Immune hypersensitivity in the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , exhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) when sensitized with Flexibacter columnaris antiserum produced in channel catfish (the first record of PCA in any fish), but not when sensitized with homologous antiserum against channel catfish virus. Channel catfish did not give delayed skin hypersensitivity responses after immunization with either channel catfish virus or F. columnaris .     

Antibody response of channel catfish after channel catfish virus infection and following dexamethasone treatment

Channel catfish virus (CCV, Ictalurid herpesvirus 1) and CCV disease have been extensively studied. Yet, little is known about CCV-host interaction after resolution of the primary infection. In order to determine potential recrudescence of CCV from latency, we established latency by exposing channel catfish juveniles with CCV or a thymidine kinase-negative recombinant (CCVlacZ) at a dose that caused less than 20% mortality. Then, we evaluated antibody response by serially sampling the same fish at 0 (pre-infection), 30, 60 and 90 d post challenge (DPC). We then attempted to induce viral recrudescence by intramuscular administration of dexamethasone and sampled the fish at 2, 4, 7, or 10 d post treatment. Recrudescence was evaluated by leukocyte co-cultivation and cell culture of tissue homogenates but no virus was detected. Western blot data demonstrated the highest number of seropositive fish by 30 DPC and a secondary antibody induction after dexamethasone treatment. The antigen specificity of the secondary response corresponded to viral proteins with molecular masses similar to those recognized by the same fish by 30 DPC. The recognized proteins were predominantly large, ranging from approximately 90 to >200 kDa. Expression analysis of selected virus genes at 90 DPC and following dexamethasone treatment demonstrated occasional immediate-early virus gene expression in peripheral blood leukocytes. Early and late gene expression was rarely detected. The combined data suggest restricted re-activation of CCV in our experimental system. Primary and secondary responses and virus gene expression were demonstrated in CCVlacZ-exposed fish but were less frequent than in CCV-exposed fish.     

Poly I:C inhibits the expression of channel catfish virus immediate-early gene ORF 1 at early times after infection

Channel catfish virus (CCV) is a herpesvirus that infects channel catfish fry and fingerlings. Previous research has demonstrated that Type I interferons inhibit the expression of immediate-early (IE) genes of some mammalian herpesviruses. However, CCV is distantly related to the mammalian herpesviruses and Type I interferons from higher vertebrates exhibit only 20% similarity to fish interferons. In this work we demonstrate that treatment of channel catfish ovary (CCO) cells, a fibroblast-like cell line, with poly I:C, a known inducer of Type I interferons, results in inhibition of expression of the CCV IE gene ORF 1. Thus, although the genes involved have diverged, the mechanism appears to be conserved. If this paradigm holds true for other CCV IE-Type I interferon interactions, it could have important implications for the impact of CCV on the host immune system.     

Ultrastructure of endocrine cells in the stomach of two teleost fish Perca fluviatilis L. and Ameiurus nebulosus L.

Summary In the gastric mucosa of two teleost species, the perch (Perca fluviatilis) and the catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus) three endocrine cell types were found, located predominantly between the mucoid cells of the gastric mucosa. A fourth cell type is present in the gastric glands of catfish. Each cell type was defined by its characteristic secretory granules. Type-I cells were predominant in both fish. These cells contained round or oval granules with a pleomorphic core. The average diameter of granules was 400 nm for the perch and 270 nm for the catfish. Type-II cells of both species displayed small, highly osmiophilic granules about 100 nm in diameter. The secretory granules of type-III cells (260 nm in the perch and 190 nm in the catfish) were round or slightly oval in shape and were filled with a finely particulate electron-dense material. Type-IV cells of the catfish were found in the gastric glands only. Their cytoplasm was filled with homogeneous, moderately electron-dense granules averaging 340 nm in diameter. The physiological significance of these different morphological types of gastric endocrine cells requires further investigation.     

