Length–weight relationships of 15 fish species from Tembeling River,Pahang, Malaysia

This study reports the length–weight relationships (LWR) of 15 fish species from Tembeling River, Pahang, Malaysia. The river flows adjacent to the National Park, Pahang, and supplies fishes for local consumption. In addition, this river also functions as a main water body for protection and breeding of commercial fish species. A total of eight LWRs were unknown to FishBase, and five new maximum lengths were identified from the study.     

Length–weight relationships of 13 fish species from Pahang River,Temerloh district,Pahang, Malaysia

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) are described for 13 fish species from Pahang River, Temerloh district, Pahang, Malaysia. The river serves as a main water body for freshwater aquaculture in the country and also supplies various fishes for local consumption. This is the first record of LWRs for nine fish species and new maximum lengths for three species in fishbase .     

First report of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) caused by Alexandrium tamiyavanichii in Kuantan Port,Pahang, East Coast of Malaysia

Harmful algal bloom (HAB) is a proliferation of algae, which naturally produce biotoxins and cause harmful effects to humans, the environment and organisms associated with it. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) was reported for the first time in Kuantan Port, Pahang, Malaysia, in November 2013, followed by a second episode in August 2014. The toxicity level reported during the second event was as high as 3500 μg of STX equiv./100 g shellfish. Ten people were hospitalized with PSP symptoms after consuming contaminated shellfish. This study was conducted at Kuantan Port to identify the organisms responsible for these events. Water samples were collected monthly for a period of 12 months beginning in September 2014. HAB species were identified based on their morphology using light and fluorescence microscopes, and their classification was supported by molecular evidence based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Monthly cell abundance of Alexandrium tamiyavanichii was measured at four sampling stations. Toxin production by three strains isolated from the area was determined using HPLC. Our results revealed the presence of several HAB species, including the PSP‐producing species A . tamiyavanichii . The highest cell density of A . tamiyavanichii was 840 cells L^?1. The presence of GTX components was detected in these strains. However, other toxin components could not be determined. This study reported, for the first time, the presence of PSP‐producing A . tamiyavanichii on the Pahang coast of east Peninsular Malaysia and confirmed that the PSP events in Kuantan Port were attributable to this species. The presence of this species further indicates that several safety measures need to be considered to safeguard public health, particularly in Pahang coastal waters.     

Quality of Life in Rural Communities: Residents Living Near to Tembeling,Pahang and Muar Rivers,Malaysia

The main aim of this study is to identify the quality of life (QoL) among communities residing near the Tembeling, Pahang and Muar Rivers in Malaysia. This quantitative study used a constructed questionnaire as main tool to collect data on the QoL of river communities. A total of 240 villagers were selected as respondents. The results indicated that the dimensions of settlement, safety, involvement and social relationships, as well as education scored highest, while dimensions of physical environment, financial and job security yielded moderate scores. Dimensions of infrastructure facilities yielded a low mean score. Recommendations are provided, in the hope that our results may be useful for strategies that could enhance QoL of these river communities.     

The detection of pfcrt and pfmdr1 point mutations as molecular markers of chloroquine drug resistance, Pahang, Malaysia

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Malaria is still a public health problem in Malaysia with chloroquine (CQ) being the first-line drug in the treatment policy of uncomplicated malaria. There is a scarcity in information about the magnitude of Plasmodium falciparum CQ resistance. This study aims to investigate the presence of single point mutations in the P. falciparum chloroquine-resistance transporter gene (pfcrt) at codons 76, 271, 326, 356 and 371 and in P. falciparum multi-drug resistance-1 gene (pfmdr1) at codons 86 and 1246, as molecular markers of CQ resistance. METHODS: A total of 75 P. falciparum blood samples were collected from different districts of Pahang state, Malaysia. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in pfcrt gene (codons 76, 271, 326, 356 and 371) and pfmdr1 gene (codons 86 and 1246) were analysed by using mutation-specific nested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. RESULTS: Mutations of pfcrt K76T and pfcrt R371I were the most prevalent among pfcrt gene mutations reported by this study; 52% and 77%, respectively. Other codons of the pfcrt gene and the positions 86 and 1246 of the pfmdr1 gene were found mostly of wild type. Significant associations of pfcrt K76T, pfcrt N326S and pfcrt I356T mutations with parasitaemia were also reported. CONCLUSION: The high existence of mutant pfcrt T76 may indicate the low susceptibility of P. falciparum isolates to CQ in Peninsular Malaysia. The findings of this study establish baseline data on the molecular markers of P. falciparum CQ resistance, which may help in the surveillance of drug resistance in Peninsular Malaysia.     

Length–weight relationships of seven fish species from the upper Pelus River,Kuala Kangsar district,Perak, Malaysia

Length–weight relationships (LWR) are reported for seven fish species from the upper Pelus River, Kuala Kangsar district, Perak, Malaysia. This river is located in a remote area and supplies fishes for the aboriginal peoples. Fish samplings were conducted in three different seasons, the dry (June 2014), wet (August 2014), and moderately wet (April 2015). All samples were collected using fish electro–shocker and scoop nets with a 1 cm mesh size. A total of seven LWRs were unknown to FishBase, and four new maximum fish lengths were identified in the study.     

