A real‐time PCR for the detection of hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) of penaeid shrimp

Hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) causes a common shrimp disease that occurs in many shrimp farming regions, especially in the Indo Pacific, and infects most of the cultured penaeid species. There are seven geographic HPV isolates known, so a method to detect different HPV types is needed. We developed a sensitive and generic real‐time PCR assay for the detection of HPV. A pair of primers and TaqMan probe based on an HPV sequence obtained from samples of Fenneropenaeus chinensis from Korea were selected, and they were used to amplify a 92 bp DNA fragment. This real‐time PCR was found to be specific to HPV and did not react with other shrimp viruses. A plasmid (pHPV‐2) containing the target HPV sequence was constructed and used for determination of the sensitivity of this assay. The assay could detect a single copy of plasmid DNA, and it was used successfully in finding HPV in shrimp samples from the China‐Yellow Sea region, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Madagascar, New Caledonia and Tanzania.     

Microcystin production during algal bloom occurrence in Laguna de Bay, the Philippines

ABSTRACT:   The amount of microcystin in Microcystis aeruginosa bloom was investigated during the rainy season of 1999 in Laguna de Bay, the Philippines. Bloom samples taken from the West Bay and East Cove stations of the lake were studied in relation to the characteristics of environmental conditions. Four types of microcystins, microcystin-LR (MC-LR), microcystin-RR (MC-RR), 6(Z)-Adda-microcystin-RR, and 3-desmethylmicrocystin-LR were identified from the natural bloom samples among which MC-LR was the most dominant type of microcystin. Production of microcystin (88.6 µg/100 mg dried cells) was highest during the first sampling week that coincided with high water transparency and high conductivity. The occurrence of a strong typhoon during the second sampling week had changed the environment drastically, which was characterized by low water transparency, high turbidity, low water temperature, and with trace amounts of MC-LR detected at the East Cove station. Thus, toxin production over time as well as the relationship between Microcystis production and toxin concentration could not be fully evaluated.     

Transepithelial ion exchange in smolting atlantic salmon (Salmo Salar L.)

Whole-body (but predominantly gill) Na⁺ exchange, gill Na⁺/K⁺/ATPase activity and seawater tolerance were examined in juvenile Atlantic salmon during the smolting period. Transepithelial net Na⁺ gain decreased steadily from late February showing a net loss in April and early May, returning to approximate equilibrium in mid-May. This seasonal net loss of Na⁺ to the environment occurred slightly after maximal gill epithelial Na⁺/K⁺/ATPase activity and preceded maximal seawater tolerance. The results are discussed in relation to changes in gill permeability and salt intake via the diet.     

A comparative study of the myxosporeans Myxidium rhodei Léger, 1905 and Myxidium pfeifferi Auerbach, 1908 in roach, Rutilus rutilus L.

Abstract. The morphology and dimensions of Myxidium rhodei and M. pfeifferi were studied in roach originating from two different geographic locations (Greece and UK) using both scanning and light microscopy. The measurements and morphology of both mature spores and immature stages (trophozoites and spores) were studied and compared. No differences were observed in the morphology of mature or immature spores of both species when examined under light and SEM. Furthermore, no differences were found in the dimensions of the mature spores of both species in all fish. However, immature spores of both species were found to be smaller but wider than mature ones in all organs and in both habitats. Size differences between the two species were only seen in immature spores, M. rhodei immature spores being always larger than those of M. pfeifferi. When comparing the dimensions of the spores between the two habitats, these were larger and wider in the Greek fish than those in the British fish. The information in this study suggests that, in roach, M. pfeifferi is undistinguishable from M. rhodei and that similar studies should be carried out on the tench, Tinca tinca L., the type host of M. pfeifferi.     