Characterization of a virus obtained from snakeheads Ophicephalus striatus with epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) in the Philippines

This is the first report of the isolation and characterization of a fish virus from the Philippines. The virus was isolated using snakehead spleen cells (SHS) from severely lesioned epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS)-affected snakehead Ophicephalus striatus from Laguna de Bay, in January 1991. The virus induced cytopathic effects (CPE) in SHS cells yielding a titer of 3.02 x 10(6) TCID50 ml(-1) at 25 degrees C within 2 to 3 d. Other susceptible cell lines included bluegill fry (BF-2), catfish spleen (CFS) and channel catfish ovary (CCO) cells. Replication in chinook salmon embryo cells (CHSE-214) was minimal while Epithelioma papulosum cyprini cells (EPC) and rainbow trout gonad cells (RTG-2) were refractory. Temperatures of 15 to 25 degrees C were optimum for virus replication but the virus did not replicate at 37 degrees C. The virus can be stored at -10 and 8 degrees C for 30 and 10 d, respectively, without significant loss of infectivity. Viral replication was logarithmic with a 2 h lag phase; viral assembly in the host cells occurred in 4 h and release of virus occurred 8 h after viral infection. A 1-log difference in TCID50 titer between the cell-free virus and the total virus was noted. Freezing and thawing the virus caused a half-log drop in titer. Viral exposure to chloroform or heating to 56 degrees C for 30 min inactivated the virus. Exposure to pH 3 medium for 30 min resulted in a more than 100-fold loss of viral infectivity. The 5-iododeoxyuridine (IUdR) did not affect virus replication, indicating a RNA genome. Neutralization tests using the Philippine virus, the ulcerative disease rhabdovirus (UDRV) and the infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) polyvalent antisera showed slight cross-reaction between the Philippine virus antiserum and UDRV but established no serological relationship with SHRV and IHN virus. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of SHS cells infected with the virus showed virus particles with typical bullet morphology and an estimated size of 65 x 175 nm. The Philippine virus was therefore a rhabdovirus, but the present study did not establish its role in the epizootiology of EUS.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of herpesvirus from cultured European eels Anguilla anguilla in Taiwan

A herpesvirus has been isolated for the first time from a population of European eels Anguilla anguilla cultured in a recirculated system in Taiwan. Syncytia formation was detected in EP-1 (eel epidermis) cell cultures inoculated with cell-free homogenates prepared from both integument and visceral organs of moribund fish. Inoculation of homogenates onto EK (eel kidney) cell cultures induced giant cell formation. Subsequent passages produced a consistent and progressive cytopathic effect (CPE) in cell cultures. In this study, EP-1 cell cultures infected with EEHV (European eel herpesvirus) were examined using an electron microscope. Numerous nucleocapsids of about 100 nm in diameter were found within the nucleus of infected cells, whereas enveloped particles were observed within the cytoplasm. The mature viral particle, about 235 nm in diameter, had an electron-dense core with a hexagonal nucleocapsid surrounded by a coarse capsule. Histopathological examination of moribund fish showed epithelial hyperplasia with intracytoplasmic metabolic inclusions in the skin. Macrophage aggregates were found in liver, spleen, and kidney. A pair of primers designed from channel catfish virus and salmonid herpesvirus 1 was used in a polymerase chain reaction. A 402 bp fragment was amplified and cloned from genomic DNA of EEHV. The nucleotide homology was 99% (298 of 300) with DNA polymerase of eel herpesvirus (anguillid herpesvirus). EEHV nucleic acids were detected within melanomacrophages in the skin, liver, spleen and kidney by in situ hybridization (ISH).     

Ultrastructure of alarm substance cells in the epidermis of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

The cytoplasm of the alarm substance cells in the epidermis of an ostariophysian fish, channel catfish, contained fine homogeneously dispersed fibrillar material. Most cyto-plasmic organelles were concentrated perinuclearly. The mitochondria were of the tubular type and had matrix granules 30-50 nm in diameter. The saccules of the Golgi bodies did not form a parallel array and were comparatively widely separated. The nucleus was irregular in shape and had a distinct nucleolus made up of deeply stained granules meshed with areas of less granulation. The nuclear envelope was in the form of a double membrane having a wavy appearance and occasionally it showed invaginations penetrating deeply into the nucleoplasm. Lysosomes and lipid inclusions were encountered in the vicinity of the nucleus. Proteins were demonstrated histochemically, but carbohydrates were not detected. Differences between the alarm substance cells of channel catfish and those of other ostariophysian fish were described and discussed.     

