Kaolinitic clay protects against Flavobacterium columnare infection in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

Columnaris disease, caused by the bacterial pathogen Flavobacterium columnare, continues to be a major problem worldwide in both wild and cultured freshwater finfish. Despite the far-reaching negative impacts of columnaris disease, safe and efficacious preventatives and curatives for this disease remain limited. In this study, we evaluated the potential of kaolin (Al₂Si₂0₅(OH)₄), a type of clay, for the prevention of columnaris disease. Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), fingerlings were experimentally challenged with Flavobacterium columnare in untreated water or with water containing kaolin (1 g L⁻¹). Over the 7-day course of study, kaolin treatment led to significantly (P < 0.001) improved survival (96%) as compared to untreated fish (78% survival). Histological examination of the gills revealed that kaolin-treated fish had substantially less gill damage than untreated controls. Quantitative PCR analysis of gill tissue revealed that kaolin significantly reduced F. columnare adhesion (measured at 1 h post-challenge) and colonization (24 h post-challenge). Incubation of kaolin with F. columnare in vitro demonstrated that kaolin reduced the number of F. columnare cells in culture supernatants, presumably through the formation of physical complexes through adsorption. In summary, kaolin can improve survival, reduce gill pathologies and reduce bacterial attachment to key tissues associated with columnaris disease in channel catfish by binding to F. columnare.     

Evaluation of potassium permanganate against an experimental subacute infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

An experiment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) as a prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of an experimental subacute infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus . Fish were cutaneously abraded and divided into five treatment groups: (i) challenged by waterborne exposure to F. columnare and not treated with KMnO₄ (positive control), (ii) challenged and simultaneously treated with KMnO_4, (iii) challenged and treated with KMnO₄ at 1, 6 and 9 days post-challenge, (iv) not challenged and treated with KMnO₄ at 1, 6 and 9 days post-challenge (first negative control) and (v) not challenged and not treated (second negative control). The dosing of KMnO₄ was 2.0 mg L⁻¹ above the potassium permanganate demand for 2 h duration. The survival of the group challenged and simultaneously treated with KMnO₄ (99%) was significantly higher than the positive control (78%) and was not significantly different from the negative control groups. The challenged fish treated with KMnO₄ post-challenge had 7% higher survival than the positive control (85% compared with 78%), but that difference was not statistically significant. The results demonstrate that KMnO₄ has a clear prophylactic value but probably a marginal therapeutic value once the infection has established.     

Evaluation of diquat against an acute experimental infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

A trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of diquat (6,7-dihydrodipyrido[1,2-a:2',1'-c]pyrazinediium dibromide) against an acute experimental infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus . Diquat is an Environmental Protection Agency-approved herbicide and has the potential to be legally and practically used against columnaris. Channel catfish were challenged, by cutaneous abrasion, and waterborne exposure to F. columnare and treated once at 22-h post-challenge with 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 15 mg L⁻¹ of diquat active ingredient for 6 h. At the conclusion of the trial, 21-day post-challenge, diquat at 5.0, 10.0 and 15 mg L⁻¹ significantly ( P  < 0.05) reduced the mortality of infected fish from 95% in the challenged non-treated fish to 68%, 59% and 49%, respectively. In vitro , the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 23 isolates of F. columnare was assayed. The majority of the isolates had an MIC value of 5 μg mL⁻¹ (15 of the 23 isolates). Infected fish exhibited acute clinical signs similar to a natural infection. The skin had severe ulcerative necrotizing dermatitis and the muscles had severe necrotizing myositis. The gills had severe multifocal necrotizing branchitis. The results demonstrate that diquat would reduce mortalities caused by an acute columnaris infection.     

Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of potassium permanganate at early stages of an experimental acute infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish,Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

The efficacy of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) against the early stages of an experimental acute infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, was evaluated. Fish were experimentally challenged by waterborne exposure for 2 h to F. columnare after cutaneous abrasion, and treated with KMnO₄ at 2.0 mg L^?1 above the KMnO₄ demand at 0, 1, 2 or 4 h postchallenge for 24 h. Challenged non‐treated fish acted as a positive control and non‐challenged non‐treated fish acted as a negative control. Fish challenged and treated with KMnO₄ at 0, 1, 2 or 4 h postchallenge had mortalities of 26%, 63%, 64% and 83% respectively. The mortality of challenged fish treated with KMnO₄ at 0 h postchallenge (26%) was significantly less than the positive control (77%). The mortalities of challenged fish treated at 1, 2 or 4 h postchallenge were not significantly different from the positive control fish. The results suggest that KMnO₄ has a clear therapeutic value in early stages of columnaris infection but limited therapeutic value once the infection has progressed.     

