Age, growth and reproductive biology of the European conger eel (Conger conger) from the Atlantic Iberian waters

The European conger eel, Conger conger, is a fish widely distributed in the north-eastern Atlantic, being an important commercial and recreational fish species. A total of 85 juvenile congers eels were used in this study. Seventy-three congers were captured mainly by hook and pots in inshore waters (10–15 m depth) of the Iberian Peninsula (North Portugal and Vigo), monthly from March 1998 to March 2000. Another twelve specimens have been captured during a research cruise (R.V. “Capricórnio”) in summer 1999 by trawl at depths about 400 m in south Portugal. The length and weight of the congers eels ranged from 38 to 173 cm and 125 to 14,553 g, respectively. The observation of burnt otoliths under UV light proved to be a useful method for ageing conger eels. Marginal increment analysis was used to validate the annual pattern in the deposition of bright zones in the otoliths. Age for the congers ranged from 2 to 12 years. The VBF population growth curve estimates from the otoliths of the females gave results of L_∞ = 265 cm, k = 0.07 and t₀ = −1.20. Sex determination and gonadal development were obtained from histological analysis. All the specimens collected in the coastal shallow waters were females, either immature or in a developing stage. The ovaries contained oocytes in two main stages of development: a pre-vitellogenic stage and an early vitellogenic stage. The few males (n = 4) observed have been captured in the trawl fishery at deeper waters. The males possessed small cells spermatogonias and spermatocytes clustered in crypts in the testis scattered in a matrix of adipose tissue. The sexual steroids, 17β-oestradiol and testosterone, were measured in blood plasma samples by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Both sexual steroids presented a high correlation with the sexual development stage in terms of maximum oocyte diameter and gonadosomatic index. This work presents for the first time, data on age, reproductive biology and endocrinology of conger eels captured in the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula.     

First isolation of Tenacibaculum maritimum from wedge sole, Dicologoglossa cuneata (Moreau)

The first isolation of Tenacibaculum maritimum from wedge sole, Dicologoglossa cuneata, is reported. The pathogen was recovered from ulcers of cultured fish, from three different outbreaks. The six isolates obtained were biochemically and serologically characterized and diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolates constituted a homogeneous phenotypic group; however, they belong to two of the different serotypes described within this species. A virulence evaluation of the isolates using Wedge sole fry was also performed.     

嗜水气单胞菌源黄鳝出血病的组织病理学研究

应用组织学方法研究了分离自患出血病黄鳝(Monopterus albus)体内的嗜水气单胞菌(Aermonas hydrophila)人工感染健康黄鳝后引起的组织病理学变化。结果显示:健康黄鳝感染嗜水气单胞菌后发病呈急性过程,感染后15~33 h为发病死亡高峰期。黄鳝人工感染后出现的临床症状与自然发病病例相似,主要表现:体表出现出血斑、肛门红肿、腹腔充血以及各实质性器官出血、充血。人工感染黄鳝的肝脏、脾脏和肾脏的病理变化明显:肝脏出现广泛的充血、出血,肝细胞出现空泡变性、坏死;肾脏肾小管上皮的肿胀、结构的消失,肾小球出血、变性坏死;脾脏充血、出血;肠粘膜上皮脱落,基底膜排列紊乱,大量出血。结果表明,嗜水气单胞菌感染黄鳝后的病理变化主要表现为肝脏、肾脏等实质性器官充血、出血,及广泛的组织细胞变性和坏死。     

Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of adenosine A1 receptors in eel (Anguilla anguilla) brain