Effective use of glucose rather than starch in formulated semimoist diets of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)

The aim of the present work was to test the capacity of Octopus vulgaris to use carbohydrates supplied in three diets: a diet without added carbohydrates (diet C0: 500 g kg^?1 water, 200 g kg^?1 gelatine, 100 g kg^?1 egg yolk powder, 50 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried Sardinella aurita and 150 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried Todarodes sagittatus) and two obtained by substituting 50 g kg^?1 of T. sagittatus by glucose (diet GLU50) or by starch (diet STA50). The most stable and best‐accepted diet was STA50 (SFR 1.26%BW day^?1) although there were no significant differences in the growth rates obtained with the three diets: 10.12 g day^?1, 9.37 g day^?1 and 11.22 g day^?1 for C0, GLU50 and STA50, respectively (P > 0.05). The feed efficiency indices were better for GLU50, of particular note being the protein productive value of 71.88% and a feed conversion ratio lower than 1. Protein and lipid digestibility were similar in all the three diets (96–98% for proteins and 85–94% for lipids), whereas carbohydrate digestibility was higher in GLU50 (98%) than in C0 (84%) and STA50 (0.33%). The content of carbohydrates increased in muscle and the digestive gland as a consequence of the increased carbohydrates intake.     

Sensory evaluation of farmed sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo)

The first attempts at applying aquacultural techniques to sharpsnoutseabream (Diplodus puntazzo) have proved very promising.One of the factors to keep in mind when analysing the viability of a speciesforindustrial farming is that of consumer acceptance of the product, a variablethat can be measured by sensory evaluation tests. To that end, 107 participantsfrom a number of work centres were assessed with hedonic sensory tests usingsharpsnout seabream samples. For reference purposes, the tasting also includedgilthead seabream samples. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnairethat included questions concerning their preferences for any one fish. Weanalysed the sensory attributes of both fish species using a hedonic scale, andalso their acceptability (disposition to purchase) to consumers. The resultsproved fairly encouraging with a view to sharpsnout seabream large-scaleproduction. All attributes tested in the sensory profile analysis werepositively rated. About 60% of the surveyed population would consider buyingsharpsnout seabream at a price similar to that of gilthead seabream (10),and 85% found it to be pleasing to the eye. Aside from flavour, its texture,juiciness and fat level are the most important appraisal attributes. Efforts toimprove the organoleptic characteristics of the species should focus mainly onthese attributes.     

Prespawn mortality in adult spring Chinook salmon outplanted above barrier dams

Keefer ML, Taylor GA, Garletts DF, Gauthier GA, Pierce TM, Caudill CC. Prespawn mortality in adult spring Chinook salmon outplanted above barrier dams.
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 361–372. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Dams without fish passage facilities block access to much of the historic spawning habitat of spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Oregon’s Willamette River basin. Adult salmon are routinely outplanted above the dams to supplement natural production, but many die before spawning despite extensive suitable habitat. In 2004–2007, we examined prespawn mortality patterns using live detection and carcass recovery data for 242 radio‐tagged outplants. Total prespawn mortality was 48%, but variability was high, ranging from 0% to 93% for individual release groups. Prespawn mortality was strongly condition dependent, consistently higher for females than males and higher for early release groups. Across years, warm water temperature in the migration corridor and at the collection site was associated with sharply higher mortality. Results highlight a need for better evaluations of the effects of adult mortality on population reintroduction and recovery and relationships among prespawn mortality, dam‐related temperature change and salmon life history and behaviour.     

Variable variability: difficulties in estimation and consequences for fisheries management

Recent analyses propose that the key regulatory processes in fisheries are stochastic, characterized by increased recruitment variance at low stock sizes (heteroscedasticity). Here, we investigate the consequences of this idea, with the aim of testing its practical relevance to fisheries management. We argue that stock‐recruitment time series are at least one order of magnitude too short to reliably fit heteroscedastic models; indeed, they are typically insufficient even to establish in which direction recruitment variance changes with stock size. Unreliable estimates of heteroscedasticity can have important management implications, depending on the sign of the coefficient of heteroscedasticity. Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) estimates from simple models, which include heteroscedasticity can be volatile, unrealistically high and sometimes non‐existent, as illustrated by an analysis of North Sea cod (Gadus morhua) data. In contrast, for North Sea herring (clupea harengus) data, heteroscedasticity has a negligible effect on MSY estimates. Statistical models are useful to elucidate broad‐scale regulatory processes, but will need to combined with the mechanistic understanding offered by models of population dynamics before being applied in a management setting.