Isolation of salmon pancreas disease virus (SPDV) in cell culture and its ability to protect against infection by the 'wild-type' agent

A Scottish salmon pancreas disease virus (SPDV) has been isolated and its optimum growth conditions determined. Although several fish cell lines have been tested, successful culture was achieved only with CHSE-214 cells. Cytopathic effects were observed after 5 days. The highest virus titres, calculated by microtitration assay, were reached at 15 degrees C. After 7-9 days post-inoculation, CHSE-214 cell supernatants contained between 10(7)-10(5) TCID50 ml(-1) The cultured isolate is chloroform- and pH 3.0-sensitive, and virions are 50-60 nm in diameter. These characteristics are similar to the Irish SPDV isolates. The culture isolate induced typical pancreas disease (PD) lesions in experimentally infected Atlantic salmon and convalescent fish were resistant to experimental infection with PD-infective kidney homogenates obtained by serial in vivo passages from a PD-infected farmed salmon (termed wild-type SPDV). Furthermore, fish immunised with the inactivated cultured virus were protected against a cohabitation challenge with the wild-type virus. Immunised fish sera showed virus-neutralising activity before challenge (7 weeks post-immunisation) and from 3-6 weeks post-challenge, when sera from non-immunised fish did not neutralise the virus. At 6 weeks post-cohabitation challenge, previously immunised fish had neutralising titres of up to 1:65. Following intraperitoneal (i.p.) challenge, immunised fish showed neutralising titres as high as 1:226 at 8 weeks post-challenge. Non-immunised fish injected i.p. with the wild-type virus developed serum-neutralising activity against the cultured isolate when sampled 8 weeks after infection, confirming an antigenic relationship between the wild-type and cultured virus. The results demonstrate that the tissue culture-adapted isolate of SPDV could be successfully used to protect against challenge by the wild-type virus and could therefore have potential use as an inactivated vaccine against PD.     

CHANGES IN NUCLEAR RNA OF BRAIN INDUCED BY OLFACTION IN CATFISH

Abstract— —Studies were undertaken to correlate the changes in the synthesis of brain nuclear RNA during olfactory stimulation in saltwater catfish ( Galeichthys felis ). Catfish allowed to swim for 1 hr in sea water containing morpholine (10⁻⁴ M) showed an increase in brain nuclear RNA and a change in base ratios in contrast to controls in plain sea water. These changes in brain nuclear RNA were reversed within 24 hr to the levels of unstimulated controls when morpholine stimulated fish were transferred to fresh sea water.
In a split-brain preparation in an isolated catfish head, one naris was washed with morpholine in sea water (10⁻⁶ M), while the other naris was washed with plain sea water. The stimulated half of the brain, compared to the unstimulated half, showed the same changes in nuclear RNA as those noted in free swimming catfish. Brain cytoplasmic fractions did not exhibit any changes in RNA following olfactory stimulation. Amyl acetate, shrimp extract, and extracts from red fish skin as odorants also elicited changes in brain nuclear RNA. With each odorant there was an increase in amount of RNA and also a change in base ratio, where the base ratio changes were different for each odorant tested. With camphor as an odorant, there was an increase in brain nuclear RNA, while with menthol as an odorant, there was a decrease in brain nuclear RNA. In both instances the base ratio of the RNA did not change in contrast to the controls. These studies suggest that olfactory stimulants affect a change in content and character of the RNA in brain nuclei, whereas irritants to the olfactory epithelium change the content of brain nuclear RNA but do not alter the base ratio.     