Identification of Cryptosporidium from Dairy Cattle in Pahang,Malaysia

Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite, can cause cryptosporidiosis which is a gastrointestinal disease that can infect humans and livestock. Cattle are the most common livestock that can be infected with this protozoan. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia and to find out the association between the occurrence of infection and 3 different ages of cattle (calves less than 1 year, yearling, and adult cattle). The samples were processed by using formol-ether concentration technique and stained by modified Ziehl Neelsen. The results showed that 15.9% (24/151) of cattle were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium in calves less than 1 year was the highest with the percentage of 20.0% (11/55) followed by yearling and adult cattle, with the percentage occurrence of 15.6 % (7/45) and 11.8% (6/51), respectively. There was no significant association between the occurrence and age of cattle and presence of diarrhea. Good management practices and proper hygiene management must be taken in order to reduce the infection. It is highly important to control the infection since infected cattle may serve as potential reservoirs of the infection to other animals and humans, especially animal handlers.     

Molecular and morphological approaches in discrimination of endangered <Emphasis Type="Italic">Probarbus jullieni</Emphasis> of Malaysia and Thailand stocks

The population structure of Probarbus jullieni from Malaysia and Thailand stocks was based on seven microsatellite primers and truss network measurements. Truss morphometric measurements were made on Temoleh, Probarbus jullieni to demonstrate the degree of speciation that can be induced by both biotic and abiotic conditions and contribute to the definition of different stocks of Probarbus sp. At the momment no relevant information on stock definition has been produced recently concerning Probarbus spp., which is now in IUCN threatened red list. We also summarize the possible discriminant morphological characteristics that shows differentiation between Malaysia and Thailand stocks. We also compare the levels of morphology and genetic differences for Malaysian stocks throughout one year of sampling to determine whether sampling season and possible sexual dimorphism can be detected in this fishes. A total of 25 different alleles were found across the two populations by the seven microsatellites, of which 21 and 19 alleles were detected in Pahang, Malaysia and Thailand, respectively At the population level, the mean number of alleles of Pahang (3.4991) per locus was higher than that (3.1665) of Thailand. From both molecular and morphometric measurements showed that there were two distinct populations. However the differences between these two populations showed that they belong to the same species with least degree of separation.     

Length–weight relationships of 10 fish species from Shengsi Ma'an Archipelago Special Marine Protected Area,East China Sea

The length–weight relationships (LWR) for 10 species belonging to seven families from the Shengsi Ma'an Archipelago Special Marine Protected Area (East China Sea) are presented. Four fishes had no previous LWR estimates in FishBase, and one new maximum fish length was recorded in the study.     

A Bayesian approach for estimating length‐weight relationships in fishes

A Bayesian hierarchical approach is presented for the estimation of length‐weight relationships (LWR) in fishes. In particular, estimates are provided for the LWR parameters a and b in general as well as by body shape. These priors and existing LWR studies were used to derive species‐specific LWR parameters. In the case of data‐poor species, the analysis includes LWR studies of closely related species with the same body shape. This approach yielded LWR parameter estimates with measures of uncertainty for practically all known 32 000 species of fishes. Provided is a large LWR data set extracted from www.fishbase.org , the source code of the respective analyses, and ready‐to‐use tools for practitioners. This is presented as an example of a self‐learning online database where the addition of new studies improves the species‐specific parameter estimates, and where these parameter estimates inform the analysis of new data.     

Length–weight relationship of 10 freshwater fish species in Amazonian streams,Trombetas River basin (Brazil)

Length–weight relationships (LWR) were analyzed for 10 fish species from 26 Amazonian streams located in four micro‐basins in the Trombetas River basin, Pará State, Brazil. LWRs were calculated based on 1831 individuals sampled between 2010 and 2012 using a manual trawl. The coefficients of proportionality and allometry were within the ranges estimated for most fishes. No previous LWR information was available for these species in the literature.     

Length–weight relationships of 26 fish species from the middle section of the Negro River (Tacuarembó‐Durazno,Uruguay)

This study provides data on the length–weight relationship (LWR) for 26 species of neotropical fishes. Specimens were collected between 2008 and 2009 from a dam‐enclosed section of the middle Negro River (Uruguay). This study represents the first reference on length–weight relationships for 17 species, and also provides new maximum sizes for eight species.     

Length–weight relationships of 11 deep‐sea fishes from the western Bay of Bengal and Andaman waters,India

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) are presented for 11 deep‐sea fishes caught in the western Bay of Bengal and Andaman waters during August 2010 using a 38 m high speed demersal trawl II (HSDT II, crustacean version, codend mesh size 40 mm) and a 45.6 m Expo model demersal trawl (codend mesh size 30 mm). The b values ranged from 2.34 to 3.3 and the coefficient of variation (r²) ranged from .82 to .98. LWR estimates of eight deep‐sea fishes are provided for the first time. The estimated LWR values were compared with the Bayesian LWR estimates available in FishBase, based on models developed to improve the accuracy and predictability of species‐specific growth parameters of data‐poor species.     

