Myofibre changes and capsule formation in mice infected with different strains of Trichinella

Mice were infected with 4 strains of Trichinella with the purpose of describing muscle changes (M. Gastrocnemius, diaphragma) by light and electron microscopy, paying particular attention to capsule formation in a polar bear isolate (T. no. 13). No differences in myofibre changes or capsule formation were observed between the different strains by light microscopy at 21 and 60 days post infection. Ultrastructural studies of meat samples 60 day post infection with T. no. 13 revealed active capsule formation in muscle fibres, characterized by protrusions and invaginations of the sarcolemma. Basal lamina-like material was located close to the sarcolemma and in a lattice-like pattern in the capsule matrix. T. no. 13 seems to have a migratory pattern similar to the other strains examined and induces muscle fibre changes undiscernible from those of the 3 other strains. Infected muscle cells are considered to be involved in capsule formation.     

Follicle Development during Luteal Phase and Altrenogest Treatment in Pigs

Synchronization of the oestrous cycle of gilts using altrenogest treatment has been found to increase ovulation rate. The current experiment investigated if the increase in ovulation rate after altrenogest treatment is related to increased follicle size at the end of altrenogest treatment compared with late luteal phase follicles. Crossbred gilts (n = 15) received altrenogest during 18 days [20 mg Regumate (Janssen Animal Health, Beerse, Belgium)], starting 5-7 days after onset of first oestrus. Control gilts (n = 15) did not receive altrenogest. At days 10-12 of the oestrous cycle [i.e. in the presence of corpora lutea (CL)], average follicle development was 2.51 +/- 0.20 mm (assessed with ultrasound) in altrenogest-treated gilts and 2.58 +/- 0.16 mm in control gilts (p > 0.10). During the last days of altrenogest treatment (i.e. when CL had gone into regression), average follicle size had increased to 3.01 +/- 0.31 mm (p < 0.05). Subsequent ovulation rate was 16.6 +/- 1.7 in altrenogest treated gilts and 15.1 +/- 1.2 in control gilts (p < 0.05). Altrenogest treatment resulted in increased follicle size after regression of the CL, showing that suppression of follicle growth by altrenogest alone is less severe than suppression by endogenous progesterone (either with or without altrenogest). Altrenogest treatment also resulted in a higher ovulation rate. However, it is unclear if the increased follicle size and higher ovulation rate after altrenogest treatment are causally related, as the relation between the two on an animal level was not significant.     

First detection and isolation of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus from farmed rainbow trout in Nyeri County,Kenya

Infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is the causative agent of infectious haematopoietic necrosis, a disease of salmonid responsible for great economic losses. The disease occurs in most parts of the world where rainbow trout is reared but has not been previously reported in Kenya. In this study, rainbow trout fry and growers from two farms in Nyeri County were screened for IHNV. Whole fry (n = 4 from each farm) and kidney samples from growers (n = 15 and n = 6 from the two farms, respectively) were collected and preserved for cell culture examination or PCR analysis. Screening of samples was done by PCR followed by sequencing of the glycoprotein gene of the virus. Demonstration of the virus was done by propagation in EPC cells followed by the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The results revealed the presence of IHNV at low prevalence of 0.1 and 0.4 for the two farms. The virus was confirmed both by IFAT and by partial sequencing of the G gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Kenyan isolates were identical to those of the J genogroup found mostly in Asia. The findings have implications for biosecurity measures and import regulations for the Kenyan rainbow trout industry.     

Effects of hypoxia and hyperoxia on growth and food conversion efficiency in the spotted wolffish Anarhichas minor (Olafsen)

Abstract The effect of water oxygen content on growth and food conversion efficiency was evaluated for juvenile spotted wolffish, mean (± SD) initial weight 68.5 (± 17.5) g, reared at oxygen levels of 4.0, 6.0 (hypoxia), 9.6 (normoxia) and 14.5 (hyperoxia) mg L^?1 for 11 weeks at 8 °C. Mean weights and total food consumption were significantly higher in the control and hyperoxic groups compared with the hypoxic groups at the end of the experiment. The 9.6 and 14.5 mg L^?1 groups exhibited significantly higher overall specific growth rates (0.90 and 0.86% day^?1 respectively) compared with the groups on 4.0 and 6.0 mg L^?1 (0.46 and 0.71% day^?1 respectively). In the hyperoxic group, growth was only limited in the first period and, in the hypoxic groups, growth rates increased throughout the experiment, with the 6.0 mg L^?1 group performing equally well compared with the control in the last period. Overall, our findings suggest that the species will adapt to both high and low ambient water oxygen content given a period of adaptation. After the adaptation phase, growth and food conversion efficiency are comparable in the oxygen level range of 6.0–14.5 mg L^?1.     

