Proteinases for the gastric mucosa of the European sheatfish, Silurus glanis L

Three proteinases named as P1, P2 and P3, were isolated from European sheatfish (Silurus glanis L.) gastric mucosa by salting-out of (NH4)2SO4, gel-chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Isoelectric points of isolated proteinases were determined by isoelectric focusing and were equal to 1.9, 3.2 and 4.75 respectively for P1, P2 and P3. The molecular weight of P1 was 39,800 Da and proteinases P2 and P3 had a molecular weight of 30,200 Da. The optimum pH for three peptidases isolated from sheatfish gastric mucosa and maximum stability of these enzymes were found at acidic pH. It allowed identifying these proteinases as pepsin-type enzymes of fish.     

Susceptibility of European sheatfish Silurus glanis to a panel of ranaviruses

The current study was undertaken in order to assess the risk that different ranaviruses might impose on European sheatfish aquaculture. As the European sheatfish virus (ESV) is a known pathogen causing losses in European sheatfish aquaculture, it was assumed that closely related exotic ranaviruses might also be able to infect European sheatfish and probably cause disease and mortality in this species. The differential susceptibility of European sheatfish (Silurus glanis) to various ranavirus isolates was assessed at two different temperatures (15°C and 25°C) in a recirculation system. Fish were infected experimentally with a panel of ranavirus isolates including ESV, European catfish virus (ECV), European catfish virus isolate 24 (ECV‐24), Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV), Rana esculenta virus isolate Italy 282/ I02 (REV), short‐finned eel virus (SERV), Bohle iridovirus (BIV), guppy virus 6 (GV6), doctor fish virus (DFV) and Frog virus 3 (FV3). Significant mortalities were observed, as expected, in fish infected with ESV at 15°C (100%) as well as at 25°C (86/83%). Fish infected with ECV at 15°C showed no clinical signs of disease (8% mortality), whereas those fish infected at 25°C exhibited a cumulative mortality of 54%. Fatal disease was also induced by Italian isolate ECV‐24 at 25°C (81%). Virus isolates ESV, ECV and ECV‐24, generally the most genetically closely related viruses, were successfully isolated from dead fish by cell culture with subsequent identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis. However, no mortality or clinical signs of disease were observed in the groups of sheatfish infected with the other ranaviruses investigated in the study, and none of those viruses were re‐isolated in cell culture or identified by PCR. It was concluded that European sheatfish are susceptible to infection with ESV, ECV and ECV‐24 under laboratory conditions, but not to infection with EHNV, REV, SERV, BIV, GV6, DFV or FV3. For ESV, the incubation period was shorter at 25°C compared to 15°C water temperature, but whereas all fish died after ESV infection at 15°C, some fish survived the infection at 25°C. Futhermore, the very young sheatfish were susceptible to ECV and ECV‐24 at 25°C, whereas there was no significant mortality in the group of older sheatfish challenged with ECV at 15°C. Therefore, the clinical characteristics of the disease seem to depend on the age of the fish as well as on the water temperature.     

Partial characterization of transferrins of catfish (Silurus glanis L.) and pike (Esox lucius L.)

Basic composition and properties of isolated transferrins of Silurus glanis and Esox lucius have been compared. In transferrin of S. glanis carbohydrate is absent, but it is present in transferrin of E. lucius (2.5%). The N-terminal amino acid is alanine in both species. Mol. wts are 68,400 (S. glanis) and 86,800 (E. lucius). Transferrins of the two species are heterogeneous, but genetic polymorphism was not observed.     

The influence of temperature on the growth of the European catfish (Silurus glanis L.)

The influence of temperature on growth, feed conversion, and protein and gross energy utilization was assessed in two experiments using the European catfish, Silurus glanis L. Animals of 55 g and 24 g were used in trials lasting 6 and 7 weeks, respectively. The optimum temperature for growth was within the range of 25 to 28°C, with the best results obtained at 27°C. Using à feed of low protein content (30.3%), a feed conversion of 1.67 was achieved at à specific growth rate of 1.78% of body weight/day.     

Comparison of methods for hatchery-scale triploidization of European catfish (Silurus glanis L.)

Heat-, cold- and hydrostatic pressure shocks were applied in order to improve triploidy induction in European catfish ( Silurus glanis L . ). A 41°C heat shock (45 s, starting 9 min after gamete activation) provided 88% triploids and a high percentage of malformation (38.8 ± 4.1%). The superior 6°C cold shock (20 min, starting 9 min after gamete activation) gave 100% triploids and a 33.4 ± 3.8% triploid yield. The earliest hydrostatic treatments (600 kg cm²), lasting 4 min and starting 3 min after gamete activation, gave 97.8 ± 1.8% triploids and a 33.7 ± 16.9% triploid yield. The ploidy level was investigated using four approaches: karyotyping, quantification of Ag-stained nucleoli per cell, flow cytometry, and erythrocyte nuclear sizing by computer-assisted image analysis. Induction of triploidy under mass conditions in three experiments gave triploid percentages of 74%, 83% and 66%. Five months later, the percentage of triploids significantly decreased to 12.4%, 8.2% and 21.4%. The growth performance of yearlings was better in diploids than in triploids. Differences between diploids and triploids were 13.5% (NS), 27.6% (P   < 0.001) and 25.4% (P   < 0.05) in the three experiments. Analysis of variance showed the influence of ploidy (P   < 0.001) on growth rate, and multiple range analysis (LSD) assessed differences between total diploids (12.6 g) and total triploids (9.5 g) at the P   < 0.01 level.     