Length–weight relationships of 20 fish species from Bahía de Matanchen,in the southeast Gulf of California,Mexico

Length–weight relationship (LWR) parameters were determined for 20 fish species belonging to 14 genera and seven families. The fishes were collected monthly (May 2013 to February 2014) by soft‐bottom trawls in Bahía de Matanchén, southeast of the Gulf of California. Sizes ranged between 5.5 and 36.0 cm total length (TL) and weighed between 1 and 901 g. The allometric coefficient (b) of the LWR varied from 2.638 for Chloroscombrus orqueta to 3.668 for Neopisthopterus tropicus. This is the first report of LWR estimations for 15 of the species.     

Species composition and length‐weight relationship of fishes in the Candaba wetland on Luzon Island,Philippines

The length‐weight relationships or LWR (W = aL^b) of 18 of the 21 fish species caught in 2007–2008 from the Candaba wetland in central Luzon, Philippines are reported. These species belong to 14 families and the LWR of six species are first documented in this paper. Cyprinids comprised the greatest number of species. The high significance of the LWR parameters indicate that fish weight may be predicted from length, at least within the range of the fish lengths recorded. This first reference to the LWR of fishes from the Candaba wetland provides baseline data for the conservation management of fish biota in this threatened ecological resource.     

Length–weight relationships and condition factor of the Japanese silver-biddy, Gerres equulus, in the Yatsushiro Sea, western Kyushu, Japan

The Japanese silver-biddy Gerres equulus (Temminck and Schlegel) is one of the most common shore fishes in the costal waters of southern Japan and commercially important for the local fishery. In this study the condition factor, length–weight (LWR) and length–length relationships (LLR) of G. equulus are described for the first time. A total of 1121 specimens (511 males; 620 females) were collected using gill nets in the Yatsushiro Sea, western Kyushu, Japan. The overall allometric coefficient b of LWR was close to the isometric values ( b  =   3.088). Fulton's condition factor showed high values at the beginning of the spawning season (June–September) and peaking 2 months after the spawning season.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of two gobiid fishes Eleotris fusca (Forster, 1801) and Odontamblyopus rubicundus (Hamilton, 1822) from the Payra River,southern Bangladesh

The present study provides the estimates of length‐weight relationships (LWRs) and length‐length relationships (LLRs) of two gobiid fishes Eleotris fusca and Odontamblyopus rubicundus from the Payra River, southern Bangladesh. Fish samples were collected from the set bagnet (mesh size <2 mm) fishers of the Payra River in July 2016. Allometric coefficient (b) values were 2.95 for E. fusca and 2.76 for O. rubicundus. Additionally, the LLRs were highly significant with r² ≥ .955. While the estimate of the LWR for O. rubicundus includes a substantial larger sample size and thus provides a more reliable LWR than the one published so far, the LWR for E. fusca must be considered as tentative because the sample includes only juveniles for a fish that reaches a maximum standard length more than three times as much. Additional studies are needed to further improve our LWR knowledge base for these fish species.     

Length-Weight Relationships for freshwater fishes from streams of the Atlantic Rainforest,State of Paraná, Brazil

This study reports the Length-Weight Relationships (LWR) for 10 freshwater fish species sampled in the Atlantic Rainforest, Southern Brazil. Sampling was conducted between 2016 and 2017, in nine streams, using electrofishing. Collected fishes were fixed in formalin, and thus some shrinking was unavoidable. The values of parameter b of the LWR (W = aL^b) ranged between 2.5 and 3.5. We report for the first time the LWR for seven species: Geophagus iporanguensis, Isbrueckerichthys duseni, Hypostomus interruptus, Kronichthys lacerta, Chasmocranu lopezi, Astyanax lacustris e Neoplecostomus ribeirensis. We highlight the importance of the LWR data in supporting further studies on fish stocks and environment in the Atlantic Rainforest, thereby contributing to the database needed to develop fisheries management and maintenance of ecosystem services.     

Length–weight relationship of nine fish species from Skadar Lake (Adriatic catchment area of Montenegro)

This study provides data on the length–weight relationships (LWR) of nine fish species sampled between 2010 and 2014 from Skadar Lake, Montenegro. Also provided are the first comprehensive data of LWRs for three freshwater fishes for which no LWR information was available in the FishBase data bank. The b parameter values ranged from 2.936 to 3.271, while values of the a parameter ranged from 0.002 to 0.014.     

Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii Isolates from Wild Boars in Peninsular Malaysia

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoan that infects nearly one-third of the world population. The present study was done to isolate and genotype T. gondii from wild boar from forests of Pahang, Malaysia. A total of 30 wild boars'' blood, heads and hearts were obtained for this study and 30 (100.0%) were found to be seropositive when assayed with modified agglutination test (MAT≥6). The positive samples were inoculated into mice and T. gondii was only isolated from samples that had strong seropositivity (MAT≥1∶24).The isolates were subjected to PCR-RFLP analysis and all the Peninsular Malaysia isolates of T. gondii are of clonal type I.