Palatability of Water Organisms for Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Cichlidae)

Journal of Ichthyology - The palatability of six species of aquatic animals and five species of plants for the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus was evaluated. Aqueous extracts of most organisms...     

Intraperitoneal Germ Cell Transplantation in the Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Germ cell transplantation offers promising applications in finfish aquaculture and the preservation of endangered species. Here, we describe an intraperitoneal spermatogonia transplantation procedure in the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Through histological analysis of early gonad development, we first determined the best suitable stage at which exogenous germ cells should be transplanted into the recipients. For the transplantation procedure, donor testes from a transgenic Nile tilapia strain carrying the medaka β-actin/enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene were subjected to enzymatic dissociation. These testicular cells were then stained with PKH26 and microinjected into the peritoneal cavity of the recipient fish. To confirm colonization of the donor-derived germ cells, the recipient gonads were examined by fluorescent and confocal microscopy. PKH26-labeled cells exhibiting typical spermatogonial morphology were incorporated into the recipient gonads and were not rejected within 22 days posttransplantation. Long-term survival of transgenic donor-derived germ cells was then verified in the gonads of 5-month-old recipients and in the milt and vitelogenic oocytes of 1-year-old recipients, by means of PCR using EGFP-specific primers. EGFP-positive milt from adult male recipients was used to fertilize non-transgenic oocytes and produced transgenic offspring expressing the donor-derived phenotype. These results imply that long-term survival, proliferation, and differentiation of the donor-derived spermatogonia into vitelogenic oocytes and functional spermatozoa are all possible. Upon further improvements in the transplantation efficiency, this intraperitoneal transplantation system could become a valuable tool in the conservation of genetic resources for cichlid species.     

Genetic and Physical Mapping of Sex-Linked AFLP Markers in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Identification of the sex-determining genes of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has important implications for commercial aquaculture. We previously identified an XX/XY sex-determining locus in this species within a 10-cM interval between markers GM201 and UNH995 on linkage group one (LG1). In order to refine this region, we developed new AFLP markers using bulked segregant analysis of the mapping families. We identified three AFLP markers that showed a sex-specific pattern of segregation. All three mapped near, but just outside, the previously identified sex-determining region on LG1. Hybridization of BAC clones containing these markers to chromosome spreads confirmed that the XX/XY sex-determining locus is on one of the small chromosomes in O. niloticus.     

Behaviours Associated with Acoustic Communication in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Background

Sound production is widespread among fishes and accompanies many social interactions. The literature reports twenty-nine cichlid species known to produce sounds during aggressive and courtship displays, but the precise range in behavioural contexts is unclear. This study aims to describe the various Oreochromis niloticus behaviours that are associated with sound production in order to delimit the role of sound during different activities, including agonistic behaviours, pit activities, and reproduction and parental care by males and females of the species.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Sounds mostly occur during the day. The sounds recorded during this study accompany previously known behaviours, and no particular behaviour is systematically associated with sound production. Males and females make sounds during territorial defence but not during courtship and mating. Sounds support visual behaviours but are not used alone. During agonistic interactions, a calling Oreochromis niloticus does not bite after producing sounds, and more sounds are produced in defence of territory than for dominating individuals. Females produce sounds to defend eggs but not larvae.

Conclusion/Significance

Sounds are produced to reinforce visual behaviours. Moreover, comparisons with O. mossambicus indicate two sister species can differ in their use of sound, their acoustic characteristics, and the function of sound production. These findings support the role of sounds in differentiating species and promoting speciation. They also make clear that the association of sounds with specific life-cycle roles cannot be generalized to the entire taxa.     