Chromosomal and morphological abnormalities caused by oocyte ageing in Silurus glanis

The effects of ageing oocytes for 6 h before fertilization in the European catfish Silurus glanis are compared with the same experiment under normal conditions (stripping and fertilization immediately after ovulation). Fertilization rate and hatching rate are lower in the aged groups, while the percentages of malformed larvae and chromosomal abnormalities are significantly higher. Several kinds of abnormalities are described in detail.     

Occurrence of Pomphorhynchus laevis Müller 1776 (Acanthocephala) in Silurus glanis (L.) from the River Po.

The sheatfish, Silurus glanis (L.), from the terminal part of River Po was examined for the presence of helminth parasites. Of 182 S. glanis specimens, 95 (52.2%) were infected with the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis. Mid-gut followed by fore-gut appeared to be the most infected portions of host alimentary canal. In 45 sheatfish of total length < or = 40 cm, specimens of P. laevis were found encapsulated in mesenteric and peritoneal tissues. A comparison between light and electron microscopy on features and stages of testis development in both encapsulated male P. laevis and intestinal male parasites showed that the encysted acanthocephalans were immature; mature spermatozoa were rarely found within the testis of worms from the alimentary canal. Among extraintestinal P. laevis specimens, the presumable eversion of parasite praesoma was observed and described. The results of the present survey suggest that small-size individuals of S. glanis could be used as paratenic host by P. laevis during its life cycle in the study area.     

A study of a polymorphic globulin in the serum of Silurus glanis L.

A polymorphism of S-globulin was detected in serum of Silurus glanis L. by starch gel electrophoresis. Three phenotypes were observed which are apparently controlled by two codominant alleles, Sg^A and Sg^B , of an autosomal locus, Sg . Although on electrophoresis S-globulin and transferrin have similar mobilities, the properties of the two proteins differ.     

Efficacy of tagging European catfish Silurus glanis (L., 1758) released into ponds

The efficacy and sub‐lethal consequences of single and double tagging European catfish Silurus glanis with Petersen disc and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags were examined in short (laboratory) and longer‐term (field) experiments. Tag retention in the laboratory was 100%, with normal behaviour (i.e. feeding) in all fish returning within 36 h. In the field, 65 of 120 tagged S. glanis were recaptured from five small study ponds, with 85% retaining their PIT tags, though recapture rates and tagging efficacy were highly variable amongst locations. This is consistent with literature for other fishes, suggesting that tagging efficiency is variable across species and largely context dependent (fish length, tagging location, habitat).     

怀头鲇成熟卵膜表面扫描电镜观察

The surface ultrastructure of mature egg chorion of the tamed northern sheatfish Silurus soldatovi in Hei- longjiang river was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The outermost layer was composed of a thin lamella of a jelly coat. The surface of ielly coat was characterized by overlapping net-like fibrillar lamellae, many clefts with bridges and pores. The pore canals were 0.25 μm in diameter. The pore density was about 0.7 - 1.0/μm^-2. The pores on the surface of jelly coart were distributed uniformly. Mature eggs of sheatfish possessed a funnel-shaped micropyle in the animal polar region. The micropylar region was about 0.04 mm^2 area in diameter with 3 - 8 ridges in radial arrangement. Fertilized eggs in which jelly coats were removed mechanically presented no adhesiveness and exhibited inlays of irregular granules on their surface [Acta Zoologica Sinica 51 （5）： 940-946, 2005].     

Anatomy and morphometry of the olfactory organ of the wels Silurus glanis L. (Siluridae, Pisces)

The anatomical structure of the olfactory organs, nerve tracts and brain was described in Silurus glanis. The changes connected with aging were considered. The olfactory lamellae are thin and tightly set in a rosette. In the 1 year old individuals there are 48...51 lamellae in a single rosette. This number increases gradually with age and in the 9...10 year old welses reaches 150. The surface area of the lamellae of a single rosette also indicates an increase: in the 1 year old specimen it equals 117 mm2, while in the adult individual (5...6 year old)--1040 mm2. This is due to the increase in both the size of each lamella and the number of the lamellae. The obtained results are discussed with regard to other author's data. It has been found that the dynamics of the increase of the surface area of the olfactory epithelium in fish are closely related to the way of life and not to the systematic affiliation of the species.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation in European populations of Silurus glanis

