Clearance of Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) and immunological changes in experimentally injected Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Macrobrachium rosenbergii was experimentally challenged with Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) to study the clearance of these viruses and consequent changes in various immunological parameters. The healthy animals were injected MrNV and XSV intramuscularly and various organ samples such as gill tissue, head soft tissue, pleopods and intestine were collected at different time intervals of 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75 and 100 d post-infection (p.i.) to study the viral clearance. Tissue tropism and clearing of MrNV and XSV were confirmed by RT-PCR, nested RT-PCR and bioassay. These 2 viruses failed to cause mortality or clinical signs of disease in injected adult prawns during the experimental period of 100 days. The result of RT-PCR analysis revealed that all the organs showed positive for both viruses by single step RT-PCR on 3, 5 and 10 d p.i., positive by nested RT-PCR on 15 and 20 d p.i. and all the organs became negative at 25 d p.i. onwards. The viral inoculum prepared from the tissue of MrNV and XSV-injected M. rosenbergii at 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 d p.i. caused 100% mortality in post-larvae of M. rosenbergii at 9, 8, 7, 10 and 10 d p.i., respectively whereas the inoculum prepared at 25, 50 and 100 d p.i. failed to cause significant mortality in post-larvae of prawn. Immunological parameters such as proPO, superoxide anion, SOD, THC, clotting time and oxyhemocyanin were determined in MrNV and XSV-injected prawns and significant differences in some of the immunological parameters were found in the early days p.i. and became insignificant in the later days p.i.     

Artemia as a possible vector for Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus transmission (XSV) to Macrobrachium rosenbergii post-larvae

Five developmental stages of Artemia were exposed to Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) by immersion and oral routes in order to investigate the possibility of Artemia acting as a reservoir or carrier of these viruses. The second objective was to determine if virus-exposed Artemia were capable of transmitting the disease to post-larvae (PL) of M. rosenbergii. There was no significant difference in percent mortality between Artemia control groups and groups challenged with these viruses. On the other hand, all the developmental stages of Artemia were positive for both viruses by nested RT-PCR, regardless of the challenge route. In horizontal transmission experiments, 100% mortality was observed in M. rosenbergii PL fed with Artemia nauplii exposed to MrNV and XSV by either challenge route. However, no mortality was observed in PL fed with virus-free Artemia. RT-PCR analysis of the M. rosenbergii PL confirmed the presence of MrNV and XSV in the challenge group and absence in the control group.     

Experimental transmission and tissue tropism of Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and its associated extra small virus (XSV)

White tail disease (WTD) was found to be a serious problem in hatcheries and nursery ponds of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in India. The causative organisms have been identified as M. rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and its associated extra small virus (XSV). Experimentally transmitted to healthy animals, they caused 100% mortality in post-larvae but failed to cause mortality in adult prawns. The RT-PCR assay revealed the presence of both viruses in moribund post-larvae and in gill tissue, head muscle, stomach, intestine, heart, hemolymph, pleopods, ovaries and tail muscle, but not in eyestalks or the hepatopancreas of experimentally infected adult prawns. The presence of these viruses in ovarian tissue indicates the possibility of vertical transmission. Pleopods have been found to be a suitable organ for detecting these viruses in brooders using the RT-PCR technique.     

Dot-blot hybridization and RT-PCR detection of extra small virus (XSV) associated with white tail disease of prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

The availability of specific and reliable detection methods is essential for monitoring the health status of farmed species, particularly for viral diseases. Extra small virus (XSV), a virus-like particle, is associated with Macrobrachium rosenbergii Noda virus (MrNV) in white tail disease (WTD) of M. rosenbergii. We developed 2 genome-based detection methods for the identification of XSV, namely dot-blot hybridization and a single-step RT-PCR. Detection limits were established and are ca. 2.5 pg and 5 fg of viral RNA for dot-blot hybridization and RT-PCR, respectively. Application of the methods to field samples indicated that some animals positively diagnosed with MrNV did not contain XSV, at least within the detection limit of the methodology. This raises the question of the actual role of XSV and its interactions with MrNV in WTD of M. rosenbergii.     

Expression and Assembly Mechanism of the Capsid Proteins of a Satellite Virus (XSV) Associated with Macrobrachium rosenbergii Nodavirus

The extra small virus (XSV) is a satellite virus associated with Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and its genome consists of two overlapping ORFs, CP17 and CP16. Here we demonstrate that CP16 is expressed from the second AUG of the CP17 gene and is not a proteinase cleavage result of CP17. We further expressed CP17 and several truncated CP17s (in which the N- or C-terminus or both was deleted), respectively, in Escherichia coli. Except for the recombinant plasmid CP17ΔC10, all recombinant plasmids expressed soluble protein which assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs), suggesting that the C-terminus is important for VLP formation.     

