Growth characteristics of skeletal muscle tissue in Oreochromis niloticus larvae fed on a lysine supplemented diet

The effect of lysine amino acid supplementation on the growth characteristics and morphological pattern of skeletal muscle tissue in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus larvae was evaluated. There were four treatments (T) with increasing levels of lysine supplement (T1 = 0·0%; T2 = 1·1%; T3 = 1·7%; T4 = 4·0%) and one treatment with a commercial diet (T5). In all treatments, morphological and histochemical muscle tissue analyses were similar. Two distinct layers were identified: a superficial red layer, more developed in the lateral line region, formed by fibres with intense to moderate NADH‐TR reaction and strong acid‐stable mATPase activity, and a deep white one, most of the muscle mass, formed by fibres with weak NADH‐TR reaction and strong alkali‐stable mATPase activity. There was an intermediate layer between these two layers with fibres exhibiting either weak acid‐stable or acid‐labile mATPase activity. Body mass increase was significantly higher in T5 than in the lysine treatments (T1–T4). There was no difference in number and diameters of muscle fibres between lysine treatments. In T5, muscle fibre diameter and number were higher. The frequency of red fibres with diameters ≤8 μm was higher in the lysine treatments, and with diameters between 16 and 24 μm, was higher in T5. Most white fibre diameters in T5 were significantly larger than 24 μm and in T1–T4 were between 8 and 16 μm. Cell proliferation was higher in the lysine treatments and muscle growth in T5 was mainly by fibre hypertrophy.     

筛选与尼罗罗非鱼性别相关的AFLP标记

尼罗罗非鱼(Tilapia)隶属于鲈形目(Perciformes)、鲈形亚目(Percoidei)、丽鱼科(Cichildae)的热带性鱼类,是联合国粮农组织向全世界推广的优良养殖鱼类,已成为世界性的主要养殖对象之一。由于繁殖快、成熟早,养殖过程中极易造成繁殖过剩,密度过大,个体过小等不利情况;另外,尼罗罗非鱼的雌雄个体之间具有明显的生长差异,从而影响产量的提高。目前解决这一问题最为理想的措施是单性养殖全雄鱼,这样既可以防止过度繁殖,又可利用雄鱼的生长优势。但是由于缺乏性别或性染色体特异的分子遗传标记,遗传性别的准确鉴定问题也一直是罗非鱼类性别控…     

Observations on limnological conditions associated with a fish kill of Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Chivero following collapse of an algal bloom

Possible causes of deaths of Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Chivero were examined in relation to changes in limnological conditions monitored over a 25‐month period. The fish deaths coincided with the collapse of an algal bloom that had developed and builtup in the lake for 8 months. Chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen increased to average concentrations of 42.4 μg l^?1 and 10.9 mg l^?1 respectively prior to the collapse of the bloom. Dissolved oxygen decreased when the bloom started to die off and coincided with the fish deaths when the average surface dissolved oxygen concentration in the lake was 3.9 mg l^?1 and was at a depth of 5 m <2 mg l^?1. Mortality probably resulted from depressed oxygen levels caused by the high oxygen demand from the massive algal die‐off and released algal toxins. This is the first time that die‐off of algae has been linked to fish‐kills in Lake Chivero as occurs in other hypereutrophic systems.     

Stomach pH,feeding rhythm and ingestion rate in Oreochromis niloticus L. (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Lake Awasa,Ethiopia

Fish were caught in February and October, 1985 with gill and trawl nets at different time intervals. The length and weight of the fish, the stomach pH and the weight of the stomach contents were determined. The feeding pattern of O. niloticus was observed to have a diel rhythm. The stomach became more acidic towards the afternoon and most of the evening. The pH of the stomach had a significant regression on stomach fullness. The feeding rate of O. niloticus in Lake Awasa was estimated from daily feeding periodicity and rate of gastric evacuation. The fish ingests 11.5% of their wet body weight daily at an average water temperature of 21.5 °C. It is believed that the fish ingests and assimilates adequate supply of energy (9.1 KJ/day) for growth, maintenance and other energy requiring activities of the fish.     