Mitochondrial DNA diversity of 13 wild Silurus glanis populations (covering the entire range of the species) and eight hatchery populations was investigated. PCR-RFLP analysis of four regions of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b, control region, ND-5/6) was used. Nineteen haplotypes were found. Thirteen of them were private. The proportion of total genetic diversity attributable to population differentiation was almost 80%. Despite the existence of significant differentiation between populations for mtDNA variation, no consistent pattern of geographic structuring was revealed and nucleotide divergence among S. glanis populations was low. These phenomena are discussed with regard to the impact of glaciation events. The domesticated stocks show less genetic diversity than natural ones, possibly due to their mode of management. Analysis of three European catfish species S. glanis, S. aristotelis and Silurus triostegus (sampled in the Euphrates river) revealed several endonucleases which produced restriction phenotypes diagnostic for the three species.     

Purification and properties of serine proteinases from European catfish Silurus glanis L. pancreas

Three trypsin isoforms (designated as T1, T2, and T3), three chymotrypsin isoforms (Kh1, Kh2, and Kh3), and two elastase isoforms (E1 and E2) were isolated from the pancreas of European catfish Silurus glanis L. by salting out with (NH4)2SO4, gel chromatography on Sephadex G-75, and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose. Isoelectric points of the enzymes, determined by isoelectric focusing, amounted to 4.42 for T1, 5.64 for T2, 6.90 for T3, 4.93 for Khl, 5.23 for Kh2, 6.18 for Kh3, 6.17 for E1, and 8.48 for E2. Molecular weights of proteinases within each group were close and amounted to 30100 Da for trypsins, 39800 Da for chymotrypsins, and 24000 Da for elastases. The enzymes isolated displayed maximal activities at alkaline pH values. Inhibitor analysis demonstrated that all the proteinases isolated from European catfish pancreas belonged to the serine type.     

Resistance of the European catfish (Silurus glanis) to channel catfish virus

European catfish (Silurus glanis) fingerlings (2 to 4 g each) were tested for susceptibility to channel catfish virus (CCV). They had supported CCV replication at 2 days after intraperitoneal injection with 0.1 ml of saline containing 10⁵ TCID₅₀. Homogenized visceral organs (liver, kidney and spleen) contained 10⁴ TCID₅₀/0.1 ml at 2 days post inoculation (PI) but at 4 days the titer decreased to 10¹ TCID₅₀. Bathing European catfish in CCV yielded only one positive sample with à titer of 10^0.83 TCID₅₀ per 0.1 ml of tissue. No clinical signs of CCV developed and no virus related deaths occurred.     

Genetic structure and phylogeography of European catfish (Silurus glanis) populations

The genetic structure of Silurus glanis (Europe's largest freshwater fish species) across most of its natural distribution was investigated using 10 microsatellite loci. The revealed levels of genetic diversity were much higher than previous allozyme and restriction fragment length polymorphism mitochondrial DNA analyses had shown; relative levels of variability among populations were however, in good agreement with the previous studies. Populations from large basins (Volga and Danube rivers) were the most polymorphic, while samples from the smaller Greek rivers, which are more prone to genetic bottleneck, exhibited the lowest levels of genetic diversity. Microsatellite multilocus genotyping permitted the assignment of individual fish to their population of origin with a score as high as 98.3%. Despite the great genetic differentiation of S. glanis populations, no consistent pattern of geographical structuring was revealed, in contrast to previous studies of European freshwater fish species. A model of isolation by distance seems more probable and a hypothesis of recent dispersion from only one glacial refugium is proposed. The discovery of the highest levels of microsatellite and mitochondrial diversity in the Volga sample and the presence of river connections, during the Pleistocene, between this area and all major areas of the present catfish distribution, place this refugium around the Ponto-Caspian region. Combining these data with those from previous studies, a number of markers are now available to monitor wild and hatchery populations even at the individual level.     

Diel dualism in the energy consumption of the European catfish Silurus glanis

Twenty individuals of the largest European freshwater predator, the European catfish Silurus glanis, were tagged with electromyogram (EMG) physiological telemetry sensors. The fish were observed during diel cycles during the spring and summer in the Elbe and Berounka Rivers, Czech Republic. The purpose of this study was to determine whether diel dualism in the activity of S. glanis occurs naturally or is induced by the laboratory environment and by the conditions occurring in aquaculture. The results obtained from the riverine environment tended to show dualism in the use of the light and dark phases of the day because 35% of the individuals varied from a site‐specific common diel activity pattern. The EMG values increased in accordance with the mass (M) of the fish. To eliminate the influence of M on individual energy consumption, the EMG records were analysed in terms of the EMG:M ratios. High individual variability was found in these ratios. The diel activity pattern of the individuals with relatively high energy consumption differed from the common diel activity pattern. In contrast, the fish that adopted the common diel activity pattern displayed relatively low energy consumption. The results of this study indicated that dualism and energy consumption are related. The EMG values also varied with the values of the environmental variables. Increasing temperature was associated with high EMG values, whereas the EMG values decreased with increasing flow.