Systemic herpes-like virus in catfish Ictalurus melas (Italy) differs from Ictalurid herpesvirus 1 (North America)

A herpesvirus was isolated during 2 occurrences of mass mortality among adult catfish Ictalurus melas raised in different farms in northern Italy. The agent replicated in the channel catfish ovary (CCO) cell line from channel catfish I. punctatus, inducing a cytopathic effect similar to that caused by Ictalurid herpesvirus 1 (also referred to as channel catfish herpesvirus, CCV). The new herpesvirus, designated I. melas herpesvirus (IcmHV) did not react with polyclonal rabbit or monoclonal antibodies directed to CCV in either neutralization or indirect immunofluorescence assays. The virions of IcmHV possessed a hexagonal nucleocapsid of 107 nm in diameter surrounded by an envelope with a diameter of 227 nm (n = 20) typical for members of the family Herpesviridae. Virions of IcmHV purified from infected CCO cells contained 17 polypeptides ranging in size from 17.5 to 175 kDa and most differed in molecular weight from those found for CCV. The IcmHV was also distinct from CCV when compared by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of genomic DNA following digestions with the endonucleases Kpn I and Sac I. Lastly, the virulence of IcmHV for channel catfish fry and juveniles, respectively, was demonstrated by experimental infections induced by bath exposure or intraperitoneal injection that resulted in 78 to 96% cumulative mortality in groups of exposed fish. Preventing the introduction of this agent into geographic regions where significant channel catfish production occurs should be a high priority.     

Fish Viruses: Buffers and Methods for Plaquing Eight Agents Under Normal Atmosphere

A universal procedure was sought for plaque assay of eight fish viruses (bluegill myxovirus, channel catfish virus, eel virus, Egtved virus, infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus, infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, lymphocystis virus, and the agent of spring viremia of carp (Rhabdovirus carpio), in dish cultures of various fish cells. Eagle minimal essential medium with sodium bicarbonate-CO(2) buffer (Earle's salt solution) was compared with minimal essential medium buffered principally with tris (hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2'-ethanesulfonic acid at a pH or in the range of 7.6 to 8.0 depending upon temperature. Five fish cell lines collectively capable of replicating all fish viruses thus far isolated were tested and quantitatively found to grow comparably well in the three media. Two-phase (gel-liquid) media incorporating the various buffer systems allowed plaquing at 15 to 33 C either in partial pressures of CO(2) or in normal atmosphere, but greater efficiency and sensitivity were obtained with the organic buffers, and, overall, the best results were obtained with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane. Epizootiological data, specific fish cell line response, and plaque morphology permit presumptive identification of most of the agents. At proper pH, use of organic buffers obviates the need for CO(2) incubators.     

BIRC7 gene in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus): identification and expression analysis in response to Edwardsiella tarda, Streptococcus iniae and Channel catfish Hemorrhage Reovirus

A family member of inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) termed baculoviral IAP repeat-containing 7 (BIRC7) from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was identified, the full length cDNA sequence of channel catfish BIRC7 (CcBIRC7) was 1686?bp, containing a 5'UTR of 93?bp, a 3'UTR of 399?bp with a poly (A) tail and an ORF of 1194?bp encoding a putative protein of 398 amino acids. The putative CcBIRC7 protein contains two BIR super-family conservative domains and a C-terminal RING finger motif. Phylogenetic analysis showed that catfish CcBIRC7 was moderately conserved with other BIRC7. Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to examine the expression profiles of CcBIRC7 in healthy tissues and responding to different pathogens (Edwardsiella tarda, Streptococcus iniae and Channel catfish Hemorrhage Reovirus (CCRV)). CcBIRC7 was widely expressed in healthy tissues of channel catfish and with the highest 37.28-fold expression in blood. E.?tarda and S.?iniae could induce CcBIRC7 gene expression drastically in head kidney, liver and spleen, which the peak value reached 31.6-fold, 613.9-fold and 34.4-fold increase by E.?tarda infection, and 248.3-fold, 1540.3-fold and 120.4-fold increase post S.?iniae challenge, respectively. While, CCRV virus could slightly induce CcBIRC7 expression in head kidney and liver but reduce it in spleen. The result suggested BIRC7 may play a potential role in channel catfish innate immune system against bacterial and virus infections, especially as the anti-bacteria immune gene. This is the first report of BIRC7 gene identification and its expression in fish.     

