Case studies of spinal deformities in ornamental koi,Cyprinus carpio L.

This is a study of vertebral deformities in ornamental koi based on computed radiography and skeletons cleaned by dermestid beetles (Dermestes maculatus). All koi developed gradual onset of swimming abnormalities as adults. Extensive intervertebral osteophyte formation correlated with age of fish and was associated with hindquarter paresis in one koi. Vertebral compression and fusion were the most common spinal deformities occurring at multiple sites, similar to findings in other farmed fish. Site‐specific spinal deformities were thought to develop due to differences in swimming behaviour and rates of vertebral growth. One koi had offspring with spinal deformities. Spinal deformities are significant problems in both European and Australian food fish hatcheries. The heritability of vertebral deformities in farmed fish is reportedly low unless there is concurrent poor husbandry or nutritional deficiencies. The specific aetiologies for vertebral deformities in koi in this study could not be ascertained. Current knowledge on spinal deformities in the better studied European food fish species suggests multifactorial aetiologies. Future research should include prospective longitudinal studies of larger numbers of koi from hatch and consideration of all potential risk factors such as husbandry, nutrition, temperature, photoperiod and genetics.     

Radiological examination of the spinal column in farmed rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum): experiments with Flavobacterium psychrophilum and oxytetracycline

Flavobacterium psychrophilum and oxytetracycline have both been associated with spinal deformities in salmonids. Experiments were carried out to investigate whether infection with F. psychrophilum or medication with oxytetracycline (OTC) at the fry stage would result in an increased occurrence of vertebral column deformities in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). Fish were on‐grown for 9 months and examined by radiology at the end of the experiments. There was a relationship between infection by F. psychrophilum and deformities of the spinal column, if fish with more than 10 affected vertebrae were classified as deformed. The deformities found among infected fish were often visible externally and were more severe than those seen among control fish (most deformities foun among controls were only seen on X‐ray photographs). Deformities were evenly spread along the vertebral column of infected fish. OTC treatments of up to 200 mg of OTC (kg fish)^?1 day^?1 for 10 days and repeated three times did not result in increased spinal deformities relative to untreated control groups; therefore, medication of rainbow trout with oxytetracycline did not cause deformities of the spinal column under our treatment conditions.     

我国鱼类近缘杂交研究及其在水产养殖上的应用

基因型不同的动物体间相互交配的过程称为杂交(hybridization)。杂交是被广泛采用的育种手段。杂交的主要目的在于获得杂种优势,并通过杂交选育新品种或新品系。根据杂交亲本的亲缘关系,杂交可分为远缘杂交(remote hybridization,distant hybridization)和近缘杂交(closehybrid     

Dietary fatty acids and inflammation in the vertebral column of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts: a possible link to spinal deformities

Vegetable oils (Vo) are an alternative to fish oil (Fo) in aquaculture feeds. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary soybean oil (Vo diet), rich in linoleic acid, and of dietary fish oil (Fo diet) on the development of spinal deformities under bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced chronic inflammation conditions in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Fish [25 g body weight (BW)] were fed the experimental diets for 99 days. On day 47 of feeding (40 g BW), fish were subjected to four experimental regimes: (i) intramuscular injections with LPS, (ii) sham‐injected phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), (iii) intraperitoneally injected commercial oil adjuvant vaccine, or (iv) no treatment. The fish continued under a common feeding regime in sea water for 165 more days. Body weight was temporarily higher in the Vo group than in the Fo group prior to immunization and was also affected by the type of immunization. At the end of the trial, no differences were seen between the dietary groups. The overall prevalence of spinal deformities was approximately 14% at the end of the experiment. The Vo diet affected vertebral shape but did not induce spinal deformities. In groups injected with LPS and PBS, spinal deformities ranged between 21% and 38%, diet independent. Deformed vertebrae were located at or in proximity to the injection point. Assessment of inflammatory markers revealed high levels of plasma prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in the Vo‐fed and LPS‐injected groups, suggesting an inflammatory response to LPS. Cyclooxigenase 2 (COX‐2) mRNA expression in bone was higher in fish fed Fo compared to Vo‐fed fish. Gene expression of immunoglobulin M (IgM) was up‐regulated in bone of all LPS‐injected groups irrespective of dietary oil. In conclusion, the study suggests that Vo is not a risk factor for the development of inflammation‐related spinal deformities. At the same time, we found evidence that localized injection‐related processes could trigger the development of vertebral body malformations.     