Expression and Assembly Mechanism of the Capsid Proteins of a Satellite Virus （XSV） Associated with Macrobrachium rosenbergii Nodavirus

The extra small virus （XSV） is a satellite virus associated with Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus （MrNV） and its genome consists of two overlapping ORFs, CP17 and CP16. Here we demonstrate that CP16 is expressed from the second AUG of the CP17 gene and is not a proteinase cleavage result of CP17. We further expressed CP17 and several truncated CP17s （in which the N-or C-terminus or both was deleted）, respectively, in Escherichia coli. Except for the recombinant plasmid CP17^AC10, all recombinant plasmids expressed soluble protein which assembled into virus-like particles （VLPs）, suggesting that the C-terminus is important for VLP formation.     

Quantitative and qualitative study of the bacterial flora of farmed freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) larvae

Quantitative and qualitative studies of the bacterial flora of farmed freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) larvae in Saudi Arabia were performed, and isolates identified where possible. Physico‐chemical characteristics, bacterial counts, and the nature of the bacterial flora of larvae rearing tank water, sediment, tank wall surfaces, larval surface, supplied water, and feed were investigated. Bacterial counts ranged from 2.1 ± 1.3 × 10⁵ to 2.2 ± 0.8 × 10⁷ colony forming units (CFU) ml^?1 in tank water; 4.4 ± 0.9 × 10⁷ to 8.3 ± 1.7 ×10⁹ CFU g^?1 in tank sediment; 8.6 ± 1.0 × 10² to 9.8 ±0.7 × 10⁴ CFU cm^?2 on the tank wall surface; 1.3 ± 1.1 × 10⁴ to 7.7 ± 1.6 × 10⁶ CFU per larva surface, 7.9 ± 1.2 × 10⁵ to 5.0 ± 1.5 × 10⁷ CFU g^?1 in washed larval tissue slurries, 9.1 ± 0.7 × 10³ CFU ml^?1 in supplied water, and 2.4 ± 1.9 ×10¹⁰ CFU g^?1 in mixed feed. Fourteen bacterial genera were identified, including Chryseomonas sp., Vibrio spp., Cellulomonas sp., Aeromonas hydrophila, and Pasteurella sp. The tank water and sediment had similar bacteria to those on the prawn larvae. Chryseomonas sp., Cellulomonas sp. and Vibrio sp. were the most dominant species (prevalence >10%) in tank water; Chryseomonas sp., Pseudomonas alcaligenes and Shewanella putrefaciens in the sediment; Ps. alcaligenes and Cellulomonas sp. on the tank wall surface; Chryseomonas sp., and Cellulomonas sp. on the larval surface; and Chryseomonas sp., Vibrio vulnificus, Sh. putrefaciens and V. alginolyticus in the washed larval tissue slurries (prevalence 10%). Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Moraxella sp., Serratia liquefaciens, Gordona sp. and Burkholderia glumae were absent in larvae but identified in the culture water, tank sediment, and tank wall surface. Pseudomonas sp., Chryseomonas sp., Pasteurella sp. and V. alginolyticus were the prevalent bacteria (>12%) in supplied water. The feed contained V. alginolyticus, A. hydrophila and Cellulomonas sp. as the dominant bacteria (>13%). In the culture water and larvae samples, 83% of the feed and supplied water bacteria were identified.     

Appendage deformity syndrome--a nutritional disease of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Culture of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii as an alternative to penaeid shrimp has recently increased in coastal areas of southern India in order to avoid numerous problems, particularly with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). However, M. rosenbergii culture is now threatened by a new disease, appendage deformity syndrome (ADS), that also results in high mortality. Analysis of ADS prawns for viruses such as WSSV, monodon baculovirus (MBV) and infectious hypodermal and hematopoeitic necrosis virus (IHHNV) gave negative results. ADS prawns were also negative for bacterial pathogens and affected animals did not respond to antibiotic therapy. A study of potential nutritional deficiency revealed that carotenoid supplementation in the diet led to a significant decrease in ADS prawns.     

三丁基锡(TBT)对罗氏沼虾的毒性效应

将罗氏沼虾(Macrobrachium rosenbergii)幼虾和成虾暴露在不同浓度的三丁基锡(tributyhin,TBT)溶液中,进行急性和慢性毒性实验,通过组织病理学观察研究TBT对罗氏沼虾的毒性效应。结果表明:TBT对罗氏沼虾幼虾和成虾的96h半致死浓度(96h LC50)分别为51和376μg.L-1,安全浓度(SC)分别为5.1和37.6μg.L-1;罗氏沼虾幼虾暴露在浓度分别为1.25、2.5和5μg.L-1的TBT溶液中30d后,其体重和体长均极显著低于对照组(P<0.05);罗氏沼虾成虾暴露在浓度分别为2、8和32μg.L-1的TBT溶液中30d后,生长速度虽未见明显差异,但鳃和肝胰脏组织结构均出现异常;TBT浓度高于8μg.L-1时,处理组鳃上皮细胞肿胀,支持细胞中的细胞核萎缩,鳃血窦中血细胞聚集,肝胰脏细胞肿大,出现空泡化,细胞中出现细小颗粒;TBT浓度达32μg.L-1时,罗氏沼虾肝胰脏细胞空泡化程度严重,细胞核消失,部分细胞解体并出现坏死区;表明一定剂量的TBT对罗氏沼虾的鳃和肝胰脏有明显的毒性效应。     

