Molecular genetic structure and relationship of Chinese and Hungarian common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) strains based on mitochondrial sequence

China and Hungary are major providers of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in East Asia and Europe respectively. However, the genetic variation and relationship of this species in the two countries have been poorly understood. In this study, mitochondrial COII‐tRNA^Lys and D‐loop sequences were analysed to investigate the genetic structure and relationships of the representative wild and domesticated common carps distributed in China and Hungary. The results indicated that the genetic diversities of the Chinese common carps are higher than those of Hungarian common carps, and the diversities of the wild common carps are higher than those of domesticated common carps in both the countries. Analysis of molecular variance and pairwise F_ST demonstrated a significant genetic divergence between the Chinese and the Hungarian common carps, and between the wild and the domesticated common carps. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis and statistical parsimony network showed an obvious genetic differentiation between the Chinese and the Hungarian common carps, between the wild and the domesticated common carps. However, a few specimens and haplotypes from the Chinese wild common carps appeared in the Hungarian common carps, demonstrating that there was no absolutely isolated and possible genetic linker between the Chinese and the Hungarian common carps.     

Immunogene expression in head kidney and spleen of common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> L.) following thermal stress and challenge with Gram-negative bacterium, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas hydrophila</Emphasis>

To evaluate the effect of thermal and microbial stress on the immune response of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), relative mRNA expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β] and other genes related to immune or stress response [inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), superoxide dismutase one (SOD1), and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)] was measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR). In addition, total protein and total immunoglobulin level in blood plasma of experimental common carp was also assayed. All the above parameters were estimated 24 h post-challenge with Gram-negative bacterium, Aeromonas hydrophila. Common carp (54.89?±?6.90 g) were initially exposed to 20 °C (control group) and 30 °C (thermal stress group) water temperature for 30 days, followed by experimental challenge with 2.29?×?10⁸ colony forming unit/mL (CFU/mL; LD₅₀ dose) of A. hydrophila. Exposure of fish to thermal stress and subsequently challenge with A. hydrophila significantly (P?<?0.05) increases the IL-1β mRNA expression in head kidney and spleen of common carp by ~?39.94 and ~?4.11-fold, respectively. However, TNF-α mRNA expression in spleen decreased ~?5.63-fold in control fish challenged with A. hydrophila. Thermal stress and challenge with bacterium suppresses the iNOS and GR mRNA expression in spleen of common carp. Moreover, significant (P?<?0.05) increase in total protein content of blood plasma (~?43 mg/g) was evident in fish exposed to thermal stress and challenged with A. hydrophila. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of elevated temperature stress and microbial infection in differential regulation of expression of several immunogenes in common carp.     

Behaviour of thiocarbamate herbicides in soils: Adsorption and volatilization

Adsorption and volatilization of cycloate, EPTC and vernolate applied to six types of soils were studied in the laboratory. Cycloate proved to be the most and EPTC the least adsorptive molecule in all systems examined, while the volatilization order of the compounds was the reverse EPTC>vernolate>cycloate. Neither the adsorption nor the volatilization of thiocarbamates was markedly affected by formulating agents. The adsorption isotherm of several systems did not obey the classical Freundlich equation. A reciprocal relationship which was found between the adsorption coefficients and the volatilization rates of thiocarbamates permits calculation of one of these properties if data on the other are available.     

Effect of temperature on digestibility,growth performance and nutrient utilization of corn distiller’s dried grains with soluble (DDGS) in Common carp juveniles

The aim of this trial was to study the digestibility of corn distiller's dried grains with soluble (DDGS) in Common carp juveniles at two water temperatures 20°C and 30°C. DDGS digestibility was determined based on the substitution of 30% of a reference diet by test DDGS. Three hundred and sixty Common carp juveniles (average weight, 40 ± 7 g) were distributed in thermo‐regulated recirculation water system equipped with twelve 1m³ fibreglass tanks (30 fish per tank), which were allotted to four experimental group in triplicates. Half of the experimental groups were maintained at 20°C, whereas the other half were exposed to 30°C. Juveniles reared under different temperature regimes were fed either of the two diets, with or without DDGS (DDGS diet or reference diet), to evaluate the interaction effect between water temperature and nutrient digestibility of corn DDGS in Common carp. Diet and water temperature interaction was effective in modulating the response of dry matter digestibility of DDGS ingredient, and digestibility was found higher in juveniles reared at 20°C compared with 30°C. Growth, feed efficiency and protein efficiency were higher at 20°C compared with 30°C. Whole body csomposition of Common carp juveniles was found unaffected due to diet and water temperature interaction. Overall, it is concluded that digestibility and growth performance of Common carp is better at 20°C compared with 30°C, and DDGS has high potential for inclusion in diets of Common carp.     