Dietary phosphorus does not reduce the risk for spinal deformities in a model of adjuvant‐induced inflammation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) postsmolts

Inflammation is a non‐specific protective mechanism towards injury known to affect bone remodelling. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) induced‐inflammation on the prevalence of spinal deformities of Atlantic salmon postsmolts fed with two different dietary P levels. Sextuple groups of salmon postsmolts were fed with either a low‐phosphorous (6 g kg^?1 available P, LP) or a high‐phosphorous (9 g kg^?1 available P) diet for a period of 101 days. On Day 102, individually tagged fish were subjected to (i) single injection with FCA (0.125 mg kg^?1 BW) dissolved in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) (ii) placebo injection with PBS or (iii) sham injection (insertion of needle only) or (iv) remained untreated. On Day 103, fish were given a common diet for 174 days in seawater. No significant differences in body weight were observed. Injected fish, particularly the FCA group, had more compressions in the injection site than untreated fish. No effect of diet and no interaction between treatment and diet were observed. Severe scoliosis was observed in ～7% of FCA‐injected individuals, corresponding to a mixture of bone malformations in the tail region. In conclusion, experimentally induced inflammation may be an independent risk factor for bone deformities in Atlantic salmon.     

Body depth variation in crucian carp Carassius carassius: an experimental individual-based study

Abstract –  Induced morphological defences, where individuals develop morphological structures as a response to signals from sympatric predators, are common among invertebrates. Such defences have also been reported in a freshwater fish, the crucian carp Carassius carassius . In crucian carp, the presence of piscivorous fish presumably induces the development of a deep body as a defence mechanism. We tested how the growth rate (in body depth, length and mass) of individually tagged crucian carp responds to pike Esox lucius odours and control water. In general, crucian carp exposed to pike odour grew better (both in length and mass) than control fish. The treatment crucian carp also developed deeper bodies than control crucian carp. Further, there was a strong positive relationship between individual growth rate and the rate of change in body depth and this relationship did not differ between control and treatment fish.     

The effect of feeding commercial diets on the development of juvenile crucian carp (Carassius carassius,L.). Part 1: Skeletal deformations

The crucian carp (Carassius carassius, L.) is a cyprinid freshwater species, whose wild‐living populations have decreased in recent years due to an increasing competition of invasive species. Several initiatives were launched, attempting to reintroduce this fish back into its native open waters, which requires the use of crucian carp fry grown under controlled conditions. However, the use of popular commercial diets results in severe developmental abnormalities. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of feeding natural feed (Chironomidae sp. larvae) or two popular commercial diets on the skeletal development of crucian carp juveniles. Whole‐mount staining and histological methods were used in the study. Skeletal tissues of fish fed both commercial diets were demineralized and displayed a variety of deformities, such as abnormal vertebral spines and vertebral fusion, as well as a new type of deformation, which involved the action of dorsal fin pterygiophores upon the spine. Finally, a novel analytical method was proposed, which utilizes LA‐ICP‐MS for the estimation of bone mineralization. The study proved that basic commercial diets are inadequate for the rearing of crucian carp juveniles.     