Biogeochemical evidence for dinoflagellate ancestors in the early cambrian

Dinoflagellates are single-celled organisms that reflect the ecological conditions in modern oceans and lakes. Ultrastructural data and molecular phylogeny suggest that they originated in the Neoproterozoic, yet dinoflagellate ancestors are classified only to the Middle Triassic ( approximately 240 million years ago). Examination of dinoflagellate-specific biological markers (dinosteranes and 4alpha-methyl-24-ethylcholestane) in concentrated microfossils with known morphology identified ancient dinoflagellate ancestors from the Early Cambrian ( approximately 520 million years ago).     

Multilocus sequence analysis revealed a high genotypic diversity of Aeromonas hydrophila infecting fish in Uganda

A multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) was carried out to delineate Aeromonas hydrophila from fish in Uganda. Five housekeeping genes including recA, gyrB, metG, gltA and pps; and the 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced from a total of nine A. hydrophila isolates. The obtained sequences were edited, and consensus sequences generated for each gene locus. The housekeeping gene sequences were concatenated and phylogenetic analysis performed in MEGA version 7.0.2. Pairwise distances ranged from 0.000 to 0.118, highest within the gltA gene locus and lowest within the 16S rRNA gene. The average evolutionary diversity within isolates from the same source ranged between 0.002 and 0.037, and it was 0.033 between the different sources. Similar tree topologies were obtained from the different gene loci with recA, metG and gyrB being more consistent in discriminating isolates according to sources while the 16S rRNA gene had the lowest resolution. The concatenated tree had the highest discriminatory power. This study revealed that A. hydrophila strains infecting fish in Uganda are of diverse genotypes suggesting different sources of infection in a given outbreak. Efforts to minimize spread of the bacteria across sources should be emphasized to control infections of mixed genotypes.     

Factors influencing Saprolegnia spp. spore numbers in Norwegian salmon hatcheries

A quantitative survey of Saprolegnia spp. in the water systems of Norwegian salmon hatcheries was performed. Water samples from 14 salmon hatcheries distributed along the Norwegian coastline were collected during final incubation in the hatcheries. Samples of inlet and effluent water were analyzed to estimate Saprolegnia propagule numbers. Saprolegnia spores were found in all samples at variable abundance. Number of spores retrieved varied from 50 to 3200 L^?1 in inlet water and from 30 to >5000 L^?1 in effluent water. A significant elevation of spore levels in effluent water compared to inlet water was detected. The estimated spore levels were related to recorded managerial and environmental parameters, and the number of spores in inlet water and temperature was the factor having most influence on the spore concentration in the incubation units (effluent water). Further, the relative impact of spore concentration on hatching rates was investigated by correlation analysis. From this was found that even high spore counts did not impact significantly on hatching success.     

Detection of tilapia lake virus (TiLV) infection by PCR in farmed and wild Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Lake Victoria

Tilapia lake virus disease (TiLVD) has emerged to be an important viral disease of farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) having the potential to impede expansion of aquaculture production. There is a need for rapid diagnostic tools to identify infected fish to limit the spread in individual farms. We report the first detection of TiLV infection by PCR in farmed and wild Nile tilapia from Lake Victoria. There was no difference in prevalence between farmed and wild fish samples (p = .65), and of the 442 samples examined from 191 fish, 28 were positive for TiLV by PCR. In terms of tissue distribution, the head kidney (7.69%, N = 65) and spleen (10.99%, N = 191), samples had the highest prevalence (p < .0028) followed by heart samples (3.45%, N = 29). Conversely, the prevalence was low in the liver (0.71%, N = 140) and absent in brain samples (0.0%, N = 17), which have previously been shown to be target organs during acute infections. Phylogenetic analysis showed homology between our sequences and those from recent outbreaks in Israel and Thailand. Given that these findings were based on nucleic acid detection by PCR, future studies should seek to isolate the virus from fish in Lake Victoria and show its ability to cause disease and virulence in susceptible fish.     

Holding wild caught red king crab,Paralithodes camtschaticus: effects of stocking density and feeding on survival and meat content

In this study, the effects of different stocking densities on survival, injury and meat content of captive male red king crab (mean weight = 2.6 kg) were examined. The first experiment was carried out in square plastic tanks with stocking densities of 100, 150 and 200 kg m^?3 for 56 days. In a second experiment, king crabs were kept at a stocking density of 60 kg m^?3 and were either fed or not fed. Both mortality and occurrence of injuries increased significantly with increasing stocking density. In the highest density groups, mortality and frequency of injury was 17% and 14% respectively, compared with 5% and 4% in the 150 kg m^?3 group. The percentage meat content was significantly lower at the final census compared with the initial census in all stocking density groups. In Experiment 2, there were no mortalities or injuries in either the fed or unfed treatments. The average percentage meat content increased in the fed treatment and decreased in the starved treatments. The results show that adult male king crab can maintain high survival rates at stocking densities up to 150 kg m^?3 in holding facilities of the design used in the present study for periods up to 2 months. However, to reduce mortality and frequency of injury over this period densities as low as 60 kg m^?3 and a holding system with a large bottom surface area are recommended.