The food habits of an herbivorous fish (Oreochromis niloticus Linn.) in Lake Awasa,Ethiopia

The natural food ofOreochromis niloticus in Lake Awasa was studied from the stomach contents of 10 fish measuring 18–32 cm (standard length) monthly from August 1984 to April 1986.Chroococcus, Oscillatoria andBotryococcus were found to be important food items in the diet. Animal foods were observed on rare occasions and these were mainly Rotifera. Blue-green algae as a group contribute about 28.1% of the ash free dry weight (AFDW) whereas diatoms and green algae (excludingBotryococcus) make 2.31% and 2.39% of AFDW, respectively.Botryococcus, detritus and other algae comprised 67.2% of AFDW and it was suspected that more than half of this was contributed byBotryococcus. Blue-green algae, which were especially abundant in the diet during the dry season, November–February, are nutritionally most important. Seasonal variation in algal species composition could influence the quality of food ingested by the fish.     

温度与盐度对吉富品系尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼生长和肝脏抗氧化酶活力的协同影响

采用中心复合试验设计(CCD)和响应曲面方法(response surface methodology, RSM),探讨了温度(16～37 ℃)和盐度(0～18)对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长和肝脏抗氧化酶活力的协同影响.结果表明： 温度和盐度的一次与二次效应对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼特定生长率（SGR）有显著影响(P<0.05),随着温度或盐度的上升,其特定生长率呈先升后降的变化.温度与盐度间存在互作效应(P<0.05),温度为16～20 ℃时,幼鱼的特定生长率在盐度为9～10时较高;在温度27～32 ℃、盐度3～5时较高;高温环境下（35～37 ℃）,淡水环境中的幼鱼生长较快.温度和盐度分别为28～30 ℃和6～8时,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活力较高,温度的一次效应与盐度的二次效应对两种酶活力均有显著影响(P<0.05),温度与盐度对CAT活力有互作效应,高温与高盐环境会抑制SOD和CAT活力的表达.SGR、SOD和CAT因子与响应值间二次多项回归方程的决定系数分别达到0.954、0.831和0.942(P<0.05),可用于预测;温度效应对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长和抗氧化酶活力的影响较盐度明显.在罗非鱼的养殖过程中应合理安排养殖环境,降低氧化胁迫,以促进罗非鱼的生长与抗病力的提高.     

Effects of sodium chloride on water quality and growth of Oreochromis niloticus in earthen ponds

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted between April and August 2001 to evaluate the effects of NaCl on Oreochromis niloticus growth and water quality in twelve 0.015 ha limed ponds. The design involved fertilizer and salt as factors with two treatments for each factor. Each salt‐fertilizer combination was replicated three times and fish were not offered external food during the 98 days culture. Growth of O. niloticus was significantly enhanced by salt at higher fertilizer level but not at the lower fertilization level. Although salt had no direct effect on fish growth, a significant salt‐fertilizer interaction was demonstrated. Water quality variables, with a few exceptions, were similar among the salted treatments. Total ammonia increased significantly with fertilization level, but the values were similar in salted and unsalted treatments at the same fertilizer level. Total nitrogen was higher in the salted than unsalted treatments while the organic matter content was lower in the salted treatments. The reasons for the better growth of O. niloticus, are discussed with respect to water quality variables. The present results suggest that fertilization rates of 20 kg N ha^?1 may have negative effects on fish growth. However, presence of sodium chloride seems to reduce these negative effects.     

Effects of the pyriproxyfen and fenthion on the gonadal morphology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus: Perciformes,Cichlidae)

Commercially available insecticides present acute toxicity to the health of fish and other aquatic organisms, which may impair the local aquaculture. This study evaluated the gonadal morphology of freshwater fish exposed to pyriproxyfen and fenthion. Forty-five juvenile male Nile tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus) were divided into control, pyriproxyfen-exposed (0.01 g/L), and fenthion-exposed (0.001 g/L) groups. They were evaluated in three moments (30, 60, and 90 days). The variables analyzed were the gonadosomatic index (GSI), weight to length ratio, seminiferous tubules morphometry (diameter and height), tissue damage, and immunohistochemical analysis for caspase-3, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Pyriproxyfen and fenthion injured the seminiferous tubule tissue, and the damage progressed according to the exposure time. In addition, the GSI gradually reduced over time in all groups compared with the first moment (30 days), while caspase-3, TNF-α, and VEGF values increased only in the fenthion-exposed group. Therefore, pyriproxyfen and fenthion changed the gonadal morphology of male Oreochromis niloticus, which may affect their reproduction in the wild or captivity.     