Comparison of food selection and growth performance of koi carp, Cyprinus carpio L., and goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.) in mono- and polyculture rearing in tropical ponds

To compare the effect of polyculture against conventional monoculture on ornamental carp production, investigations on food selection and growth performance of koi carp (K), Cyprinus carpio L. and goldfish (G), Carassius auratus (L.) were conducted in a 11‐week rearing experiment in two monoculture (100% K and 100% G) and five polyculture (90% K–10% G, 70% K–30% G, 50% K–50% G, 30% K–70% G and 10% K–90% G) conditions in tropical ponds. There were three replicates for each treatment. Environmental conditions and food availability were similar in all the treatments. Ivlev's electivity index showed that both fish species avoided phytoplankton and preferred cladocerans to other zooplankton groups (copepods and rotifers) in monotypic conditions. However, in the polyculture treatments, the positive electivity of goldfish towards cladocerans reduced significantly (P<0.05), while the percentage of copepods, rotifers and phytoplankton in the gut content increased. No significant differences in weight gain, specific growth rate and deformities were recorded at harvest for koi carp between the different treatments (P>0.05). Even the survival rate of koi carp recorded above 90% in all the treatments. However, the goldfish recorded significantly better weight gain, specific growth rate and survival in monoculture (100% G), compared with the polyculture treatments (P<0.05). Goldfish deformities were lowest (P<0.05) in the monoculture treatment (2.42%). The number of marketable fish above a set size limit of 4 g total weight was significantly higher in the two monoculture treatments, compared with the five polyculture treatments (P<0.05). Keeping in view of the dietary similarities of koi carp and goldfish, and the aggressive nature of koi carp in polyculture, it is suggested to refrain from polyculture of goldfish and koi carp until further documentations relating to optimum stocking density and management of polyculture of ornamental carps are available.     

Measurement of total body composition changes of common carp by computer tomography

The crude fat and protein content of the total body was estimated by X‐ray computer tomography (CT) and determined by chemical analyses during a feeding experiment with sexually matured common carp. Between 21 and 35 serial scans were taken of altogether 41 fish and samples from the homogenized body were prepared for chemical analyses. Experimental fish with an average body weight of 1453 g originated from a commercial stock of mirror carp. Two feeding regimes (carp feed and carp feed+ad libitum maize) were applied for 57 days and followed by a fasting period of 27 days. Both feeding regimes significantly increased the crude fat content of the whole body that did not decrease during fasting in spite of high water temperature (22°C). No significant changes were observed in crude protein content. The variables used for producing the prediction equations were taken from the density values of the Hounsfield scale, on a range between ?90 and +160, by summing the frequencies within each interval of 10 values. Whole body fat content could be estimated with R²=0.89?0.91 accuracy with the principal component analysis using data of all (seven) body regions and only dorsal fin region respectively. Adequate linear regression model could not be calculated by the same procedure for crude protein. Three‐dimensional ‘volumetric’ estimation of fat tissue was also carried out on the basis of fat index showing high correlation with measured fat content. The changes of body composition of individual fish can be followed by sequential CT scanning.     

The use of synthetic LH-RH analogue to spawn Chinese carps *

Abstract. The synthetic LH-RH analogue, des-GLY¹⁰[D-Ala⁶] LRH ethylamide was shown to be effective for induced spawning of Chinese carps. Ovulation was induced in 23 of 34 female grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella Val., receiving a single injection of synthetic LH-RH analogue. Spawning success was 92% for 3-year and older fish at optimum temperatures (22–26°C). Reduced spawning success was noted for 2-year-old female fish, and when temperature exceeded 27°C. No mortality of study fish was observed following a single injection. Hybrid carp, grass carp x bighead carp, Aristichthys nobilis Val., and grass carp x silver carp, Hypophthal-michthys molitrix Val., were produced using synthetic LH-RH analogue. Male grass carp, bighead carp and silver carp exhibiting pearl organs were stimulated to produce milt regardless of the presence or absence of free flowing milt at the time of injection. The potential importance of synthetic LH-RH analogue in fish culture and mechanisms of hormonal action are briefly discussed.     