Circadian Rhythms of Locomotor Activity in the Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Behavioral rhythms of the Nile tilapia were investigated to better characterize its circadian system. To do so, the locomotor activity patterns of both male and female tilapia reared under a 12:12 h light-dark (LD) cycle were studied, as well as in males the existence of endogenous rhythmicity under free-running conditions (DD and 45 min LD pulses). When exposed to an LD cycle, the daily pattern of activity differed between individuals: some fish were diurnal, some nocturnal, and a few displayed an arrhythmic pattern. This variability would be typical of the plastic circadian system of fish. Moreover, reproductive events clearly affected the behavioral rhythms of female tilapia, a mouth-brooder teleost species. Under DD, 50% (6 of 12) of male fish showed circadian rhythms with an average period (τ) of 24.1±0.2 h, whereas under the 45 min LD pulses, 58% (7 of 12) of the fish exhibited free-running activity rhythms with an average τ of 23.9±0.5 h. However, interestingly in this case, activity was always confined to the dark phase. Furthermore, when the LD cycle was reversed, a third of the fish showed gradual resynchronization to the new phase, taking 7–10 days to be completely re-entrained. Taken together, these results suggest the existence of an endogenous circadian oscillator that controls the expression of locomotor activity rhythms in the Nile tilapia, although its anatomical localization remains unknown.     

Relationship of Plasma-Free Amino Acids and Aminotransferase Expression in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Cichlidae)

Journal of Ichthyology - There is a relationship between concentrations of free amino acids in blood plasma in Nile tilapia and expression levels of hepatic enzymes involved in protein catabolism....     

Dietary folic acid (FA) requirement of a genetically improved Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The present study was conducted to determine the dietary folic acid (FA) requirement of genetically improved Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Experimental diets were supplemented with 0.04, 0.22, 0.48, 0.96, 2.25, or 4.07 mg/kg FA, respectively, and fed to three replicate groups of 15 tilapia (mean initial weight = 60.23 ± 2.60 g; mean ± SD) for 12 weeks. Results showed that the weight gain rate increased linearly with increasing dietary FA from 0.04 to 0.40 mg/kg, then remained stable with higher supplementation. Similarly, hepatic FA concentration, red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HB) and hematocrit (HCT) all markedly increased in fish fed with 4.07 mg/kg FA compared to those fed a control diet (p < .05). Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities decreased with increasing dietary FA (p < .05). The FA requirement was estimated to be 0.4 mg/kg based on weight gain rate, and 0.7 mg/kg based on liver FA accumulation.     

Isolation and Physical Mapping of Sex-Linked AFLP Markers in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

Gynogenetically produced XX and YY Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and diploid control groups were screened for amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) to search for sex-linked or sex-specific markers. Family-level bulked segregant analysis (XX and YY gynogenetic family pools) and individual screening (XX and YY gynogenetics and XX and XY control individuals) identified 3 Y-linked (OniY425, OniY382, OniY227) and one X-linked (OniX420) AFLP markers. OniX420 and OniY425 were shown to be allelic. Single locus polymerase chain reaction assays were developed for these markers. Tight linkage was demonstrated between the AFLP markers and the sex locus within the source families. However, these markers failed to consistently identify sex in unrelated individuals, indicating recombination between the markers and the sex-determining loci. O. niloticus bacterial artificial chromosome clones, containing the AFLP markers, hybridized to the long arm of chromosome 1. This confirmed previous evidence, based on meiotic chromosome pairing and fluorescence in situ hybridization probes obtained through chromosome microdissection, that chromosome pair 1 is the sex chromosomes.     

尼罗罗非鱼线粒体基因组全序列测定与系统进化分析

参照已报道的鱼类线粒体基因序列,通过PCR扩增与测序,获得了全长为16627bp的尼罗罗非鱼线粒体基因组全序列,共编码13种蛋白质基因、2种rRNA基因、22种tRNA基因和1段控制区序列.H-链碱基组成具有明显的AT偏向性.由H-链编码的蛋白质基因在第3位密码子上相对于前2个密码子具有一定的G排斥性.L-链编码蛋白质基因在碱基组成上与H-链编码基因存在差异.编码基因除COI以GTG作为起始密码子外,其它均以ATG起始.终止密码子有2种,分别为不完全T-或TA-和TAA.L-链复制起始区位于WANCY区域(tRNATrp-tRNAAla-tRNAAsn-tRNACys-tRNATyr)的tRNAAsn和tRNACys基因间,长度为33bp.系统发育分析显示,源于非洲的口孵鱼属、蓝首鱼属和球丽鱼属聚为单系群,其中口孵鱼属莫桑比克罗非鱼先与同属罗非鱼KM-2006聚类后再与尼罗罗非鱼聚类.     