Establishment and characterization of 13 cell lines from a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) with fibropapillomas

Summary Thirteen cell lines were established and characterized from brain, kidney, lung, spleen, heart, liver, gall bladder, urinary bladder, pancreas, testis, skin, and periorbital and tumor tissues of an immature male green turtle (Chelonia mydas) with fibropapillomas. Cell lines were optimally maintained at 30° C in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Propagation of the turtle cell lines was serum dependent, and plating efficiencies ranged from 13 to 37%. The cell lines, which have been subcultivated more than 20 times, had a doubling time of approximately 30 to 36 h. When tested for their sensitivity to several fish viruses, most of the cell lines were susceptible to a rhabdovirus, spring viremia carp virus, but refractory to channel catfish virus (a herpesvirus), infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (a birnavirus), and two other fish rhabdoviruses, infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus. During in vitro subcultivation, tumor-like cell aggregates appeared in cell lines derived from lungs, testis, and periorbital and tumor tissues, and small, naked intranuclear virus particles were detected by thin-section electron microscopy. These cell lines are currently being used in attempts to isolate the putative etiologic virus of green turtle fibropapilloma.     

Identification and expression analyses of poly [I:C]-stimulated genes in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) have proven to be an excellent model with which to study immune responses of lower vertebrates. Identification of anti-viral antibodies and cytotoxic cells, as well as both type I and II interferon (IFN), demonstrates that catfish likely mount a vigorous anti-viral immune response. In this report, we focus on other elements of the anti-viral response, and identify more than two dozen genes that are induced following treatment of catfish cells with poly [I:C]. We showed that poly [I:C] induced type I interferon within 2 h of treatment, and that characteristic interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) appeared 6–12 h after exposure. Among the ISGs detected by RT-PCR assay were homologs of ISG15, Mx1, IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 (IAP-1) and the chemokine CXCL10. Microarray analyses showed that 13 and 24 cellular genes, respectively, were upregulated in poly [I:C]-treated B cell and fibroblast cultures. Although many of these genes were novel and did not fit the profile of mammalian ISGs, there were several (ISG-15, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2G1, integrin-linked kinase, and clathrin-associated protein 47) that were identified as ISGs in mammalian systems. Taken together, these results suggest that dsRNA, either directly or through the prior induction of IFN, upregulates catfish gene products that function individually and/or collectively to inhibit virus replication.     

Identification of envelope protein orf10 of channel catfish herpesvirus

Channel catfish virus (CCV) is a viral pathogen of fry and fingerling channel catfish and can cause significant commercial loss. Previous studies have shown that the CCV virion contains at least 25 predicted structural proteins, including viral protein 10, which is encoded by the orf10 gene of the CCV. In this paper, the orf10 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and used to produce a specific antibody. Western blot analysis confirmed that open reading frame 10 is an envelope protein. A viral neutralization assay demonstrated that open reading frame 10 antiserum was able to inhibit CCV infection of channel catfish ovary cells, suggesting that viral protein 10 is likely to play an important role in the CCV infection of channel catfish ovary cells.     