Consumer Preferences for Live Seafood in the Northeastern Region of USA: Results from Asian Ethnic Fish Market Survey

Asian ethnic fish markets in the Northeastern region of the United States of America (USA) are popular for selling live fish and seafood. A consumer survey was conducted in selected supermarkets of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania during the summer of 2009 to assess consumer preferences for live seafood species. A binary logit model was developed to study the factors influencing preferences for live and fresh fish products. Results indicated that consumer preferences for live fish species vary by ethnic group. Live fish customers visited supermarkets at least two to three times a week and spent $16 to $20 a week to purchase medium size fish (0 to .91 kg live fish, on average). Freshness and appearance (bright, free of bruises, healthy fish) were the most important attributes. Findings indicate that promotion of live fish sales should be targeted to those stores dominated by East Asian (Chinese, Korean, and Japanese) customers.     

Resource use of crucian carp along a lake productivity gradient is related to body size,predation risk,and resource competition

Generalist fish species can feed on a wide resource spectrum and across trophic levels depending on resource availability and trophic interactions. Crucian carp (Carassius carassius) represents a good candidate species to investigate variation in the trophic ecology of generalist fish as it can be found in highly variable fish communities and its resource use is well documented. In this study, we explored the trophic ecology of crucian carp at the individual and population levels using stable isotope and gut content analysis. We tested if trophic resource use varied according to lake productivity, predation risk, intra- and interspecific competition, or individual fish size. We found that crucian carp resource preference was highly variable among and within lakes. In predator-free lakes, small crucian carp occurred in high densities, showed increased interindividual specialisation, and relied mainly on pelagic zooplankton. In presence of predators, large crucian carp occurred in low densities and included greater proportions of benthic macroinvertebrates in their diet. This shift in resource use was further favoured in productive, shallow lakes where littoral prey were probably abundant. Resource partitioning was an important factor determining crucian carp niche use, as fish had higher trophic position in absence of other cyprinids. Crucian carp showed highly dynamic resource use and food preferences in response to variable environmental conditions. Overlooking complex diet preferences of generalist fish may lead to an oversimplification of freshwater community dynamics.     

微卫星分离模式显示雄性三倍体鲫产生非整倍体精子

三倍体鲫(Carassius auratus)行天然雌核发育,其自然种群中却有较高比例的雄性个体,这些雄性个体的性腺发育正常,能产生有活力的精子。而且其精子的DNA含量约为体细胞的一半,显示三倍体鲫精子发生过程中可能经历了均等的减数分裂。流式细胞术虽然能够较准确地测定细胞群的平均DNA含量,但是却很难检测到单个精子中的个别染色体增减,要明确回答雄性三倍体鲫产生的精子是否为整倍体需要定量地检测单个精子的遗传组成。本研究用微卫星标记检测以雌性鲤(Cyprinus carpio)与雄性三倍体鲫为亲本构建的杂种家系的基因型,结果发现母本鲤的多态位点在子代中呈孟德尔分离,父本三倍体鲫具有三套鲫基因组,其等位基因在子代中呈随机分离。上述研究结果提示:三倍体鲫起源于二倍体鲫的同源加倍,而非二倍体鲫和鲤的种间杂交;三倍体鲫通过染色体的随机分离产生非整倍体的精子,其精子发生过程中没有均等的减数分裂。三倍体鲫行雌核发育生殖,却可能并非起源于种间杂交且群体中的雄性个体可育,因而是单性生殖鱼类中的一个特例。     

Activities of mesencephalic nucleus neurons during fictive swimming of the carp Cyprinus carpio