Responses of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) to challenge by two strains of Aeromonas spp

The virulence of two Aeromonas strains (A. veronii and A. caviae) isolated from the hepatopancreas of apparently healthy giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) was compared using a challenge by injections. For the A. veronii strain, challenge with 3.7 x 10(5) cells/g of body weight led to 100% mortality; for the A. caviae strain, 3.8 x 10(6) cells/g produced 100% mortality. The 50% lethal doses (LD50) were 2.0 x 10(3) cells/g for A. veronii and 51.2 x 10(3) cells/g for A. caviae. Use of different culture media (trypticase soy broth vs prawn muscle extract) did not significantly affect the virulence of A. veronii. Injection of a sublethal dose (1 x 10(3) cells/g) of A. veronii led to a significant decrease in the total hemocyte count (THC) between 4 and 24 h after injection. Saline injections also caused a similar though less decrease in THC. In the first 24 h after injection of A. veronii (1 x 10(3) cells/g), the change in the percentages of granulocytes (both granular cells and semigranular cells) in the hemolymph was significantly different. After a significant initial increase, the percentage of hyaline cells fell by a factor of 4, from 9 to 2%. Phenoloxidase activity increased fourfold immediately after injection and returned to preinjection levels at 24 h.     

恩诺沙星在罗氏沼虾体内的药物代谢动力学

应用反相高效液相色谱法(RP-HPLC)研究了恩诺沙星在罗氏沼虾(Macrobrachiumrosenbergii)体内的药物代谢动力学。实验结果表明,恩诺沙星在血淋巴、肝胰腺、肌肉中的平均回收率分别为86.54%±2.39%、85.43%±2.75%、95.01%±1.99%,其代谢产物环丙沙星在血淋巴、肝胰腺、肌肉中的平均回收率分别为94.34%±8.30%、75.17%±5.42%、80.42%±1.67%;恩诺沙星及其代谢产物环丙沙星在三种组织中的平均日内精密度分别为3.39%±0.53%和3.92%±1.24%,而日间精密度分别为5.11%±1.73%和5.28%±2.10%。恩诺沙星、环丙沙星的最低检测限分别为0.02μg/ml和0.01μg/ml。罗氏沼虾以10mg/kg虾体重剂量单次肌肉注射给药后,血液中药物浓度即刻达到峰值,并迅速向组织中分布。实验数据经MCPKP药动学软件分析,恩诺沙星在血淋巴中的主要药物代谢动力学参数为:t1/2α为0.581h、t1/2β为69.315h、Vd/F为7.230L/kg、CL/F为0.035L/h.kg、K12为0.01/h、K21为0.005/h、AUC为291.898μg/ml.h、Tmax为0.083h、Cmax为6.293μg/ml;恩诺沙星在肝胰腺、肌肉组织中主要药动学参数:t1/2α为1.941h、0.000h;t1/2β为70.732h、59.456h;AUC为308.07μg/ml.h、217.039μg/ml.h。三种组织中均能检测到恩诺沙星的活性代谢产物环丙沙星,但含量均处于较低水平,药物浓度-时间数据经MCPKP药动学软件处理后,不能用开放性一室模型或二室模型拟合。     

Quantification of lectin in freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii ) hemolymph by ELISA

An enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay was developed to quantify the lectin present in the hemolymph of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. This method involves the use of murine monoclonal IgG1 with kappa light chain (designated as 3G1) antibodies raised against the purified lectin, the assay that we developed recognized as little as 30 ng/ml of lectin, and was used to measure the lectin concentration in animals at different maturation stages. The highest concentration of lectin was identified in the hemolymph from post-larval prawns and the lowest in molt stage adult animals. The hemagglutination activity of the lectin was four-fold higher in adult than in juvenile specimens, although in all cases N-acetylated sugar residues, such as N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid were inhibitors of the lectin activity, suggesting that lectin plays a role in the transport of N-acetylated sugar in juvenile prawns. Our results indicate that lectin concentration and hemagglutinating activity could be influenced by developmental conditions of the freshwater prawn.     