A novel sex-determining QTL in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Background

Fish species often exhibit significant sexual dimorphism for commercially important traits. Accordingly, the control of phenotypic sex, and in particular the production of monosex cultures, is of particular interest to the aquaculture industry. Sex determination in the widely farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is complex, involving genomic regions on at least three chromosomes (chromosomes 1, 3 and 23) and interacting in certain cases with elevated early rearing temperature as well. Thus, sex ratios may vary substantially from 50%.

Results

This study focused on mapping sex-determining quantitative trait loci (QTL) in families with skewed sex ratios. These included four families that showed an excess of males (male ratio varied between 64% and 93%) when reared at standard temperature (28°C) and a fifth family in which an excess of males (96%) was observed when fry were reared at 36°C for ten days from first feeding. All the samples used in the current study were genotyped for two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs397507167 and rs397507165) located in the expected major sex-determining region in linkage group 1 (LG 1). The only misassigned individuals were phenotypic males with the expected female genotype, suggesting that those offspring had undergone sex-reversal with respect to the major sex-determining locus. We mapped SNPs identified from double digest Restriction-site Associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing in these five families. Three genetic maps were constructed consisting of 641, 175 and 1,155 SNPs from the three largest families. QTL analyses provided evidence for a novel genome-wide significant QTL in LG 20. Evidence was also found for another sex-determining QTL in the fifth family, in the proximal region of LG 1.

Conclusions

Overall, the results from this study suggest that these previously undetected QTLs are involved in sex determination in the Nile tilapia, causing sex reversal (masculinisation) with respect to the XX genotype at the major sex-determining locus in LG 1.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1383-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

A major quantitative trait locus affecting resistance to Tilapia lake virus in farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Enhancing host resistance to infectious disease has received increasing attention in recent years as a major goal of farm animal breeding programs. Combining field data with genomic tools can provide opportunities to understand the genetic architecture of disease resistance, leading to new opportunities for disease control. In the current study, a genome-wide association study was performed to assess resistance to the Tilapia lake virus (TiLV), one of the biggest threats affecting Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus); a key aquaculture species globally. A pond outbreak of TiLV in a pedigreed population of the GIFT strain was observed, with 950 fish classified as either survivor or mortality, and genotyped using a 65 K SNP array. A significant QTL of large effect was identified on chromosome Oni22. The average mortality rate of tilapia homozygous for the resistance allele at the most significant SNP (P value = 4.51E−10) was 11%, compared to 43% for tilapia homozygous for the susceptibility allele. Several candidate genes related to host response to viral infection were identified within this QTL, including lgals17, vps52, and trim29. These results provide a rare example of a major QTL affecting a trait of major importance to a farmed animal. Genetic markers from the QTL region have potential in marker-assisted selection to improve host resistance, providing a genetic solution to an infectious disease where few other control or mitigation options currently exist.Subject terms: Quantitative trait loci, Quantitative trait, Genetic markers, Animal breeding, Genome-wide association studies     

尼罗罗非鱼ZAP-70蛋白的原核表达、纯化及其多抗制备

[目的]构建尼罗罗非鱼ZAP-70原核表达载体,纯化其重组蛋白并制备多克隆抗体。[方法]采用无缝克隆技术构建尼罗罗非鱼ZAP-70重组表达载体,并转入大肠杆菌B21中诱导表达,将表达的ZAP-70蛋白免疫日本大耳兔得到多克隆抗体,采用Western Blotting和ELISA技术鉴定抗体的特异性和效价。[结果]成功构建原核表达重组质粒p ET-B2m-ZAP-70,诱导表达的重组蛋白分子量约为39 k Da,主要以包涵体的形式表达;获得效价为1∶512 000的多克隆抗血清,WB检测显示该抗体能够特异性的识别所表达的ZAP-70重组蛋白。[结论]尼罗罗非鱼ZAP-70重组质粒在大肠杆菌B21中高效表达,分子量约为39 k Da,该蛋白具有良好的免疫原性,为进一步探索ZAP-70在尼罗罗非鱼免疫系统中的功能奠定了基础。     