ABSTRACT:   Fish swim by undulatory contractions of the axial trunk musculature. It has been presumed that a descending signal from the brainstem activates central pattern generators in the spinal cord to make the swimming rhythm. In the carp the electrical or chemical stimulation of a mesencephalic nucleus, the nucleus fasciculi longitudinalis medialis (Nflm), could initiate swimming. However, it has not been established what signals originate from the Nflm in order to make the fish swim. The activity of the Nflm neurons was therefore examined electrophysiologically during fictive swimming in paralyzed carp. Three types of neuronal activities closely related to the swimming rhythms were obtained. The first type was a continuous tonic firing throughout an episode of fictive swimming. Neurons involved in this tonic activity may project to the spinal cord and contribute to the activation of spinal neurons to initiate fish swimming. The second type was accompanied by continual phasic firings occurring in rhythm with the activity of spinal motoneurons. Supposing that the swimming rhythm originates in the spinal cord, the synchronous activity in the brain neurons may suggest that in the nucleus there is a relay neuron conveying the rhythm information from the cord to other neurons there or in the brain. The third type exhibited reduced firing rates during fictive swimming. It is possible that the neurons engaged in this activity may be inhibitory and suppress the activities of other neurons in the nucleus and spinal cord during rest or during decelerating swimming.     

Movement, social cohesion and site fidelity in adult koi carp, Cyprinus carpio

Abstract  Koi carp is an ornamental variant of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., that was introduced to New Zealand in the 1960s and has since become a major aquatic pest. A total of 1265 wild adult koi carp were caught by boat electric fishing, dart tagged and released at multiple sites in the lower Waikato River and associated lakes and wetlands between September 2002 and February 2005. Subsequent recaptures by boat electric fishing and recreational fishing returned 76 koi carp (6% of all tagged fish). Of these, 85% were recaptured less than 5 km from their release site; only one fish moved more than 50 km. On seven occasions, pairs or small groups of koi carp (20% of all tag returns) that had previously been tagged and released at the same locations and times were subsequently recaptured together after considerable periods of time at liberty (mean 551 days ± 419 SD). Adult koi carp in the Waikato River showed a high degree of site fidelity, exhibited prolonged social groupings and females moved downstream more often than males.     

流水和静水条件下鲢幼鱼对不同强度光源的趋性行为研究

结合鱼类的集群行为,探究了在流水和静水处理下鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)幼鱼的光强偏好。实验流速工况设置包括静水和流水(流速为0.1m/s),光强水平设置为0、10、20、40、70、110lx,并依次进行了实验对象的个体(1尾)实验和群体(5尾)实验。结果显示:(1)个体流水处理在不同光照度水平下的吸引率和排斥率均无显著性差异(P0.05),但个体静水处理20lx和110lx组的光吸引率显著大于40lx和70lx组(P0.05),其他均无显著差异(P0.05);(2)不同流速和实验鱼数量下的光吸引率,由高到低依次为群体流水处理、群体静水处理、个体流水处理、个体静水处理。光排斥率由高到低依次为个体静水处理、个体流水处理、群体静水处理、群体流水处理。研究表明,一定水流速度能够刺激鲢幼鱼趋流,从而提高光的吸引作用,且群体的趋光性要强于个体;(3)流水处理下,鲢幼鱼的最近邻距离(DNN,群体紧凑程度指标)随光强的增大,先减小后增大,集群程度先升高后降低,其中,70lx水平对应的DNN显著高于0lx(F=1.489,P0.05),而静水处理下各光强水平对应的实验鱼DNN无显著性差异(P0.05),集群行为无明显变化。     

Effects of adding different proportions of the small fish punti (Puntius sophore) and mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) to a polyculture of large carp

