n-3 LC-PUFA deposition efficiency and appetite-regulating hormones are modulated by the dietary lipid source during rainbow trout grow-out and finishing periods

Largely attributable to concerns surrounding sustainability, the utilisation of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich (n-3 LC-PUFA) fish oils in aquafeeds for farmed fish species is an increasingly concerning issue. Therefore, strategies to maximise the deposition efficiency of these key health beneficial fatty acids are being investigated. The present study examined the effects of four vegetable-based dietary lipid sources (linseed, olive, palm and sunflower oil) on the deposition efficiency of n-3 LC-PUFA and the circulating blood plasma concentrations of the appetite-regulating hormones, leptin and ghrelin, during the grow-out and finishing phases in rainbow trout culture. Minimal detrimental effects were noted in fish performance; however, major modifications were apparent in tissue fatty acid compositions, which generally reflected that of the diet. These modifications diminished somewhat following the fish oil finishing phase, but longer-lasting effects remained evident. The fatty acid composition of the alternative oils was demonstrated to have a modulatory effect on the deposition efficiency of n-3 LC-PUFA and on the key endocrine hormones involved in appetite regulation, growth and feed intake during both the grow-out and finishing phases. In particular, n-6 PUFA (sunflower oil diet) appeared to ‘spare’ the catabolism of n-3 LC-PUFA and, as such, resulted in the highest retention of these fatty acids, ultimately highlighting new nutritional approaches to maximise the maintenance of the qualitative benefits of fish oils when they are used in feeds for aquaculture species.     

IUCN Red List of freshwater fishes and lampreys in Flanders (north Belgium)

Red Lists are used to assess the extinction risk of species. Regional IUCN criteria were applied to categorise 42 indigenous freshwater fish species in Flanders into Red List categories. As such, three species are assessed as Regionally Extinct, eight as Critically Endangered, two as Endangered and eight as Vulnerable. A further five species are considered Near Threatened, 15 species as Least Concern and one species is Data Deficient. Five species disappeared from the Regionally Extinct category compared with the previous Red List (1988) as a consequence of improved water quality of estuaries and reintroduction programmes. In total, 62% of the freshwater fish species in Flanders was considered extinct or threatened. This is higher than neighbouring regions and Europe as a whole (44%). This new Red List of freshwater fishes in Flanders can be used to inform conservation actions.     

First isolation of hirame rhabdovirus from freshwater fish in Europe

A rhabdovirus was isolated in cell culture inoculated with tissue material from diseased grayling, Thymallus thymallus (L.), originating from a fish farm affected by a mortality episode in Poland. Diagnostics tests showed that the virus was not related to novirhabdoviruses known in Europe, nor to vesiculovirus‐like species, except perch rhabdovirus (PRhV) with which it shared moderate serological relations. However, RT‐PCR with PRhV probes gave negative results. To identify the virus, a random‐priming sequence‐independent single primer amplification was adopted. Surprisingly, two of the obtained sequences exhibited a high identity (>99%) with hirame rhabdovirus (HIRRV), a novirhabdovirus usually found in fish in marine Asiatic countries, for instance Japan, China and Korea. The full‐length sequence of the phosphoprotein gene (P) demonstrated a higher identity of the present isolate with HIRRV from China compared with the Korean isolate. An identical viral sequence was also found in brown trout, Salmo trutta trutta L., affected by mortalities in a second farm in the same region, after a likely contamination from the grayling farm. To our knowledge, this is the first report of HIRRV in Europe, and in two hosts from fresh water that have not been described before as susceptible species.     

Karyotype analysis of interspecific hybrids between Haliotis rufescens and Haliotis discus HANNAI

Evidence of hybridization in Haliotis has been mainly supported by hatchery experiences and collection of wild hybrid abalones among several species from natural populations worldwide. However, despite the importance to understand the role of the hybridization process through Haliotidae evolution, and also its impact on the abalone aquaculture, genetic studies in hybrid abalones have been poorly developed. Herein, cytogenetic approach allows studying the genetic conformation in hybrid organisms at the chromosome level. This paper reports a quantitative karyotype analysis in Haliotis rufescens, Haliotis discus hannai and their interspecific hybrid. Thus, to characterize chromosome pairs and establish cytogenetic comparisons, chromosome banding with distamycin‐A/4,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole fluorochromes and morphologic measurements were performed. The results showed that the hybrids are successfully viable and their karyotypes evidenced a conservative chromosome number of 2n=36. The karyo‐idiogram showed a high correspondence in chromosome pair morphology among the hybrids and their parental species, except for a single heteromorphic pair that corresponds to the chromosome 16 from H. rufescens andH. d. hannai respectively. The implications of the abalone hybrid viability derived from its chromosome composition are discussed.     