Using truss networks to estimate the biomass of Oreochromis niloticus, and to investigate shape Characteristics

Truss and length measurements were made on 463 tilapia Oreochromis niloticus of known mass. These measurements were then used to build mathematical models to estimate tilapia biomass. Two different approaches were used to build the models. The first was to take some simple mathematical models, and to optimize them using least squares regression. The second approach was to build models using artificial neural network software. Models were built for two different but overlapping size ranges and both approaches were successful in creating models that estimated the total biomass to within ±1%. The truss measurements were also used to assess the principal shape components of different sized tilapia.     

Effects of confinement stress of variable duration on the growth and microincrement deposition in the otoliths of Oreochromis niloticus(Cichlidae)

The effects of chronic confinement stress (1, 5 and 10 days) and of periodic blood sampling on somatic growth and the structure and growth of otoliths was studied in Oreochromis niloticus . During the study, the plasma concentrations of cortisol were measured at various times during the application of stress: they were significantly higher in confined fish than in control fish (mean ±  s . d . 3·40 ± 0·47 v . 1·26 ± 0·62 ng ml⁻¹, P  < 0·05) up to 5 days after the start of a 10 day stress period. The somatic growth (standard length, L _S, and mass) was affected by the confinement and by the sampling (from 16·21 ± 1·07 to 14·64 ± 1·15 cm for L _S, and from 173·31 ± 33·14 to 110·50 ± 29·48 g for mass). But the confinement masked the effect of the sampling on somatic growth. Tetracycline was injected at the start of the experiment to mark the otoliths, and showed that the short and long duration confinements led to a clear check in the pattern of primary increments in the otoliths. The number of primary increments deposited during the resting periods that followed each period of confinement was always less than the number of days that these periods lasted. No relation was found between the duration of confinement and the structure of the resulting checks. These results suggest that there is a disruption in the laying down of primary increments during periods of confinement resulting in an underestimation of their number compared to the actual number of days of growth. These results call into question the use of otolith primary increments as a means of estimating the age of Nile tilapia that have experienced periods of stress.     

The stomach of Oreochromis niloticus has three regions

The stomach of Oreochromis niloticus was divided into three distinct regions: initial, middle and terminal, corresponding roughly to the cardiac, fundic, and pyloric portions of the mammalian stomach. Grossly, the organ showed initial and terminal portions, the former connected to the distal part of the oesophagus and the latter to the proximal portion of the intestine. There was also a middle region, forming a large blind diverticulum communicating with the first two at their point of junction. The initial or cardiac region was shorter than the middle region but longer than the terminal one, and had a smooth surface devoid of gastric pits. The epithelium in this region was simple columnar devoid of goblet cells, with glandular regions in the lamina propria. The mucosa of the middle or fundic region had gastric pits lined by columnar epithelium, and simple tubular glands filled most of the lamina propria. The terminal or pyloric part of the stomach was very short and its mucosa was slightly folded and devoid of both gastric pits and mucous glandular cells. The lining epithelium of this portion of the stomach was simple columnar and a few goblet cells were seen at its junction with the first part of the intestine. The tunica muscularis of the stomach contained skeletal muscle in the initial and terminal regions, usually intermingled with smooth muscle fibres. Skeletal muscle fibres were also observed in the first portion of the small intestine, near the junction with the stomach.     

Protective effect of selenium against mercury-induced toxicity on hematological and biochemical parameters of Oreochromis niloticus

In this study, to identify mercury (Hg) toxicity and whether selenium (Se) has any role in alleviation of this toxicity, it was investigated the changes in hematological and serum biochemical parameters of Oreochromis niloticus. Fish were exposed to 0.01 and 0.1 mg/L Hg and 0.01 mg/L Hg + 0.1 mg/L Se and 0.1 mg/L Hg + 1.0 mg/L Se for 7 and 14 days. The exposure of O. niloticus to Hg alone resulted in decreases in red blood cell, white blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit values, and cholinesterase activity while it increased in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and cortisol and glucose levels. Se, in combination with Hg, partially or totally caused an alleviation for the toxic effect of Hg on the above mentioned hematological and biochemical parameters. The results of our study showed that Se has a protective effect against toxicity induced by Hg.     