Detection and Distribution of Flavobacterium columnare in Experimentally-Infected Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus Using Culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract

The authors examined the use of culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Flavobacterium columnare in experimentally-infected channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Five treatments were utilized which included immersion exposure to 10⁶, 10⁷, 10⁸ colony forming units (CFU)/mL for 30 minutes, intramuscular injection of 10⁸ CFU/fish and a negative control (i.e., immersion in Cytophaga broth). Flavobacterium columnare was isolated and detected in mucus 30 minutes following exposure by microbiological culture and PCR in all treatments except the negative controls. Gills were positive by culture and by PCR in all treatments at 30 minutes post treatment except the 10⁶ CFU/mL immersion treatment which did not yield positive culture and PCR results until 1 hour. Culture positive samples were observed in the internal organs (anterior and posterior kidney) and blood of the 10⁷⁸ CFU/mL treatments although at low numbers (≤10 CFU). Results of PCR paralleled that of culture for the mucus and gill samples when analyzing all treatments together over time suggesting either method is useful in determination of the presence ofF. columnare. Polymerase chain reaction was significantly (P < 0.001) better at detection ofF. columnare from skin/muscle than was the use of microbiological culture. These results suggest that PCR may be useful for rapid detection of F. columnare in the mucus.     

Feed deprivation of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), influences organosomatic indices, chemical composition and susceptibility to Flavobacterium columnare

Withholding feed has been suggested as a strategy to manage infectious disease of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). In a previous study, we demonstrated that deprivation of feed for as little as 7 days reduced innate resistance of catfish to Flavobacterium columnare. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding regimens [no feeding (NF), fed once every other day to satiation (FEOD) and fed once daily to satiation (FD)] on organosomatic indices, physiological changes and susceptibility of channel catfish to F. columnare. Fish that were not fed for 2 and 4 weeks had a significant increase (P < 0.05) in gutted weight:-wet weight ratio and decrease in other organosomatic indices [gut index (GI), mesenteric fat index (MFI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI)]. Haematology was not effected by feeding regimen except at week 4, when a significantly higher haemoglobin level was observed in the NF fish. Serum protein did not differ at week 2, but the level at week 4 of the NF fish (35.91 mg mL(-1)) was significantly lower than that of the FD fish (41.77 mg mL(-1)). Significantly lower (P < 0.05) blood glucose (39.5 and 40.3 mg dL(-1)) and liver glycogen (1.7 and 1.8 mg g(-1)) were seen in the NF fish at weeks 2 and 4, respectively, as compared with blood glucose and liver glycogen levels of FD fish (67.5 and 92.8 mg dL(-1) and 46.5 and 52.6 mg g(-1) at weeks 2 and 4, respectively) and FEOD (82.8 and 85.5 mg dL(-1) and 45.1 and 51.4 mg g(-1) at weeks 2 and 4, respectively). Mortality in the NF fish caused by F. columnare (78%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than mortality in the FD and FEOD treatments (0.0 and 1.7%, respectively). Blood glucose and liver glycogen showed the same trend of low values for NF fish following challenge (week 6). Blood glucose, liver glycogen, GI and HSI are sensitive indicators for channel catfish deprived of feed (NF) for 4 weeks. Blood glucose and liver glycogen levels around 40 mg dL(-1) and 2 mg g(-1), respectively, are indicative of starvation in juvenile channel catfish. Moreover, NF fish were susceptible to F. columnare infection. Thus, it is suggested that in the absence of natural food, juvenile channel catfish should be fed at least once every other day to apparent satiation to maintain normal physiological function and improve resistance to F. columnare.     