Pectin purified from pomelo (Citrus maxima) peel as a natural hatching agent for fish embryos

Pectin is a biodegradable polysaccharide, and it has been recently applied as a gene delivery, drug delivery, wound healing and tissue engineering agent. In this study, pectin was extracted from pomelo (Citrus maxima) peel and characterized. The extraction recovery of pectin form pomelo peel was 14.5%, and it had 72.56% degree of esterification, 1,245.56 equivalent weight, 7.82% methoxyl and 68.27% anhydrouronic acid contents. Use of pomelo pectin as a hatching enhancing agent for fish embryos and its effect on hatching enzyme 1 (ZHE1) was investigated. The pectin‐exposed zebrafish embryos (100 µg/ml) showed significantly (p < .05) higher hatching rate (96.6%) compared with untreated (control) embryos (66.6%) at 60 hpf. The mRNA expression of ZHE1 was also significantly (p < .05) elevated up to 55.6‐fold in pectin‐exposed embryos at 24 hpf. In situ hybridization results revealed remarkably strong expression of ZHE1 in pectin‐exposed embryos compared with the control group. In addition, considerably larger size of the hatching gland was observed in pectin‐exposed larvae than that of the unexposed larvae group. These results clearly indicate that pectin isolated from pomelo peel has an ability to enhance the hatching process of zebrafish embryos via upregulation of ZHE1.     

First isolation of Vibrio tapetis and an atypical strain of Aeromonas salmonicida from skin ulcerations in common dab (Limanda limanda) in the North Sea

Skin ulcerations rank amongst the most prevalent lesions affecting wild common dab (Limanda limanda) with an increase in prevalence of up to 3.5% in the Belgian part of the North Sea. A complex aetiology of these ulcerations is suspected, and many questions remain on the exact factors contributing to these lesions. To construct the aetiological spectrum of skin ulcerations in flatfish, a one‐day monitoring campaign was undertaken in the North Sea. Fifteen fish presented with one or more ulcerations on the pigmented and/or non‐pigmented side. Pathological features revealed various stages of ulcerations with loss of epidermal and dermal tissue, inflammatory infiltrates and degeneration of the myofibers bordering the ulceration, albeit in varying degrees. Upon bacteriological examination, pure cultures of Vibrio tapetis were retrieved in high numbers from five fish and of Aeromonas salmonicida in one fish. The V. tapetis isolates showed cross‐reactivity with the sera against the representative strain of serotype O2 originating form a carpet‐shell clam (Ruditapes descussatus). Moreover, the A. salmonicida isolates displayed a previously undescribed vapA gene sequence (A‐layer type) with possible specificity towards common dab. Further research is necessary to pinpoint the exact role of these agents in the development of skin ulcerations in common dab.     

Evaluation of growth,feed utilization efficiency and immune parameters in tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) fed diets supplemented with or diet fermented with gut bacterium Bacillus sp. DDKRC1. isolated from gut of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of cellulolytic gut bacterium with plant protein‐based diet on growth, digestibility and digestive enzyme status of tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Bacillus sp. DDKRC1. (JN641289), a potential cellulolytic bacterium, isolated from the gut of Asian seabass was used as feed supplement in this experiment. The shrimps of group I, II and III were fed with control diet (without bacterial supplement, D1), diet supplemented with live Bacillus sp. DDKRC1. at 2.94 × 10⁷ cfu per 100 g feed (D2) and diet fermented (48 hr) with same bacteria (D3) respectively. At the end of the 42 days experiment, shrimps of group II showed significantly better (p < .01) growth and protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lower (p < .01) feed conversion ratio (FCR) as compared to group I and III. Dry matter, cellulose, hemicellulose and lipid digestibilities were significantly (p < .01) higher in group II than other two groups. Cellulase, amylase and protease activities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were significantly (p < .01) higher in group II as compared to other two groups. Total heterotrophic count, amylolytic, cellulolytic and proteolytic bacterial counts in gut were significantly (p < .01) higher in group II as compared to other two groups. Haematological analysis indicated better (p < .05) immune response in groups II and III than control group. Diets D2 and D3 showed better effect on growth, digestibility, FCR, survival and immune response of P. monodon as compared to D1.