N⁶-cyclohexyl[³H]adenosine ([³H]CHA) was used to label adenosine A1 receptors in membranes prepared from male and female eel whole brain. The A1 receptor agonist [³H]CHA bound saturably, reversibly and with high affinity (K_d = 0.91 ± 0.12 nM; B_max = 120.36 ± 5.2 fmol mg⁻¹ protein). In equilibrium competition experiments, the adenosine agonists and antagonists all displaced [³H]CHA from high-affinity binding sites with the rank order of potency in displacing, characteristics of an A1 adenosine receptor. Mg²⁺ dramatically increased the affinity of [³H]CHA without modifying the maximal binding capacity. The specific binding was inhibited by guanosine 5′-triphosphate (K_i = 2.54 ± 0.98 μM). The [³H]CHA binding sites are ubiquitously distributed with a maximum in cerebellum and a minimum in olfactory bulb. No difference was observed between male and female brain. In eel brain, synaptosomes (P2), stimulation of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation with 10⁻⁵ M forskolin was markedly reduced (45.5%) by treatment with the adenosine A1 receptor agonist CHA (10⁻⁴ M), and the reduction was reversed in presence of the selective A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyltheophylline (10⁻⁵ M). In superfused eel cerebellar synaptosomes, K⁺ stimulated the release of adenosine in a partially Ca²⁺-dependent manner. The findings, taken together, suggest the hypothesis that adenosine A1 receptors present in eel brain could modulate synaptic transmission, as A1 receptors do in other vertebrates.     

中国近海日本鳗鲡玻璃鳗体组织营养成分及氨基酸、脂肪酸组成的比较

为了解日本鳗鲡玻璃鳗的早期营养需求,分别对中国近海6个不同地点玻璃鳗体组织一般营养成分、氨基酸和脂肪酸含量进行了分析。结果显示,野生玻璃鳗体组织中水分含量为78.62%±2.03%,干重基础下粗蛋白质含量为69.08%±0.64%、粗脂肪含量为11.96%±1.33%、粗灰分含量为11.45%±1.30%。在台州、舟山、南通和东台4个采样点的样品中,水分含量无显著差异,而粗蛋白含量以舟山点最高、粗脂肪含量最低,并且舟山点样品肠道内发现可见内容物。玻璃鳗样品中氨基酸含量以谷氨酸、天门冬氨酸、赖氨酸、亮氨酸最高,半胱氨酸最低;除舟山点外,各采样点氨基酸含量无明显差异。不同洄游地点玻璃鳗组织中脂肪酸含量均以C16:0、 C18:1n9、 C20:5n3(EPA)、 C22:5n3、 C22:6n3(DHA)为主要成分,其中EPA和DHA共占脂肪酸总量的31.59%±1.00%,不同洄游地点样品必需脂肪酸含量差异明显。研究表明,必需氨基酸、必需脂肪酸对于玻璃鳗的正常生长存活具有重要意义。此外,对比不同地点营养物质组成及稚鱼饵料理论需求量分析,推测舟山点海洋环境中包含更适合玻璃鳗稚鱼摄食的食物,...     

Effects of feeding stimulants on the feed consumption,growth and survival at glass eel and elver stages in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Elvers and glass eels of Anguilla anguilla were fed diets containing two types of feeding stimulants (FS) that were based on processed marine (MBFS) and yeast proteins (YBFS). Elvers (1.5 ± 0.3 g) were fed seven diets (MBFS and YBFS diets at 20 g kg^?1, 40 g kg^?1 and 60 g kg^?1 plus control) for 60 days. Glass eels (250 ± 100 mg) were weaned to 60 g kg^?1 MBFS, 60 g kg^?1 YBFS and control diets for 30 days. Diets containing 60 g kg^?1 FS had a beneficial effect in terms of growth, homogenous size distribution and feed intake in elvers. Elvers fed 60 g kg^?1 MBFS and YBFS diets grew 11.9% and 5.6% faster than the control group. No differences in growth and size distribution were detected in glass eels fed 60 g kg^?1 MBFS and YBFS diets. However, FS affected the digestive system maturation; fish fed the 60 g kg^?1 MBFS and YBFS diets showed higher and intermediate values in the specific enzyme activities in comparison with the control group. This study revealed that the incorporation of FS into a pelleted diet was beneficial on the overall performance of European glass eels and elvers. However, the observed results were different depending on the eel’s stage of development, as well as the type and inclusion level of the FS.     