Otolith microstructure pattern in Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

The microstructure of otoliths from young and old Oreochromis niloticus (L.) were studied. Otoliths were prepared histologically except for those from newly hatched fish. Hatching results in the formation of a check in the otoliths, which appeared 1 day later. Other checks are rare in juvenile otoliths but common in adult otoliths. Faint and non-daily increments were observed within the hatching check. After hatching, increments were deposited daily. Sub-daily increments were faint and narrow, they were present in the area along the dorso-ventral axis of the otolith but did not continue into the lateral region. Discontinuous zones in the medial area appeared different from those in the lateral area. New growth centres were not only found in the juvenile fish otoliths, but also in adult fish otoliths.     

Effect of different salinity on serum osmolality,ion levels and hematological parameters of East Java strain tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

This study evaluated the effect of different salinity levels on the physiology of East Java strain tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by measuring the serum osmolalities (SO), ion levels and hematological parameters. Their SOs above the external medium (hyper-osmotic) at 0 and 5 ppt, becoming iso-osmotic at 10 ppt and hypo-osmotic at 15 ppt. The concentrations of serum Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^? and Ca²⁺ in fish acclimated in 0 and 5 ppt were not significantly different. The levels of Na⁺, Cl^– and Ca²⁺ in fish exposed to 10 and 15 ppt were higher than those in fish acclimated at 0 and 5 ppt. In contrast, the levels of K⁺ in fish exposed to 10 and 15 ppt were lower than those in fish exposed to 0 and 5 ppt. The levels of red blood cell, hematocrit and hemoglobin of fish exposed to salinity of 0, 5, 10 and 15 ppt were not significantly different. The levels of white blood cell increased significantly at fish exposed to 10 and 15 ppt. These data provide useful information for future reference and farming practice.     

Digestive efficiency and nutrient composition gradient in the gut of Oreochromis niloticus L. in Lake Awasa, Ethiopia

Assimilation efficiencies were measured by comparing the amount of nutrient in the food and faeces of fish from the natural environment. The comparison of nutrients was made in relation to reference markers: ash, hydrolysis-resistant ash (HRA) and hydrolysis-resistant organic matter (HROM). Assimilation efficiencies of nutrients computed using ash and HRA as reference markers were significantly ( P < 0.05) lower than those measured with HROM; digestibility estimates of protein were the least influenced by the type of marker used. Generally, HROM appears to be the most suitable reference marker for a digestibility study in an herbivorous fish such as Oreochromis niloticus .
Nutrient composition gradient examined by analysis of stomach, intestinal and rectal contents showed that digestion of all nutrients was completed when the food passed two-thirds of the way through the length of the intestine. Most of the nutrients were significantly ( P < 0.05) affected by the processes of digestion and assimilation in different sections of the gut, and a decline in the quantity of nutrients was obvious towards the rectum.     

Development of the embryo, larva and early juvenile of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces: Cichlidae). Developmental staging system

We described the developmental stages for the embryonic, larval and early juvenile periods of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus to elucidate sequential events of craniofacial development. Craniofacial development of cichlids, especially differentiation and morphogenesis of the pharyngeal skeleton, progresses until about 30 days postfertilization (dpf). Because there is no comprehensive report describing the sequential processes of craniofacial development up to 30 dpf, we newly defined 32 stages using a numbered staging system. For embryonic development, we defined 18 stages (stages 1-18), which were grouped into seven periods named the zygote, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, segmentation, pharyngula and hatching periods. For larval development, we defined seven stages (stages 19-25), which were grouped into two periods, early larval and late larval. For juvenile development until 30 dpf, we defined seven stages (stages 26-32) in the early juvenile period. This developmental staging system for Nile tilapia O. niloticus will benefit researchers investigating skeletogenesis throughout tilapia ontogeny and will also facilitate comparative evolutionary developmental biology studies of haplochromine cichlids, which comprise the species flocks of Lakes Malawi and Victoria.     