Development of an Indirect ELISA to Detect Humoral Response to Flavobacterium columnare Infection of Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

ABSTRACT

The humoral antibody response of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, to experimental Flavobacterium columnare infection was measured in control (non-infected) and infected (intraperitoneal- and intramuscular-injected) fish by an indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). The antibody response of the experimentally infected fish was significantly higher (P<0.0001) than that of the non-infected channel catfish by both indirect ELISA and agglutination. The indirect ELISA utilized goat anti-channel catfish IgM and a commercially available rabbit anti-goat IgG enzyme conjugate. The antibody response was directed against a cell-free sonicated antigen preparation derived from live whole F. columnare cells. Indirect ELISA and agglutination results correlated (r² = 0.60) for anti-F. columnare antibody response in experimentally and non-infected fish. We were also able to correlate ELISA and agglutination results of 60 fish naturally infected with F. columnare(r² = 0.76). Indirect ELISA will allow for rapid monitoring of humoral antibody, following natural exposure or vaccination against F. columnare, with a small sample of serum.     

Acute columnaris infection in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque): efficacy of practical treatments for warmwater aquaculture ponds

Columnaris disease was induced in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), by bath exposure to four highly virulent isolates of Flavobacterium columnare. In untreated controls, mortality began 20 h after exposure and reached 100% by 48 h. Mortality in channel catfish given antibiotic treatments with oxytetracycline or a combination of sulphadimethoxine and ormetoprim in feed prior to bacterial challenge was zero with all four strains of F. columnare. Diquat (Zeneca Agricultural Products, Wilmington, DE, USA) was the most effective bath treatment; mortality with all four strains was zero. With potassium permanganate, chloramine-T, hydrogen peroxide and copper sulphate, bath treatment efficacy varied significantly among strains (P = 0.0346) and among treatments (P = 0.0033). Bath treatments with chloramine-T and potassium permanganate significantly reduced (P < 0.05) mortality from 100 to 75 and 69%, respectively, but copper sulphate and hydrogen peroxide treatments were not effective. Based on our results, oral antibiotics prevented columnaris disease but, of the bath treatments, only Diquat produced a dramatic reduction in the mortality of acutely infected fish. Diquat is labelled for aquatic use as an herbicide in the USA but in large ponds it is prohibitively expensive.     

Evaluation of a 4‐h static copper sulphate treatment against experimental infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

The efficacy of copper sulphate (CuSO₄) against the early stages of an experimental acute infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was evaluated. Fish were challenged, by waterborne exposure to F. columnare in an ultra‐low flow‐through water delivery system, and treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 at 5.5 h post challenge for 4 h. Bacterial challenged non‐treated fish acted as a positive control and non‐challenged non‐treated fish acted as a negative control. Fish challenged with F. columnare and treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 post challenge had mortalities of 6.4% and 18.3%, respectively, compared with the positive control, which had 90.2% mortality. The mortality of challenged fish treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 was significantly different from the positive control. There was no significant difference between the mortalities of the 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 treatments. The results suggest that CuSO₄ has clear therapeutic value against columnaris infections.     

三聚氰胺在斑点叉尾鮰体内的残留及代谢规律研究

(21±1)℃水温条件下,研究了三聚氰胺在斑点叉尾鮰(Ictalurus punctatus)体内的残留消除规律。结果显示:血浆中药时数据符合有吸收一室开放模型,动力学方程为:C=3.952660(e-0.027279t-e-0.127279t),吸收半衰期(T1/2kα)为5.4469 h,消除半衰期(T1/2ke)为25.4093 h,达峰时间(Tp)为15.4045 h,达峰浓度(Cmax)为20.3985 mg/L,表观分布容积(Vd)为2.5763(mg/kg)/(mg/L)。肌肉、肝、肾中吸收半衰期(T1/2kα)分别为3.5582、4.1884、5.4397 h,消除半衰期(T1/2ke)为50.8081、23.3504、23.7242 h,达峰时间(Tp)为14.6766、12.6524、14.9967 h,达峰浓度(Cmax)为7.6449、22.9249、40.6047 mg/L,表观分布容积(Vd)为8.5657、2.3970、1.2712(mg/kg)/(mg/L)。结果表明:药物在体内吸收迅速,药物浓度较高,分布广泛,消除较为缓慢。以80 mg/kg剂量混饲口灌3 d后,各组织中三聚氰胺含量总体呈现肾脏>肝脏>肌肉。停止灌药后第5天肌肉中及第7天肝脏和肾脏组织中三聚氰胺含量低于我国(2008)卫生部公布的乳制品及含乳食品中三聚氰胺临时管理限量值和欧盟对中国进口产品设定了三聚氰胺的最大残留限2.5 mg/kg。     

Susceptibility of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), to Edwardsiella ictaluri challenge following copper sulphate exposure

Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), with or without a preliminary 24 h exposure to 2 mg copper sulphate L(-1), were challenged with 7.5 x 10(6) colony forming units L(-1) of Edwardsiella ictaluri to determine the effect of copper sulphate on disease resistance. Catfish previously exposed to copper sulphate were significantly more resistant to the bacterial challenge than those not exposed. Catfish not exposed to copper sulphate suffered 35.5% mortality while catfish exposed to copper sulphate experienced 14.1% mortality. Copper concentrations were the same in tank waters of both exposed and control fish at the time of challenge, eliminating the possibility that copper in the water may have been toxic to bacteria. Copper concentrations in freeze dried and ground tissues of unexposed, exposed, and purged channel catfish were highest in fish before copper sulphate exposures suggesting that elevated tissue levels of copper were not responsible for the increased resistance to bacterial challenge. Competition for sites of bacterial attachment to gill or epithelial cells may account for the reduction in mortality; although this is not supported by the low copper content of fish tissue after copper exposure.     

Vibriosis in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

Abstract. An epizootic due to Vibrio anguillarum was observed in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Lesions in infected fish included ulceration and petechiae on body surfaces, vent and caudal peduncle. Internally, haemorrhages in liver and kidney were present and the intestinal tract was filled with a clear viscous fluid. Using an isolant recovered during the epizootic, laboratory studies were conducted to determine (a) bacterial dynamics of the agent in blood, kidney and liver and (b) clinical haematologic and biochemical parameters in infected fish. Under conditions of the study, vibrios were apparently sequestered in kidney and liver during initial stages of infection (8–12 h after exposure). Later, bacterial numbers in blood were comparable to those in kidney and liver. Clinical parameters of infected catfish were suggestive of cellular and tissue destruction and renal dysfunction. Based upon data of the present study and those of others, vibriosis appears to be a disease in which the agent is localized in select tissues. Secondary septicaemia may be incidental to factors which compromise host defences.     

Dietary protein concentration and daily feed allowance influence response of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), to ractopamine

Year-1 channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) (average initial weight, 48 g) were fed diets containing 240 g kg^?1, 300 g kg^?1, or 360 g kg^?1 dietary protein with 0 or 20 mg kg^?1 ractopamine to satiation and diets containing 240 g kg^?1 and 360 g kg^?1 protein with 0 or 20 mg kg^?1 ractopamine at a restricted rate (60% of satiation) in aquaria at 29 ± 2°C for 8 weeks. Fish fed ractopamine at the 360 g kg^?1 protein level gained significantly more weight than controls when fed to satiation but not when the ration was restricted. Fish fed ractopamine at the 240 g kg^?1 protein level did not gain more weight than the controls at satiation or restricted feeding. Fish fed ractopamine in the diet containing 300 g kg^?1 protein gained significantly more weight than controls when fed to satiation. Ractopamine caused no significant differences in feed conversion at the 240 g kg^?1 or 360 g kg^?1 protein levels with restricted or satiation feeding. Muscle fat decreased when ractopamine was fed at all dietary protein levels and at both feeding rates. Muscle protein increased with ractopamine feeding in all treatments except the high-protein, satiation treatment. Weight gain response of year-1 channel catfish to ractopamine is dependent upon nutrient concentration of the diet and ration size; however, the effect of ractopamine on muscle composition of channel catfish is less dependent on nutrient concentration or amount of diet fed.     

投喂频率对斑点叉尾鮰幼鱼生长、饲料利用和鱼体组成的影响

通过8周的生长试验,研究斑点叉尾鮰(Ictalurus punctatus)幼鱼(初始体重约4.5 g)的最适投喂频率。试验饲料为自制配合饲料,粗蛋白38%,总能19.0 kJ/g。设计了1～5次/d(M1-M5)5种投喂频率。结果表明:M2、M3、M4组摄食率均显著高于M1和M5组(P<0.05),其中M4组最大。M3、M4、M5组的特定生长率均显著高于M1组(P<0.05),其中M3组最大。M2、M3、M4、M5组的干物质表观消化率均显著高于M1组(P<0.05),M3和M4组的蛋白和能量表观消化率均显著高于M1和M2组(P<0.05)。M3组干物质含量显著高于M1和M2组(P<0.05),M2、M3、M4和M5组的粗蛋白、粗脂肪和能量含量均显著高于M1组(P<0.05)。因此,本研究建议,斑点叉尾鮰幼鱼养殖的最适投喂频率为3次/d。     