日本鳗鲡腐皮病病原菌的分离及鉴定

从患腐皮病的日本鳗鲡(Anguilla japonica)体表溃烂处分离到1株病原菌(322A),对其进行了人工感染实验和生理生化分析,测定了该菌株的16S rRNA基因序列和促旋酶(gyrase)B亚单位gyrB基因序列,并分别构建系统发育树。结果显示:感染实验证实菌株322A具有致病性;生理生化分析鉴定该菌株属于气单胞菌属(Aero-monassp.);16S rRNA基因分析显示,该菌株与气单胞菌属细菌的同源性均在99%~100%,构建的系统树显示,菌株322A与嗜水气单胞菌(A.hydrophila(FJ462702))亲缘关系最近;gyrB基因分析表明,该菌株与A.hydrophila种内序列的相似性为96%~98%,种间序列的相似性为94%~95%,构建的系统树结果显示,该菌株与A.hydrophila(FJ608553、FJ608552、AF208259)聚为一个分支。综合上述实验结果,菌株322A可鉴定为嗜水气单胞菌(A.hydrophila)。     

Growth and survival of eel leptocephali (Anguilla japonica) in low-salinity water

We investigated the effects of low-salinity water on the growth, survival, and activity of artificially reared Japanese eel larvae (Anguilla japonica), proceeding from the assumption that such water quality saves energy due to lower cost for osmoregulation. We reared 5-day-old larvae in 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% seawater (SW) with or without diet for 13 days. All larvae reared in 0% and 10% SW died within 6 days, while larvae in 70% and 100% SW survived until 9 days. Larvae in 30% and 50% SW further survived until 13 days without diet. Significant growth in body depth was observed in 30% and 50% SW after 7 days rearing with diet (0.65 ± 0.02 and 0.62 ± 0.02 mm, respectively) as compared with the initial size (0.49 ± 0.03 mm), while no significant growth was observed under the other salinity conditions examined. Larvae swam actively in the light (about 2000 lx) in 50%, 70%, and 100% SW, while they were apparently inactive in 0%, 10%, and 30% SW. The long-term rearing trial showed a 2.2-fold higher 2-month cumulative survival rate in 50% SW (18.2%) than in 100% SW (8.2%). The body depth of larvae in 50% SW (1.58 ± 0.47 mm) was also significantly larger than in 100% SW (1.32 ± 0.35 mm). These findings indicate that the intermediate salinity can result in better growth and survival performance in Japanese eel larvae.     

First isolation of Flavobacterium psychrophilum associated with reports of moribund wild European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in Scotland

In late April 2015, the River Dee Trust informed Marine Scotland Science, Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), that there had been observations of dead and moribund European eels on the River Dee. Later in May, the Spey Fishery Board also reported a number of moribund European eels in a rotary screw smolt trap on the River Spey. In total, 10 cases involving moribund eels were investigated in 2015 and one case in 2016. In addition, a health screen was conducted to investigate the potential presence of Flavobacterium psychrophilum in healthy eels and Atlantic salmon from the River Dee in 2015. Externally, the diseased eels demonstrated white patches in different locations of the body. In all cases, F. psychrophilum was detected by bacterial isolation and/or molecular methods. Three isolates were further characterized by whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) as belonging to sequence type 15 (ST15). Histological examination of diseased European eels revealed lesions at the level of the integument. The pathogen screen for F. psychrophilum in wild healthy fish tested negative by PCR. Further investigation is required to understand the pathogenicity of this bacterium on the health of eels and the potential impact on the wild salmonid population.     

Development of embryos in Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Bank & Solender, 1794) (Mesopotamian spiny eel) (Mastacembelidae)

In this study, the embryonic development of the eggs in the Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Bank & Solender, 1794) was examined. At the same time, possibilities of artificial breeding through artificial insemination were investigated. Artificial insemination was achieved by mixing the eggs of the mature female and sperm of the mature male samples caught with gill nets (22 × 22) in Ataturk Dam Lake in Turkey. To this end, first in a Petri dish (100 × 20), the testes were cut into small pieces with a lancet and the mixture of sperm–testes‐tissue was obtained. The fertilization rate of the eggs was found to be 80%. The diameter of the eggs ranged from 2.015to 1.147 mm. The perivitelline space formed 0.5 h after insemination. The first cleavage occurred at the animal pool 4 h after insemination. The oil droplets had fused to a single droplet 19 h after insemination. The blastoderm became an embryonic shield 30 h after insemination. The blastoderm covered almost half the egg 40 h after insemination and embryonic body was formed. The blastoderm covered almost the whole egg 50 h after insemination. Some somites were discernible 59 h after insemination. The embryonic body reached two‐third of the circumference of the egg 70 h after insemination. The tail bud began to separate from the yolk 77 h after insemination. A newly hatched larva was observed at 85 h after insemination.     