Microsatellite loci in the eastern form of the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Six microsatellite loci were identified and characterized in the eastern form of the widespread and commercially important giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). The loci were detected by randomly screening for dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeat units within a partial genomic library developed for the species. In a sample of 29 prawns, number of alleles and heterozygosity per locus ranged from 12 to 18 and from 0.66 to 0.90, respectively. These markers provide powerful tools for the conservation and management of wild stocks, the improvement of cultured stocks of M. rosenbergii, and for investigating evolutionary processes underlying genetic divergence among populations.     

Identification of lectin isoforms in juvenile freshwater prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii (DeMan, 1879)

From the serum of juvenile freshwater prawns, we isolated by affinity chromatography on glutaraldehyde-fixed rat erythrocytes stroma, immobilized in Sephadex G-25, a sialic acid specific lectin of 9.6[emsp4 ]kDa per subunit. Comparative analysis against adult organisms purified lectin, by chromatofocusing, showed that the lectin from juvenile specimens is composed by four main isoforms with a pl of 4.2, 4.6, 5.1, and 5.6, whereas the lectin from adults is eluted at pH 4.2. The amino acid composition of the lectin obtained from adult and juvenile stages suggest identity, but the compositions are not identical since a higher content of carbohydrates was found in the lectin from younger organisms. The freshwater prawn lectin showed specificity toward N-acetylated amino sugar residues such as GlcNAc, GalNAc, Neu5Ac and Neu5,9Ac; but in juvenile organisms the lectin showed three times less hemagglutinating activity than the lectin from adults. Both lectins agglutinated rat, rabbit and chicken erythrocytes, indicating that Neu5,9Ac in specific O-glycosydically linked glycans seems to be relevant for the interaction of M. rosenbergii lectins with their specific cellular receptor. Our results suggest that the physicochemical characteristics of the lectin from the freshwater prawn are regulated through maturation.     

Immunomodulation by 'Immuplus (AquaImmu)' in giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man)

ImmuPlus, a polyherbal commercial formulation was used to modulate the immune system of commercially important giant freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii. The prawns were fed with basal diet supplemented with ImmuPlus at 1g/kg feed for 4 weeks. Results showed that the phenoloxidase activity (PO), haemagglutination and lysozyme activities were significantly elevated in ImmuPlus-fed prawn up to 3 weeks of feeding and declined after 4 weeks of feeding. The total protein level in ImmuPlus-fed prawn raised up to 2nd week of feeding. Incorporation of ImmuPlus at the rate of 1g/kg feed in the diet of prawn for 3 weeks may be beneficial in raising the immune status of prawn.     

Transfer of foreign gene to giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) by spermatophore-microinjection

We developed a spermatophore-microinjection (SMI) technique that allows exogenous DNA fragments to be transferred easily into the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), an important aquacultural shellfish and aquatic invertebrate model. From 28 to 1, 000 ng of the circular plasmid pGL, in a total volume of 1 microl, were directly microinjected into spermatophores. Fertilization and hatching of prawns created with SMI were completed in vivo. Fertilization and hatching rates in the SMI treatments did not differ from those of the untreated control group. The genomes of free swimming, SMI-created larvae (21 days after fertilization) were analyzed using PCR and Southern blot analyses. A product with a molecular mass of 680 bp was amplified. It corresponded to amplifications of pGL, and Southern blot analysis revealed that the amplified band was positive. The gene transfer rate was primarily dependent on the concentration of DNA during SMI. The higher the concentration of pGL, the higher the rate of gene transfer. PCR and Southern blot analyses detected the existence of foreign DNA in 16 of 23 samples (70%) of genomic DNA isolated from hatched larvae in the 750 ng pGL SMI treatment. SMI, described here for the first time, is the simplest and most efficient method for mass producing transgenic giant freshwater prawns.     

Complete Mitochondrial DNA Sequences of the Decapod Crustaceans Pseudocarcinus gigas (Menippidae) and Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Palaemonidae)

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence was determined for the Australian giant crab Pseudocarcinns gigas (Crustacea: Decapoda: Menippidae) and the giant freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae). The Pse gigas and Mrosenbergii mitochondrial genomes are circular molecules, 15,515 and 15,772 bp in length, respectively, and have the same gene composition as found in other metazoans. The gene arrangement of M. rosenbergii corresponds with that of the presumed ancestral arthropod gene order, represented by Limulus polyphemus, except for the position of the tRNA^Leu(UUR) gene. The Pse. gigas gene arrangement corresponds exactly with that reported for another brachyuran, Portunus trituberculatus, and differs from the M. rosenbergii gene order by only the position of the tRNA^His gene. Given the relative positions of intergenic nonoding nucleotides, the “duplication/random loss” model appears to be the most plausible mechanism for the translocation of this gene. These data represent the first caridean and only the second brachyuran complete mtDNA sequences, and a source of information that will facilitate surveys of intraspecific variation within these commercially important decapod species.