Confirmation of catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), mortality from Microcystis toxins

Unexplained deaths of pond-grown catfish have occurred for many years. At least some of these mortalities could be from cyanobacteria toxins ingested during feeding on floating diets or passively assimilated through gills during breathing. Recently we were able to document algal production and subsequent ingestion of these toxicants by catfish during a mortality event. The causative organism, Microcystis aeruginosa, was the dominant species within the phytoplankton community during the cooler autumn-winter season. Pond conditions included a drop in water temperature by c . 5 °C during the 10 days preceding the fish mortalities. Microcystin-LR, a hepatotoxin produced by Microcystis , was detected in water samples and in catfish liver tissue. Fish exposed to pond water containing this toxic bloom were killed within 24 h. Necropsy of fish revealed congested liver and spleen tissues. The combination of clinical signs, detection of microcystin LR in water and in liver, and death of fish exposed to pond water supports the diagnosis of microcystin toxicosis. More research is needed to identify specific environmental conditions initiating toxin production to model and predict occurrence of these toxic algal blooms.     

发酵饲料投喂方式对斑点叉尾鮰生长、肠道菌群及代谢组学的影响

本研究对斑点叉尾鮰(Ictalurus punctatus)的发酵饲料进行了合理饲喂,并确定了其对斑点叉尾鮰生长、肠道菌群和代谢组学的影响。实验设置3组：持续投喂组(A)(即在膨化饲料中持续添加发酵饲料),间隔投喂组即向膨化饲料中按周间隔添加发酵饲料(B),对照组仅投喂膨化饲料(C)。实验共持续6个月。实验结束后,对斑点叉尾鮰进行称重,并用16S rRNA扩增子测序技术和基于液相色谱的代谢组学技术分别检测斑点叉尾鮰肠道菌群组成以及代谢组学。结果显示,间隔投喂组斑点叉尾鮰终末体重(FBW)显著高于对照组和持续投喂组(P<0.05)。间隔投喂组的群落丰富度和多样性最高,持续投喂组群落丰富度最低(P>0.05)。厚壁杆菌门(Firmicutes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteriota)、蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、梭杆菌门(Fusobacteriota)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)和异常球菌门(Deinococcota)是优势细菌门。优势肠道菌属包括未命名的叶绿体科中的一个属(norank_f_norank_o_Chloroplast)、分枝杆菌属(Mycobacterium)、鲸杆菌属(Cetobacterium)、罗姆布茨菌属(Romboutsia)、微小杆菌属(Exiguobacterium)和狭义梭菌属(Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1)。代谢组学分析表明,持续投喂组主要通过N-乙酰-D-半乳糖胺显著上调影响肠道菌群半乳糖和磷酸转移酶系统代谢通路(P<0.05),进而影响鱼体对碳水化合物的消化吸收。而间隔投喂组差异代谢产物L-丝氨酸和L-苯丙氨酸显著上调(P<0.05),影响斑点叉尾鮰肠道菌群硫代谢、氨基酸代谢等,继而影响斑点叉尾鮰能量吸收、抗炎症和免疫等能力。本研究为斑点叉尾鮰发酵饲料投喂方式的探索和健康绿色养殖提供了理论依据。     

斑点叉尾趋化因子SCYA126基因及其可变剪接

通过探针杂交筛选斑点叉尾(Ictalurus punctatus)BAC基因组文库,利用引物步移的方法对阳性克隆BAC047 K12进行序列测定,得到2 815 bp的SCYA126基因组序列。序列分析表明,SCYA126基因由2个外显子和1个内含子组成;外显子拼接的序列与SCYA126cDNA序列完全一致,编码92个氨基酸,在N端含有2个相邻的半胱氨酸(CC)和2个不相邻的半胱氨酸,为典型的CC趋化因子亚家族成员;其上游调控序列包含TATA框启动子序列和一些与免疫相关的转录因子结合位点。另外,根据与GenBank接收号为BM029630的EST序列的比较分析,发现SCYA126基因组中的内含子没有被剪接,导致翻译后可能产生N端部分缺失的SCYA126蛋白。在胰脏和肝脏中确认了高表达的包含内含子的mRNA的存在,而且其表达量要明显高于正常剪接的SCYA126mRNA。[中国水产科学,2007,14(1):1-7]