美国红鱼水生气单胞菌的分离、鉴定及其分子特征

2013年8至9月份,我国广东省珠海市某养殖场的美国红鱼(Sciaenops ocellatus)发生细菌性病害。从患病鱼的肝脏、肾脏和眼球中分离到8株病原菌,经生理生化试验、16S rRNA基因测序和7个管家基因系统发育树分析,8株病原菌被鉴定为水生气单胞菌(Aeromonas aquariorum)。进一步对这8株病原菌进行MLST和ERICPCR分子分型,结果表明8株病原菌为两种基因型。通过毒力相关基因检测,结果表明病原菌也为两种毒力基因型,即So1381和So1387菌株的毒力基因型为act-aer A-ahy B+alt+ast-exu+fla+gca T+lip+ser-。其余6株病原菌的毒力基因型为act+aer A+ahy B+alt+ast-exu+fla+gca T+lip+ser-。病原菌So1383和So1387对斑马鱼攻毒试验结果表明So1383菌株对斑马鱼的致病性强于So1387菌株,其LD50分别为4.5×105和2.7×106CFU。分离菌株对21种药物敏感性试验的结果表明,这些菌株的耐药谱无明显差异。     

Recovery from transportation by road of farmed European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of transportation of marketable eel (0.15 kg) in the Netherlands with respect to welfare. Eels (Anguilla anguilla) were obtained from a commercial farm and acclimatized for 7 weeks at the laboratory. Fish were transported according to regular commercial procedures. The animals were placed in water‐filled transport tanks on the trailer. Fish density increased from 72 kg m^?3 (husbandry) to 206 kg m^?3 (fasting) and was further increased to 270–290 kg m^?3 during transport. Fish transport lasted 3 h after which the eels were returned to laboratory recirculation systems to measure parameters indicative of stress load, i.e. mortality, plasma cortisol, lactate and non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA) as well as gill morphology. Samples were taken at 0, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after transport in transported fish and non‐transported counterparts (controls). Transportation affected water quality within known tolerable limits. No mortality during or after transport was observed. After 6 h, plasma cortisol levels had returned to baseline. However, energy metabolism had increased suggesting that transportation of eels resulted in an increased energy demand that lasted for at least 72 h in the fasted animals. Thus, it is conceivable that exposure to adverse conditions, prior to stunning/killing, in a slaughterhouse may result in allostatic overload in eel.     

日本鳗鲡胶原蛋白和小清蛋白的过敏原性

以日本鳗鲡皮与肌肉组织为研究对象,采用碱溶、酸溶、盐析、冻干等方法纯化得到胶原蛋白,采用加热、饱和硫酸铵分级盐析、DEAE-Sepharose阴离子交换层析等方法纯化得到两种亚型的小清蛋白(PV-Ⅰ和PV-Ⅱ),纯化的目标蛋白经动物特异性抗体的免疫印迹实验确证。酶联免疫吸附测定和免疫印迹分析结果显示,纯化的胶原蛋白和小清蛋白分别与鱼类过敏患者阳性血清发生特异性反应,且二者之间无免疫交叉反应。体外模拟胃液消化实验和SDS-PAGE分析结果显示,胶原蛋白和小清蛋白均具有较高的消化稳定性。结果提示,日本鳗胶原蛋白和小清蛋白具有较高的消化稳定性和免疫原性,二者可引发不同患者的IgE介导特异性超敏反应。     

Isolation of a novel polyomavirus,related to Japanese eel endothelial cell‐infecting virus,from marbled eels,Anguilla marmorata (Quoy & Gaimard)

