Subordination stress in Nile tilapia and its effect on plasma lysozyme activity

Dominant Nile tilapia had significantly higher lysozyme activity than did subordinate fishes (α=0·05). Plasma lysozyme level was not correlated with sex, parental origin, rearing length, weight, condition factor or rearing density.     

Introgressive hybridization of tilapias in Zimbabwe

Three species of tilapia native to Zimbabwe, Oreochromis mossambicus, O. mortimeri and O. macrochir are not naturally sympatric, but because of transplantation they have been brought into sympatry. Allozymes of fish examined from Lakes Kariba, Kyle and Chivero showed evidence of introgressive hybridization. The data showed non-random mating populations in Lakes Kariba and Kyle. All three reservoirs displayed individuals with intermediate principal component scores and hybrid index scores indicating hybridization.     

Structure and enzymatic removal of the chorion of embryos of the Nile tilapia

Dechorionation or partial digestion of the egg chorion is necessary for introducing embryonic stem cells into blastulas for chimera production and for harvesting blastulas. Several methods to digest the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus chorion were tried and it was found that the chorions of most clutches of eggs were digested in <3 h using hatching medium [produced by allowing embryos to hatch in Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS) in an incubator], or 2 mg ml⁻¹ pronase P6911 in 10% Ca/Mg free HBSS. The chorion of Nile tilapia possesses multiple lamellae as found in most teleost species that have been studied. It was found to be thinner than that of medaka Oryzias latipes and thicker than that of zebrafish Danio rerio . During natural hatching the chorion was digested from the inner surface, and tail movements helped to break the remaining chorion; however, chorion digestion has to be complete for experimental dechorionation, because digestion starts at the external surface. The zona radiata externa remained intact after experimental digestion with hatching media but was disrupted by pronase. Embryos dechorionated at the cleavage or blastula stage only survived for 2 or 3 days, but some dechorionated at the gastrula stage or early segmentation stage developed until the natural hatching time. If the chorion was partially digested at the cleavage or blastula stage, some embryos survived to hatch.     

Toxicological Assessment of Arsenic-Induced Hematological Alterations and Chromosomal Aberrations in Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus

Arsenic is an environmental contaminant and potential carcinogen. Toxicological assessment of As, which causes hematological alterations and chromosomal aberrations, was studied in freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus. Fish were exposed to 3 ppm, 28 ppm, and 56 ppm concentrations of sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) and blood samples were collected after 48 h, 96 h, and 192 h of exposure. Hematological assay of exposed fish revealed abnormal mature and immature erythrocytes, deformed erythrocytes (spindle-shaped and triangular erythrocytes) and erythrocytes with segmented nuclei in all treatments. Arsenic exposure induced chromosomal aberration in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas, a decreasing trend was found after 192 h exposure. Observations on blood cells of exposed fish revealed chromosome breaks, chromatid breaks, and chromatid gaps. The alterations and aberrations of these parameters can be effectively used to assess toxicological effects of As on fish in the aquatic environment and at the same time this study elucidates the potential risks to humans who live in arsenic-contaminated areas.     

基于微卫星标记的5个尼罗罗非鱼品系的遗传多样性分析

为了对生产上应用的5个尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)品系的遗传背景进行本底调查,以期为育种工作提供基础数据, 本文用19对微卫星引物对5个尼罗罗非鱼品系(苏丹品系、台湾品系、吉富品系、超雄品系Ⅰ和超雄品系Ⅱ)进行了遗传多样性分析,计算并统计了等位基因数、多态信息含量( PIC)、杂合度、遗传相似性系数、遗传距离等参数。结果表明19个微卫星位点在5个罗非鱼品系中共检测到113个等位基因,平均期望杂合度在0.578–0.692之间,平均多态信息含量在0.473–0.628之间。5个尼罗罗非鱼品系有较丰富的遗传多样性,而超雄品系Ⅰ的遗传多样性相对较为贫乏。     

Fish condition in introduced tilapias of Ugandan crater lakes in relation to deforestation and fishing pressure

