Motility Parameters of Rainbow Trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>) Spermatozoa in Relation to Sequential Collection of Milt,Time of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Post-mortem</Emphasis> Storage and Anesthesia

The present study investigated the effects of sequential collection of milt, time of post-mortem storage and anesthesia on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) sperm motility parameters (using computer-assisted sperm analysis – CASA) as well as seminal plasma osmolality and sperm concentration. The post-mortem storage and time of anesthesia altered motility characteristics of rainbow trout sperm to different extents. The moderate impact of time of anesthesia was manifested in a shortened duration of sperm motility after 10 min exposure of fish to anesthetic. The prolonged post-mortem storage (≥40–60 min), in addition to lowering sperm motility duration, also significantly influenced sperm motility parameters, such as sperm velocities, percentage of motile sperm and sperm trajectory parameters. These results clearly demonstrate that when milt from sacrificed fish is used for sperm motility studies, the time of post-mortem storage significantly alters sperm motility characteristics. Since sperm motility rate and swimming velocity could predict fertilizing ability, detrimental effects of prolonged post-mortem storage may lead to reduced fertilization success. Sperm concentration and seminal plasma osmolality were lower in the first fractions and increased with successive collections of milt. It suggests the presence of urine contamination of the first milt fractions which were collected by stripping. Therefore, testing of sperm concentration and/or seminal plasma osmolality should be mandatory while handling stored milt.     

Flavobacterium psychrophilum in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), hatcheries: studies on broodstock, eggs, fry and environment

The occurrence of Flavobacterium psychrophilum at four rainbow trout hatcheries was investigated to provide more knowledge about the reservoirs and transmission of this bacterium. Broodstock were sampled at stripping (including both unfertilized and fertilized eggs), and the offspring were then sampled at the eyed egg and fry stages. Water and surface samples (e.g. hatchery trays) were also sampled. Flavobacterium psychrophilum was found in ovarian fluid and milt, indicating that broodstock may serve as a reservoir and are latent carriers of the pathogen. Flavobacterium psychrophilum was not found on or inside eggs, but further egg studies will be necessary to elucidate the possibility of vertical transmission of the pathogen. Flavobacterium psychrophilum was isolated from water samples, but only from water that had been in close contact with farmed rainbow trout or eggs. Flavobacterium psychrophilum isolates were characterized and compared with well-characterized strains, using degradation of elastin, serotype and ribotype profiles. Different ribotypes of F. psychrophilum were found between hatcheries, but a common ribotype A was found at all four hatcheries. Different ribotypes were found in broodstock without clinical disease, whereas only a few ribotypes (mostly ribotype A) were found in diseased fry. The same ribotype A was found in broodstock, in water samples from hatchery trays and in fry, which suggests the possibility of transmission of F. psychrophilum between broodstock and offspring.     

Influence of feeding ratio and size on susceptibility to microsporidial gill disease caused by Loma salmonae in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Two trials were designed to quantify the effect of feeding ratio and fish size on the cohabitation transmission of Loma salmonae, the causative agent of microsporidial gill disease (MGD) in salmonids, Oncorhynchus spp. To evaluate the effect of feeding ratio on disease onset, groups of 45 rainbow trout, O. mykiss (Walbaum) (RBT), were fed daily at 1% (low), 2% (medium) or 4% (high) of the fish biomass in the tank. There were three tanks at each feeding level: two tanks were exposed to the pathogen and one was a control. For the second objective, 300 RBT were separated into seven tanks so that the weight classifications were small (17-23 g), medium (32-38 g) and large (57-63 g). Each size class was done in duplicate with one control tank containing medium-sized fish. Separately for each trial, on day 0 post-exposure (PE) five highly infectious RBT were added to each tank (not including the control tanks) to begin the cohabitation exposure period. Beginning on day 21 PE and continuing biweekly until days 70 and 77 PE for the feeding and fish size trials, respectively, each fish was evaluated for visible branchial xenomas to determine disease onset time. Using survival analysis, the survival curves for the low, medium and high feedings were not significantly different from each other. However, there were significant differences amongst the small, medium and large weight classes in the size trial. The median numbers of days to the development of branchial xenomas was 31, 38 and 42 for small, medium and large size fish, respectively. On any given day, a medium or large sized fish had a hazard ratio for developing branchial xenomas of 0.66 and 0.63, respectively, compared with a small fish. In addition to host species and host strain differences, fish size is now considered a host risk factor for the development of MGD.     

Use of a probiotic to control lactococcosis and streptococcosis in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

From a comparison of 125 bacterial isolates recovered from the digestive tract of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and carp, Cyprinus sp., a culture was obtained which was effective at preventing clinical disease caused by Lactococcus garvieae and Streptococcus iniae when used as a feed additive. The culture, Aeromonas sobria GC2, was incorporated into the feed and fed to rainbow trout (average weight = 20 g) for 14 days at a dose equivalent to 5 x 10(7) cells g(-1) of feed. Whereas the untreated controls experienced losses of 75-100% when challenged intraperitoneally with L. garvieae and S. iniae, the probiotic-treated groups remained healthy with total mortalities of only 0-6%. Formalized and sonicated preparations of GC2 and cell-free supernatant fared less well. The mode of action reflected stimulation of innate immunity, namely an increased number of leucocytes and enhanced phagocytic and respiratory burst activity.     

二倍体和三倍体虹鳟精液低温保存寿命的研究

与二倍体(2n组)精原液做比较,以不同密度为组别,研究了4℃下两组(3n-HD和3n-LD)三倍体虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)精原液的保存时限。结果发现,随着保存时间的延长,精液中精子的活力和寿命逐渐降低。2n组、3n-HD组和3n-LD组虹鳟精原液中精子分别在保存5d、4.5d和12.5d后失去活力;在7d、15d和14.5 d后死亡,即三倍体虹鳟精原液4℃保存时间约为二倍体的2倍,说明低温短期保存三倍体虹鳟精原液可以取得较好效果。     

棉粕及脱毒棉粕替代鱼粉对虹鳟生长、体成分及血清生化指标的影响

用不同比例棉粕(CM)及FeSO4处理的脱毒棉粕(CM+Fe)替代饲料中0(CM0,对照组)、10%(CM10)、20%(CM20)、30%(CM30)、50%(CM50)、70%(CM70)和50%(CM50+Fe)、70%(CM70+Fe)的鱼粉,配置成8种等氮等能的饲料,喂养(9.79±0.13)g的虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)10周,每组设3个重复,研究棉粕及脱毒棉粕对虹鳟生长性能、体成分及血清生化指标的影响。结果显示:(1)对照组虹鳟增重率(WG)与CM10～CM50以及CM50+Fe组之间差异不显著,CM70组增重率、蛋白质效率(PER)与其他各组相比显著降低,饲料系数(FCR)显著升高。(2)各试验组虹鳟全鱼和肌肉粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗灰分与对照组差异不显著;CM0～CM70组肌肉中游离棉酚含量也逐渐增加,CM50+Fe和CM70+Fe组肌肉游离棉酚含量显著低于CM50和CM70组。(3)CM70和CM70+Fe组谷丙转氨酶与谷草转氨酶活性与对照组相比显著升高,CM10～CM50和CM50+Fe组与对照组差异不显著,血清甘油三酯含量逐渐升高,血糖含量与总蛋白含量逐渐降低。结果表明,棉粕替代鱼粉的适宜比例为19.62%。