Evolution Through Innovation in Aquaculture: A Critical Review of the Greek Mariculture Industry

Marine aquaculture in Greece is a relatively new industry based on the culture of aquatic species such as the Mediterranean sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), and Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). In the early 1980s, the results of research and development were applied to develop pilot semiacademic commercial farms. Such farms were gradually moved to the industrial scale of today, producing some 80,00–120,000 tons of finfish and up to 25,000–35,000 tons of mussels annually. The problems encountered during the adaptation of innovation to the production and management of this blue revolution is critically discussed from the early developmental phases up to the present.     

Efficacy of fluorescent calcein mark retention and identification in endangered Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius

Distinguishing hatchery‐reared fishes from wild conspecifics can be required to quantify the success of augmentation programmes. This study estimated the probability of identifying calcein‐marked, hatchery‐reared Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius Girard from external and internal structures. Both control and marked fish held in the laboratory were correctly identified 80% of the time after 300 days. A fluorometer was more accurate 180 days post‐marking, whereas visual observation was more discriminating at 300 days. There were no differences in detection rates among structures in laboratory fish, and for most structures of fish held outdoors, detection rates were <20%. Overall, a strong negative effect of light on mark persistence was observed. Also, an initial positive effect of fish size on mark fluorescence and a negative effect of fish growth were detected. These results suggest the potential use of calcein as a batch‐marking tool would be aided by future studies that better quantify light exposure and calcein mark persistence in both field and experimental settings.     

A cross‐linked hyaluronan gel accelerates healing of corneal epithelial abrasion and alkali burn injuries in rabbits

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of a chemically modified and cross‐linked derivative of hyaluronan (CMHA‐SX) for treatment of corneal epithelial abrasion and standardized alkali burn injuries. Animals Twelve female New Zealand white rabbits in two groups were used. Procedures Bilateral 6‐mm diameter corneal epithelial abrasions were made in each of six rabbits in one group and 6‐mm standardized alkali burn injuries were made in the second group. A 1% CMHA‐SX formulation was applied topically four times per day in right eye of each rabbit for 1 week, and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was placed in left (control) eye of each rabbit. The wound size was determined by staining with 1% fluorescein and photographed at the slit lamp with a digital camera at 0, 1, 2, 3 days postoperatively in the first group and 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 12 days in the second group. Rabbit corneas were collected for histological examination on day 7 in the first group and day 12 in the second group. Results Closure of corneal wound in the abrasion model was complete in the CMHA‐SX treated eye by 48 h. The wound closure rate and thickness of the central corneal epithelium in the CMHA‐SX treated group was greater than in control eyes for both the abrasion and alkali burn injuries. Moreover, the CMHA‐SX treated cornea exhibited better epithelial and stromal organization than the untreated control cornea. Conclusions Chemically modified and cross‐linked derivative of hyaluronan improved corneal wound healing and could be useful for treating noninfectious corneal injuries.     

An explorative study comparing skin surface lipids in the West Highland white terrier dog with and without atopic dermatitis

BackgroundThe skin barrier is important in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and stratum corneum lipids have a critical role. Skin surface lipids have been largely overlooked but also contribute to barrier function. An untargeted approach was used to compare the skin surface lipids from atopic and non-atopic West Highland White terrier dogs (WHWT).ObjectivesThe primary hypothesis was that a difference in the lipidome would exist. The secondary hypothesis was that affected and unaffected skin lipids would differ.Animals and methodsThis prospective, cross-sectional, case-controlled study included thirty-nine privately owned WHWTs. Dogs were assigned to one of four disease status groups based on strict criteria. Samples for lipid analysis were collected from the skin surface of unaffected and affected sites. Lipid analysis was by untargeted liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and utilised lipid identification software packages. Principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) statistical methods analysed the association between the relative lipid abundance and disease status and affected and unaffected skin.ResultsSamples for lipid analysis found 421 lipid soluble features of which ten lipids were positively identified. Statistical analysis could not distinguish between non-atopic and atopic dogs but did reveal a statistically significant difference in the lipid profiles from affected and non-affected skin irrespective of disease status.ConclusionsA large array of unidentified lipids from the skin surface were found with a difference between affected and unaffected skin unrelated to disease status. Investigation into the lipidome of the skin surface is an emerging area of research with clinical and therapeutic applications.     

Synthesis and antifungal activity of novel sclerotiorin analogues

Sclerotiorin 1, first isolated from Penicillium sclerotiorum, has weak antifungal activity and belongs to the azaphilone-type family of natural products. Several series of sclerotiorin analogues were designed and synthesized with the aim of discovering novel fungicides with improved activity. The syntheses involved two key steps, cycloisomerization and then oxidation, and used a simple and efficient Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction to construct the required functionalized precursor. With sclerotiorin as a control, the activities of the newly synthesized analogues were evaluated against seven fungal pathogens, and several promising candidates (compounds 3a?, 3d?, 3e?, 3f? and 3k?) with greater activity and simpler structures than sclerotiorin were discovered. In addition, preliminary structure-activity relationships were studied, which revealed that not only the chlorine or bromine substituent at the 5-position of the nucleus but also the phenyl group at the 3-position and the substituent pattern on it contributed crucially to the observed antifungal activity. Analogues with a methyl substituent at the 1-position have reduced levels of activity, while those with a free hydroxyl group in place of acetoxy at the quaternary center of the bicyclic ring system retain activity.     

Socio-economic and organizational determinants of the efficiency of animal health and production services in sub-Saharan Africa

Mr S.N.H. Putt, BVM&S, DTVM, MPVM, MRCVS: It is deeply regretted that following the Workshop and the preparation of this paper Mr Putt died after a short period of illness