遗传改良"新吉富" (NEW GIFT)尼罗罗非鱼RAPD-SCAR标记开发及其在品系鉴别中的应用

“新吉富”(NEW GIFT)尼罗罗非鱼是以1994年引进的 “吉富”(GIFT)品系尼罗罗非鱼为基础群体,经过14年9代系统选育后获得的新品种,该品种已被国家审定为良种,已在全国推广,迫切需要有效的分子遗传标记来鉴别该新品种并实施科学管理。该研究对良种群体开展了RAPD分析,并进一步将特异性的RAPD标记转化成了稳定的SCAR标记。 通过对“新吉富”群体的RAPD分析,找到了两个品种特异性的RAPD条带（S₃₀₄^{624 bp}和S₃₆^{568 bp}）。对品种特异性的RAPD条带进行了胶回收、克隆和序列测定。根据测序结果设计了两对位点特异性引物来扩增这两个品种特异性条带（简称SCAR标记Ⅰ和Ⅱ）,检测这两个SCAR标记在“新吉富”、“吉富”以及国内外7个养殖品系中的出现频率。SCAR标记Ⅰ（553 bp）在“新吉富”群体中的出现频率为85.7%,而在其基础群体（“吉富”）中的出现频率仅为16.7%;SCAR标记Ⅱ（558 bp）在“新吉富”群体中的出现频率达到91.4%,但在其它7个养殖品系中的出现频率仅在0%～70%之间。为验证这两个标记的可靠性,检测了这两个标记在一个埃及罗非鱼野生群体中的出现频率,发现SCAR标记Ⅰ和SCAR标记Ⅱ的出现频率分别为10%和70%,远低于在“新吉富”群体中的出现频率。这两个SCAR标记在“新吉富”良种群体中的高出现频率,预示它们可能与生长性能相关QTL位点间存在连锁关系,显示SCAR标记技术对选育世代间的纵向追溯、以及选育良种群体与其它养殖品系间的横向鉴别有较好应用前景。     

Sex reversal in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) using a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor

Several studies have demonstrated that steroid hormones can influence sex differentiation in nonmammalian vertebrates and it has been hypothesized that male and female sex differentiation are driven by androgen and estrogen hormones, respectively. Estrogen biosynthesis is mediated by the steroidogenic enzyme cytochrome P450 aromatase, which converts androgens to estrogens. In the present study we examined the efficacy of a potent nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor incorporated into the food, on sex reversal of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) larvae. Nile tilapia larvae were divided in seven groups, which were fed with diets containing different amounts of the aromatase inhibitor Fadrozole (0, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) during 15 and 30 days, starting 9 days after hatching. Independent of the period, the proportion of males was significantly higher in the treated groups. Treatment with the highest doses (75 and 100 mg/kg) for 30 days produced 100% males. Histological examination revealed no differences in gonadal tissues between control males and treated fish. Furthermore, one intersex fish was identified in the group treated with 50 mg Fadrozole/kg for 30 days. This study reports that a 100% Nile tilapia male population can be obtained by suppressing aromatase activity and suggests that besides steroid hormones, nonsteroidal compounds, such as aromatase inhibitors, have potential for production of monosex population in tilapia. J. Exp. Zool. 290:177-181, 2001.     

Influence of the Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) on hematological and biochemical parameters of Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

The acute toxicity of household detergent (Ariel) on blood parameters and histology of Oreochromis niloticus was investigated using static bioassay for 96 h. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is an anionic surfactant widely used in detergents and cleaners, both in industrial and household applications. LAS contaminating aquatic ecosystems as a potential toxic pollutant, was investigated in the present study for acute toxicity. The fish samples were divided into six groups, including 20 fish in each group. Normal feed was given to control group without detergents treatment. Hematological parameters (RBC count, Hb, Ht and platelets) were significantly declined, while WBC count showed a highly significant increase. Compared with the control group, significant elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was recorded in fish treated with different concentrations of detergent. Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and Reduced Glutathione (GSH) concentration showed a highly significant reduction. Total proteins showed significant decrease, while total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides significantly increased. The mean lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for 96 h of Ariel was at concentration 10 mg/L. Relative percentage of detergent residues in fish muscles was increased with higher detergent concentrations. In conclusion, exposure to detergents resulted in great alterations in the histological structure of liver and gills.