This experiment was carried out in the framework of a project to develop a viable fish polyculture technology under Bangladeshi conditions that allows simultaneous fish production of small indigenous species for the farmers' family consumption and of large carp species as a cash crop. The objectives of this experiment were to assess the effects of adding punti and mola in different proportions on the large carp and on the environment, and to assess the effects of punti on mola and mola on punti. The polyculture included the large carp rohu, catla and common carp (as cash crop fish), and the small indigenous fish punti and mola (as food for the small‐scale farmer family). The total large carp stocking density was 10 000 fish ha^?1, at a species ratio of 1:1:1. The total small fish stocking densities were 0 in the control and 30 000 punti and mola ha^?1 in the treatments, these at rates 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2. Stocking punti and mola at the density and all ratios tested were viable solutions to obtain simultaneously large carp cash crops and small fish to feed the farmer's family. Statistically marginal differences in large carp production were obtained in stocking small fish in the different proportions. These marginal differences could be explained by food competition between punti and common carp and between mola and rohu, which had different outcomes depending on the proportions of the small fish stocked. Stocking punti and mola at a 1:1 ratio would result in more small fish for the farmer's family, while the individual size of rohu, the most expensive large carp, would be somewhat smaller, but not necessarily small enough to decrease its selling price. Stocking one of the small fish in higher proportion than the other (2:1 or 1:2) would result in less mola for the family consumption, while harvesting of common carp would be somewhat lower and of smaller fish. Since common carp is the cheapest of the large carps, this small reduction would not necessarily affect the family income in an important way. With these results, farmers would now be able to reorganize their stocking practices with large carps and small fish and decide the appropriate small fish stocking ratios to meet their needs.     

鳜鱼、青鱼、草鱼、鲤、鲫、鲢消化酶活性的研究

鳜鱼、青鱼、草鱼、鲤、鲫、鲢肝脏蛋白酶活性低于肠蛋白酶。肠蛋白酶活性，鳜鱼最高，其余依次为青鱼、鲤、鲢、草鱼、鲫。鳜鱼、鲢的肠蛋白酶活性由前肠向后肠递减；而青鱼、鲤、草鱼的则由前肠向后肠递增；鲫则中肠活性最低。六种鱼不同组织的脂肪酶活性因鱼而异。青鱼、鳜鱼、鲤、鲢肝脏中脂肪酶活性低于肠脂肪酶活性（Ｐ＜０．０１）；而草鱼和鲫肝脏中脂肪酶活性与肠脂肪酶活性差异不明显（Ｐ＞０．０５）。六种鱼肝脏中脂肪酶活性由高到低依次为鳜鱼＞鲢＞鲫＞草鱼＞青鱼＞鲤；肠脂肪酶活性顺序为鳜鱼＞鲢＞青鱼＞鲤＞草鱼＞鲫。脂肪酶活性与鱼类食性无明显相关性。不同组织间淀粉酶活性存在差异。鳜鱼的肝脏和肠均有较高淀粉酶活性，青鱼和鲫肝脏中淀粉酶活性低于肠中的；草鱼、鲤和鲢肝脏中淀粉酶活性高于肠中的，但差异不显著。六种鱼中鳜鱼的肝脏淀粉酶活性明显高于其它五种无胃鱼，它们的淀粉酶活性顺序依次为鳜鱼＞鲢＞鲤＞草鱼＞青鱼＞鲫；肠淀粉酶活性顺序为鳜鱼＞鲫＞鲤＞青鱼＞鲢＞草鱼。     

Indirect selection for growth and life-history traits in Indian carp aquaculture: 1. Effects of broodstock management

Artificial selection for genetic improvement is not carried on in Indian fish hatcheries. However, the process of selection of potential breeders and artificial propagation involves indirect selection, the nature of which will be determined by the type of breeders selected for breeding.The present study is focused on females belonging to two carp species, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala, from two fish farms in Karnataka State, south India. Quantitative estimates of pre-reproductive growth rate, age at first spawning and size at first spawning were obtained by a confirmatory factor analysis of measurements made on fish scales. Phenotypic correlations and the resulting correlated selection intensities during a single episode of selection have been estimated. The intensity of indirect selection was negative for pre-reproductive growth rate and positive for age at first spawning. This indicates an undesirable tendency to breed slower growing and later maturing individuals in both farms.