This study identifies environmental predictors of the condition of two introduced tilapia species (Oreochromis leucostictus and Tilapia zillii) that are known to have divergent trophic niches (planktivore and herbivore, respectively) in 17 crater lakes in western Uganda. We asked whether fish condition differs among lakes characterized by differences in fishing pressure and catchment deforestation; and we related relative condition factor to gradients of environmental variation across lakes. Lakes characterized by severe catchment deforestation tended to be lakes with high fishing pressure, so it was difficult to explore independent and interactive effects. However, mean relative condition factor was higher in populations with high fishing pressure compared to populations with low fishing pressure for both O. leucostictus and T. zillii. The condition of O. leucostictus populations was higher in lakes with severely deforested catchments; but mean relative condition factor of T. zillii did not differ between deforestation categories. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to describe the major environmental gradients of variation among the lakes; and PCA factor scores were regressed against relative fish condition. The association between fish condition and environmental gradients was stronger for O. leucostictus than for T. zillii. For O. leucostictus, fish condition was related to PC1 (43% of the variance) and factors that loaded most heavily included Chl-a, water transparency, lake area and depth, suggesting higher condition in lakes characterized by higher primary productivity and smaller size. For T. zillii, PC3 (11%) was the only axis related to fish condition; and factors that loaded most heavily included lake area (positive), and conductivity and total nitrogen (negative). Some of the larger lakes are characterized by higher availability of macrophytes that may positively affect the food base for T. zillii.     

奥利亚罗非鱼与鳜杂交的受精细胞学及胚胎发育研究

通过对奥利亚罗非鱼(♀)和鳜(♂)杂交的受精细胞学观察发现:异源精子入卵后产生星光,并核化成雄性原核,与雌原核互相靠近,接触最终完全融合为一个合子核,合子核继续分裂。分析比较了奥利亚罗非鱼,鳜以及奥鳜杂种胚胎发育情况,发现杂种胚胎的发育速度在囊胚早期与母本奥利亚罗非鱼基本一致,到囊胚后期速度有所减慢,但与鳜胚胎发育速度相差很大。这表明奥利亚罗非鱼和鳜虽属不同科间的远缘杂交,但有正常的受精细胞学程序和常规的细胞分裂(卵裂)方式。     

The effect of copper and zinc at neutral and acidic pH on the general haematology and osmoregulation of Oreochromis mossambicus

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of sublethal copper and zinc concentrations at a neutral and an acidic pH, on selected haematological parameters as well as on the total osmolality and electrolyte concentrations of Oreochromis mossambicus. In general, at neutral pH copper and zinc caused blood acidosis, increases in circulating white blood cell numbers, causing stimulation of the immune system, and a rapid release of red blood cells from haemopoietic tissue, as reflected in the decreases in mean corpuscular volume. Increases in red blood cells are attributed to an increase in the oxygen-carrying haemoglobin as an adaptation to altered respiratory homeostasis caused by copper and zinc. These increases are therefore a secondary reaction to the metals and not the result of direct stimulation of the haemopoietic tissue. In contrast, at an acidic pH copper and zinc concentrations usually caused blood alkalosis and decreases in white blood cell numbers, due to the bioconcentration of metals which blocks and suppresses the leucopoietic tissue. Decreases were also recorded in red blood cell counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit and mean corpuscular volume, which can be ascribed to anaemic and hypoxic conditions, gill damage and impaired osmoregulation.     

Microcystin-LR equivalent concentrations in fish tissue during a postbloom Microcystis exposure in Loskop Dam,South Africa

The effects of a decomposing cyanobacteria bloom on water quality and the accumulation of microcystin-LR equivalent toxin in fish at Loskop Dam were studied in May 2012. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] was used to confirm the presence of microcystin-LR equivalent in the water and to determine the microcystin (MCYST) concentration in the liver and muscle of fish. The lowest concentration of extracellular MCYST-LR equivalent was recorded in the lacustrine zone, where no cyanobacterial cells were observed, while the highest concentration (3.25 µg l^?1), 3.25 higher than World Health Organization standard, was observed in the riverine zone. Extremely high MCYST-LR equivalent concentrations of 1.72 µg MCYST-LReq kg^?1 in the liver and 0.19 µg kg^?1 in muscles of Labeo rosae, and 2.14 µg MCYST-LReq kg^?1 in the liver and 0.17 µg kg^?1 in muscles of Oreochromis mossambicus, indicate that the consumption of sufficient fish biomass might cause severe adverse effects in humans. Microscopic analyses of the stomach content of both fish species revealed low numbers of cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa cells in comparison to other phytoplankton. The extracellular MCYST-LR equivalent of the decomposing bloom may have played a major role in the high levels observed in the livers of the two fish species. These findings are important for all downstream water users.     

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…