Marbled eels, Anguilla marmorata (Quoy & Gaimard), cultured in Taiwan exhibited haemorrhage and mortality in January 2012. The severely diseased eels bled from the gills and showed congestion of the central venous sinus of the gill filaments and haemorrhage throughout the body similar to viral endothelial cell necrosis of eel. In this study, a novel polyomavirus (AmPyV) was isolated from the diseased eels using the AMPF cell line established from the pectoral fin of healthy marbled eels. AmPyV was found to encode a long T‐antigen orthologous gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AmPyV was closely related to Japanese eel endothelial cell‐infecting virus. PCR assays revealed AmPyV infection throughout the systemic organs. AmPyV proliferated in the AMPF, EK‐1 and EO‐2 cells at temperatures 25–30 °C, and the progeny virus yields were 10^7.0, 10^7.4 and 10^7.7 TCID₅₀ mL^?1, respectively. The purified virions were icosahedral particles, 70–80 nm in diameter. No clinical signs or mortality was observed among the eels injected with the virus; however, the virus was reisolated from the brain, eyes, kidneys, fins and gills of infected eels 2 month after injection. Our results suggest that AmPyV exhibits a latent infection. Pathogen of the disease needs to study further.     

The Influence of Livefeed Supplementation on Growth and Reproductive Performance of Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri Heckel 1848) Broodstock

The influence of supplementation of drum-dried flake feed with various levels of Daphnia sp. on the growth and fecundity of broodstock Xiphophorus helleri was evaluated. Weekly supplementation showed no measurable advantage over flake feed only. A direct correlation was demonstrated between fecundity and size of female fish when fed a formulated flake feed only. Fish fed a daily Daphnia supplement had a mean final weight of 5.97 g, feed conversion ratio of 1.33 and mean fecundity of 190 embryos per female, which was significantly higher than the yield from the non-supplemented or weekly supplemented treatments. Despite these differences, the number of young harvested during the experiment did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments and this discrepancy was ascribed to parental cannibalism of new born juveniles. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Estimation of glass eel (Anguilla anguilla) exploitation in the Severn Estuary,England

Mark-release-recapture trials were conducted to determine the exploitation rate of glass eel Anguilla anguilla (L.) by handheld dip nets in the Severn Estuary in the spring of 2020. The glass eel were marked with Rhodamine B at a concentration of 0.1 g/L, 200 glass eel/L for 4.5 hr and then placed in fresh water for 36–48 hr to monitor mortality. In trial 1, 891 ± 100 of the 20,455 glass eel were recaptured while in trial 2,373 ± 172 of the 27,923 glass eel released were recaptured. The exploitation rate was estimated to be 4.36% (±0.49) in trial 1 and 1.33% (±0.62) in trial 2. The size of the glass eel population from trial 1 was estimated to be 24.69 t (22.46 – 28.81), and the overall exploitation rate of the fishery for the season was 7.8% (6.7% – 8.6%). Comparisons are made with studies in other estuaries and with conservation targets set by the EU Eel Regulation and the Eel Management Plan for the River Severn. The study suggests the fishery is not the main cause of the Severn RBD failing to meet escapement targets.     

Predicting catches for the Lough Neagh (Northern Ireland) eel fishery based on stock inputs, effort and environmental variables

Abstract  The Lough Neagh eel fishery is the largest remaining commercial source of wild European eels. Following the pan-European elver crash in the 1980s, the numbers of elvers entering the Lough fell drastically, prompting the Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society Ltd (LNFCS) to purchase additional glass eels from a UK distributor. LNFCS have continued to purchase glass eels, when market prices have been favourable, to supplement the natural glass eel input. This study assesses the impact of these stocked glass eels on the Lough Neagh yellow and silver eel fisheries with a predictive model based on natural and stocked glass eel input, effort and environmental variables. Despite the final models' limitations to assess conclusively the contribution of the additional purchased glass eels the models can be used cautiously to predict, in the short term, yellow and silver eel output. The models will require reviewing, on an annual basis, as further data become available.