PARASITES AND PARASITOSIS IN FISH CULTURE IN PORTUGAL

This paper deals with research work covering the period from May 1979 up to May 1981 and presents results of parasites and parasitosis diagnosed in a total of 195 complete dissections of six fish species from cultured and feral populations in Portugal: European eel (Anguilla anguilla) (49); mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio specularis) (29); common grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) (18); European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) (11); rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) (42); common sole (Solea solea) (46). A list of protozoans and helminths identified with respective incidence is given: A) Feral fish: 1) European eel (17)—Echinorhynchus clavula 11.8% and Rhabdochona anguilla 5.9%; 2) common grey mullet (18)—Haploporus benedenii 16.7%, Neoechinorhynchus sp. 5.6%, and Raphidascaris sp. 5.6%; 3) European plaice (11)—Bothriocephalus sp. larvae 9.1%, Contracaecum aduncum 9.1%, and Cryptocotyle lingua 9.1%; 4) common sole (46)—Cucullanellus minutus 8.7%, Gyrodactylus elegans 4.3%, and Cestodes larvae 2.2%. B) Cultured fish: 1) European eel (32)—Trichodina anguillae 3.1% and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis 18.8%; 2) rainbow trout (42)—Eimeria truttae 2.4%, Hexamita intestinalis 4.8%, Holophrya simplex 2.4%, and Trichodina truttae 4.8%. The results show that feral fish harbor predominantly indirect life cycle helminths, in contrast with cultured fish only affected with protozoans, due mainly to overcrowding and deficient management, which propitiate a significant background infection. It was in these specimens that some lesions characteristic of protozoosis were found.     

Digestive enzyme activity in the intestine of Nile tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis> L.) under pond and cage farming systems

The effect of different farming systems (cage, pond) upon digestive enzyme activities of Nile tilapia was evaluated. Juvenile Nile tilapia (87.61 ± 1.52 g) were simultaneously cultured in pond and cage systems during 90 days. Cages used nutritional biphasic plan (35 and 32 % crude protein—CP feeds) and ponds used nutritional triphasic plan (35, 32 and 28 % CP feeds). Biometric measurements were monthly performed for adjustments in feeding regimes and removal of intestine tissues to evaluate the performance of enzyme activities. Total proteolytic, amylase and lipase activities were not statistically different between the treatments throughout the periods analyzed (31, 63 and 94 days of culture). However, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities were higher with 31 and 63 days of culture in fish from pond system, suggesting that natural food may have influenced these activities. A positive correlation was observed between the recommended concentration of essential amino acids for Nile tilapia and specific aminopeptidases activity in fish cage system. Substrate–SDS–PAGE revealed 12 active proteolytic bands in both systems. However, integrated density (ID) values were higher in the bands of ponds. Specimens of either cage or pond exhibited five bands of amylolytic activity. Fish from cage and pond systems showed the highest values of ID within 31 days of cultivation. In this study, the complexity of digestive functions could be verified for animals maintained under commercial conditions. Some of the assessed enzymes may show adaptations of their activities and/or expression that allow the fish to achieve a more efficient nutrient assimilation.     

Functional Feeds to Tackle Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) Stress: Physiological Responses under Acute Stressful Handling Conditions

Marine algae are recognised sources of bioactive compounds that have attracted great interest as nutritional supplements for aquaculture fish. Intensive rearing conditions often expose fish to husbandry-related stressors, rendering fish more susceptible to disease and reducing production yields. The present work evaluated the potential of two marine algae extracts (Fucus vesiculosus and Nannochloropsis gaditana) as nutritional supplements to mitigate stress effects in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) exposed to an acute handling stress (AS). A plant-based diet was used as a control, and three other diets were prepared, which were similar to the control diet but supplemented with 1% of each algal extract or a combination of the two extracts (0.5% each). The effects of supplemented diets on stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, and immune response were analysed in fish exposed to AS after 4 weeks of feeding. Supplemented diets did not affect growth performance but the inclusion of F. vesiculosus promoted higher feed efficiency, as compared to the control group. Dietary algal extracts supplementation reduced plasma glucose levels, increased white blood cell counts, and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes when compared with the control. N. gaditana supplementation led to a reduction in hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione levels, while F. vesiculosus supplementation increased muscle glutathione reductase activity and reduced lipid peroxidation. These findings support the potential of algal extracts as nutraceuticals in aquafeeds to enhance the ability of fish to cope with husbandry-related stressful conditions and ultimately improve fish health and welfare.     

Nitrogen and potassium,but not boron,change the morphology,production and nutrient concentration of Tanzania guineagrass roots

Plant shoot production is closely related to root development. To obtain greater grass persistence, nutrient uptake by roots and recovery after defoliation, it is necessary for the plants to have well developed root systems. The study aimed to evaluate the morphological, productive and nutritional characteristics of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania roots in response to combinations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and boron (B) rates in nutrient solution. Root dry mass, total root length, and total root surface increased with the combination of N and K rates. Boron rates did not affect any of the studied parameters. Greater concentrations of ammonium than nitrate were found in the root tissues. Root specific length and root specific surface decreased as rates of N and K increased. The N and K supply caused an increase in the morphological and productive aspects of the root system, thus enhancing the capacity for nutrient absorption.     

The ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) as a potential indicator of anthropic impact along the Rio Grande do Sul coast, Brazil

The aim of this study is to compare the density and vertical distribution of ghost crab Ocypode quadrata burrows at three beaches with different degrees of anthropic impact. In order to achieve this, 12 1 m² quadrants were laid out at random daily on each beach, over a 100 m wide strip stretching from the dunes to the waterline, in order to estimate the density of the burrows. The results showed that the density of O. quadrata burrows was lower at beaches with higher anthropic impact - Tramandaí and Harmonia. Jardim do Éden beach, which suffers little impact, had the highest density of burrows. Vertical distribution of the burrows at Tramandaí beach was restricted by the presence of a strip which cars drive along. The burrows along this beach tended to be distributed over a strip where there are kiosks which offer protection from the traffic. At Jardim do Éden and Harmonia beaches, vertical distribution of the burrows was affected only by the dynamics of the rise and ebb of the waterline, caused by two storm events. The results showed that the density of ghost crab O. quadrata burrows is a tool of quick and easy use in diagnosing anthropic impact in coastal areas.