棉籽粕和菜籽粕替代部分鱼粉对黄颡鱼肉质及肌肉发育相关基因表达的影响

文章旨在研究菜籽粕与棉籽粕复合替代饲料鱼粉对黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)肌肉品质及肌纤维发育相关基因表达的影响。实验设计了5组等氮等能的饲料,以含鱼粉25%的处理组为对照饲料(FM),以菜籽粕与棉籽粕3﹕2混合后分别替代其中的10%、20%、30%和40%鱼粉,设置了RM10、RM20、RM30和RM40四个试验组。使用初始体质量为(2.38±0.10) g的黄颡鱼幼鱼,分别用上述5种饲料饲喂10周。试验表明,与对照组相比,菜粕棉粕混合替代水平达到20%及以上时黄颡鱼肌肉中的粗蛋白与粗脂肪显著降低,而水分和灰分则无显著差异;肌肉中的羟脯氨酸含量呈现下降的趋势;肌纤维中直径≥50μm的纤维数量随着替代水平达到20%后不断减小,而≤20μm的纤维数量则呈现上升趋势;植物蛋白源的替代也会对黄颡鱼的肌肉质构产生一定的影响。此外,肌肉纤维发育相关基因myod、myog和mrf4的mRNA水平随着替代水平上升而逐渐升高,而myf5与mstn的基因表达在各组间无显著差异。TOR通路相关基因中的akt、tor和s6k1等基因随着替代水平升高而下降, 4e-bp1则随着替代水...     

Fish cell lines: Establishment of a line from ovaries of channel catfish

Summary A cell line was established from the ovaries of a healthy, juvenile channel catfish,Ictalurus punctatus. These cells, designated CCO, have been passed 130 times during 3 years. The cells grow well in Eagle's MEM-10 at a temperature of 30°C. Species of origin of the cells was confirmed by a cytotoxic dye exclusion test. The cells were found to be free of bacterial and fungal contamination. A study of chromosome preparations indicated that the karyotype is still in a state of flux. The CCO line replicated channel catfish virus but was refractory to 12 other viruses, 4 from fish, 1 from birds, and 7 from mammals. This research was supported by the Southeastern Cooperative Fish Disease Project, Sport Fish Restoration Funds and Regional Research S-83 Funds.     

Comparison of serum antibody responses and host protection against parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis between channel catfish and channel × blue hybrid catfish

There is limited information available on the immune protection of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus × blue catfish I. furcatus (CB) hybrid against the fish parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich). The objective of this study was to compare serum antibody response and host protection between channel catfish and CB hybrid catfish using a cohabitation model. Channel catfish and CB hybrid catfish were immunized with live theronts by immersion or by IP injection at the dose of 10,000–20,000 theronts per fish in two trials. The fish were then challenged with theronts to compare serum antibody response and protection against the parasite between channel catfish and CB hybrid catfish. The immunized channel catfish and CB hybrid catfish showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) serum anti-Ich antibody (titer > 1120) compared to non-immunized controls (titer = 0). After being challenged with live theronts, the immunized channel catfish and CB hybrid catfish had none or a low number of the parasites (<50 trophonts per fish) and showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) survival (90–100%) than non-immunized controls (0%). Overall results indicated that there was no statistical (p > 0.05) difference on serum anti-Ich antibody, parasite infection and fish survival between immunized channel catfish and CB hybrid catfish.     

Adhesion dynamics of Flavobacterium columnare to channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and zebrafish Danio rerio after immersion challenge

The adhesion dynamics of Flavobacterium columnare to fish tissues were evaluated in vivo by immersion challenge followed by bacterial plate count and confirmatory observations of gill-adhered bacterial cells using scanning electron microscopy. Adhesion of F. columnare genomovar I (ARS-1) and II (BGFS-27) strains to skin and gill of channel catfish Ictalurus punctactus and gill of zebrafish Danio rerio was compared. At 0.5 h post-challenge, both strains adhered to gill of channel catfish at comparable levels (10(6) colony forming units [CFU] g(-1)), but significant differences in adhesion were found later in the time course. Channel catfish was able to effectively reduce ARS-1 cells on gill, whereas BGFS-27 persisted in gill beyond the first 24 h post-challenge. No significant difference was found between both strains when adhered to skin, but adhered cell numbers were lower (10(3) CFU g(-1)) than those found in gill and were not detectable at 6 h post-challenge. Adhesion of BGFS-27 cells to gill of zebrafish also occurred at high numbers (> 10(6) CFU g(-1)), while only < 10(2) CFU g(-1) of ARS-1 cells were detected in this fish. The results of the present study show that particular strains of F. columnare exhibit different levels of specificity to their fish hosts and that adhesion to fish tissues is not sufficient to cause columnaris disease.