kJ per g dry matter) diets, with two replicates (10 fish per aquarium) for each treatment. The results indicated that weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein utilization parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by the higher percentage of dried or cooked LLM in tilapia diets. On the other hand, the lowest growth performance and feed utilization parameters were observed in the groups fed LLM diets treated with sodium hydroxide or incubated with rumen liquor. Carcass protein and fat increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of LLM and simultaneously decreasing ash content.