Effect of pulp and paper mill effluent (BKME) on physiological parameters of roach (Rutilus rutilus) infected by the digenean Rhipidocotyle fennica

Physiological parameters were measured after experimental infection of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) with Rhipidocotyle fennica Gibson, Valtonen et Taskinen, 1992 (Digenea) cercariae. The fish were caught from two lakes: a eutrophic bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME)-contaminated lake and an oligotrophic unpolluted lake. The intensity of infection was followed up to 10 days post infection (p.i.) and physiological parameters indicating non-specific stress responses and the condition of fish were examined simultaneously. The mean abundance, the number of parasites per fish, of R. fennica was significantly higher in the fish from the contaminated water during the first two days p.i., probably reflecting the decreased resistance of these fish to infection. The decrease of leukocrit, as well as the increase of the activity of transaminases (GOT and GPT) in infected fish of both groups are suggestive of pathological processes caused by cercariae penetrating the fish. A significantly lower leukocrit value, as well as higher alkaline phosphatase activity and plasma chloride levels were noted in fish originating from the contaminated lake compared to those from the unpolluted lake. No significant differences were noted in haematocrit, plasma protein and calcium values between the fish from the uncontaminated and contaminated lakes, or between the infected and uninfected control fish.     

Differences in the antibody response and survival of genetically different varieties of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) vaccinated with a commercial Aeromonas salmonicida/A. hydrophila vaccine and challenged with A. hydrophila

Males of two strains of carp, wild Duna (D), and inbred Szarvas 22 (22), were selected for high and low stress response. Two purebreds of D and 22, from randomly chosen parents and four crosses, 22 × 22-L (low stress response), 22 × 22-H (high stress response), 22 × D-L (low stress response) and 22 × D-H (high stress response) from selected stress response parents were produced and vaccinated with a commercial Aeromonas salmonicida/Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine and their circulating antibody response evaluated 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks post-vaccination by ELISA. Significantly higher titres of circulatory antibodies against A. hydrophila were found in the families 22 and cross 22 × 22-L compared to other groups. The development of circulatory antibodies against A. hydrophila in all crosses having at least one D parent was low and remained low throughout the experiment. The level of circulatory antibodies against atypical A. salmonicida in the inbred strain increased following a booster vaccination with the highest values measured in inbred strain 22 and cross 22 × 22 L. The different varieties of carp had different levels of survival against experimental challenge with A. hydrophila. The greatest survival was obtained in strain 22 and cross 22 × 22-L, while ~90% of D wild carp and cross 22 × D (independent of their stress response) died. Survival results correlated well with the antibody response of the different groups: 22 and 22 × 22-L had the highest antibody titres against A. hydrophila and the greatest level of survival.     

Effect of two medicinal herbs (Astragalus radix and Lonicera japonica) on the growth performance and body composition of juvenile pikeperch [Sander lucioperca (L.)]

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of feeding juvenile pikeperch diets with medicinal herb adjuvants on the growth performance, proximate body composition, fatty acids profile (whole fish, muscle tissues, viscera) and cytological and histological indicators of the liver and middle intestine. The fish (mean body weight of ca. 110 g) were fed diets with a 0.1% supplement of Astragalus radix (group A), Lonicera japonica (group L) or a mixture of these herbs ( A. radix + L. japonica ; group A/L) for 8 weeks. The herbal supplementation was not noted to have had an impact on the analysed indicators of fish growth performance, condition or feed conversion ratio ( P >0.05). Statistically significant intergroup differences were noted in the value of the hepatosomatic index, hepatocyte size, their nucleus and nucleus/cytoplasm diameter ratio ( P <0.05). Significant intergroup differences were also noted in the appearance of the hepatic parenchyma. Statistically significant intergroup differences were also noted in the protein content of the whole fish body. The analysis of the proximal composition of the fish viscera, in turn, indicated significant differences in the fat content ( P <0.05). Among the analysed group of fatty acids (saturated – SFA, monoenoic – MUFA, polyenoic – PUFA) contained in the whole fish, the fillets and the viscera, significant intergroup differences were noted with regard to SFA (viscera) and MUFA (whole fish) ( P <0.05). The total PUFA content was stable, although significant intergroup differences were noted with regard to a few of the acids that belong to this group ( P <0.05).