尼罗罗非鱼致病性类志贺邻单胞菌(Plesiomonas shigelloides)的分离鉴定及其病理学观察

【目的】2013年5月广东番禺某养殖场罗非鱼出现大量死亡现象,临床症状表现为鱼体体色发黑、体表出血、鳞片脱落、鳍条溃烂等,解剖发现腹腔有大量腹水、胆囊肿大、肝呈黄色、脾脏呈暗红色。为确定病原,【方法】从具以上临床症状的病鱼组织中分离获得可疑菌株1株,编号PYS1。采用形态特征、生长特性、理化特征、16S rRNA基因序列分析等理化及分子生物学技术鉴定该菌株种类。通过人工回归感染及组织病理学研究确定该菌株的致病性,并开展药物敏感性试验筛选其敏感药物。【结果】结果表明PYS1菌株为类志贺邻单胞菌(Plesiomonas shigelloides),在16S rRNA基因序列构建的分子进化树中与其他鱼源类志贺邻单胞菌聚为一支。药敏试验结果表明该菌株已呈现多重耐药性,仅对少数检测抗生素(头孢曲松、头孢洛克和头孢唑啉等)敏感。人工回归感染结果显示PYS1菌株可使尼罗罗非鱼出现与自然发病鱼相似症状,其对尼罗罗非鱼半致死量为1.425×108CFU/尾,石蜡切片显示其对感染鱼的肠、肝、脾、肾和心脏等组织均可造成损伤。【结论】证明类志贺邻单胞菌为上述养殖场尼罗罗非鱼发病的病原,且为首次报道该菌对尼罗罗非鱼的致病性。     

Metabolic and molecular responses in Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus during short and prolonged hypoxia

The strictly aquatic breathing Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is an extremely hypoxia-tolerant fish. To augment our understanding of the effects of hypoxia on anaerobic glycolysis in the Nile tilapia, we studied the effect of short-term for 1 day (trial 1) and long-term for 30 days (trial 2) hypoxia on a selected glycolytic enzymes activity and mRNA expression in liver and white muscle. The hypoxic oxygen concentrations used in the two trials were 2, 1, and 0.5 mg O₂ L^?1 for comparison with a control normoxic group 8 mg O₂ L^?1. The activity of phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in liver and white muscle except liver LDH decreased in trial 1 and increased in trial 2. Assessments of mRNA levels in trial 1 revealed that PFK was downregulated and LDH was upregulated in liver and white muscle, while PK fluctuated between upregulation in liver and downregulation in white muscle. Meanwhile, PK and LDH were upregulated while PFK was similar to control values in both tissues in trial 2. Comet assay results demonstrated an increase in DNA damage that was directly proportional to increasing hypoxic concentrations. This damage was more pronounced in trial 1. This suggests that the Nile tilapia cope better with long-term hypoxic conditions, possibly as an adaptive response.     

Mitotic chromosomal abnormalities and DNA polymorphism in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus,Linnaeus, 1758) as a biomarker for water pollution by heavy metals

Mitotic chromosomal aberrations and DNA polymorphism (RAPD marker) were carried out on the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus collected from five sites in Minia governorate, Egypt to test their applicability as biomonitors for heavy metal contaminants of water. The diploid chromosome number of O. niloticus population was 2 n = 44. Different types of chromosomal aberrations were recorded (e.g., deletion, ring, centromeric attenuation, end-to-end association, dicentric chromosome, stickiness chromosomes, endomitosis, fragments and chromatid gap). The chromosomal aberrations varied between O. niloticus population collected from five sites, and the most common type was ring (R) chromosomes. Samples obtained from Bahr Yousef and Irrigation drain exhibited the highest aberration frequency. The frequency of chromosomal aberration was positively correlated with the concentration of heavy metals where their concentration in the surface water of Irrigation drain and Bahr Yousef exceeded the limits defined by WHO as well as the concentration of Pb in muscles. The RAPD marker was also used to identify genetic variation among Nile tilapia samples collected from five different water sources. It created polymorphic and unique bands that can be used as genetic markers to track DNA variations. The dendrogram also revealed that exposure to heavy metal pollution causes gradual accumulation of variance, whereas areas subjected to environmental stress showed higher genetic variation and clustered together.     

Bone development in the jaw of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces: Cichlidae)

East African cichlids have evolved feeding apparatus morphologies adapted to their diverse feeding behaviors. The evolution of the oral jaw morphologies is accomplished by the diversity of bone formation during development. To further understand this evolutionary process, we examined the skeletal elements of the jaw and their temporal and sequential emergence, categorized by developmental stages, using the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus as a model cichlid. We found that chondrogenesis started in Stage 17. The deposition of osteoid for the dermal bones commenced in Stage 18. The uptake of calcium dramatically shifted from the surface of larvae to the gills in Stage 20. The bone mineralization of the skeleton began in Stage 25. These data provide important information regarding the sequential events of craniofacial development in East African cichlids and lay the groundwork for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation of jaw structure to feeding behavior.