First record of Mugil capurrii (Mugilidae, Perciformes) in the Gulf of Guinea

Leaping African mullet Mugil capurrii was caught along the Togolese coast in the Gulf of Guinea. This is the first record of this species which usually occurs from Morocco to Guinea Bissau and the southernmost point of its known distribution.     

Involvement of Enterobacter cloacae in the mortality of the fish, Mugil cephalus

Aims:  To identify the causative agent of the mortality in the fish, Mugil cephalus , in Muttukadu lagoon.
Methods and Results:  An enteric bacterium from the kidneys of moribund fish M. cephalus , was isolated and identified as Enterobacter cloacae (MK). Mugil cephalus was experimentally infected by this isolate and was re-isolated from the kidneys of the moribund fish. Enterobacter cloacae isolates from the lagoon water (MW1, MW2 and reference strain ATCC 13047) and the reference strain were not able to induce similar pathogenesis. The putative factor imparting pathogenicity to the MK isolate was identified as a cationic molecule, which migrated towards the cathode on agarose gel electrophoresis.
Conclusions:  The Ent. cloacae (MK) isolate harbouring a cationic factor was the causative agent for the mortality of M. cephalus , found in Muttukadu lagoon.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study reveals that human enteric bacteria MK which is considered as nonpathogenic to fish, may become pathogenic to fish when it harbours this cationic factor. This cationic factor is found to be pathogenic to the fish M. cephalus leading to mortality. It was also found to be pathogenic to mice. Therefore, the shuttling of Ent. cloacae , harbouring cationic factor, between human and fish may be of human health importance.     

Tumorlike Formations in the Olfactory Organ of the Striped Mullet Mugil cephalusfrom Sovetskaya Gavan'' Bay, Sea of Japan

This paper describes tumorlike formations in the olfactory organ of the striped mullet Mugil cephalusinhabiting polluted waters of Zapadnaya Bay (Sovetskaya Gavan' Bay, western coast of Tatar Strait). The structure of these tumorlike formations is characteristic of fibroma. The appearance of the tumors is apparently associated with carcinogenic industrial wastes and radioactive contamination of the bay.     

Ontogenesis of osmotic regulation in the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus L.

The osmoregulatory capabilities of juvenile striped mullet, Mugil cephalus L ., of three size-groups (20–29, 30–39 and 40–9 mm s.l.) were compared in a series of six salinities ranging from fresh water to full sea water. The two smaller size-groups were able to tolerate instantaneous transfer from the brackish water in which captured, to all salinities but fresh water, while the 40–69 mm group were tolerant of instantaneous transfer to all experimental salinities. At high environmental salinities, the osmotic regulatory capabilities improved with growth in size to an apparently definitive condition in fish of 40–69 mm s.l. The smallest of these individuals were estimated to be about 7.5 months old. The osmotic regulatory capability in waters of low salinity had reached a definitive state with the development of tolerance to such salinities. The ontogenetic pattern for Mugil cephalus is virtually identical to that of the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar .     

Coexistence of Mugil cephalus and M. curema in a coastal lagoon in the Gulf of Mexico

Mugil cephalus and M. curema coexist in Tamiahua Lagoon, with no difference in diet or digestive system, but with a separation of 3 months in reproductive timing.     

Mugil cephalus L.—a first British record and a further 5°N

The occurrence of a 29 mm juvenile Mugil cephalus in the Camel estuary at 50°30' N represents the first British record of this widespread tropical and subtropical species. Its origins, however, are obscure.     

Kinetic properties of pyruvate kinase from the epaxial muscle of the marine fishes Mugil lisa and Chaetoditerus faber

Kinetic studies were carried out on the reaction catalyzed by pyruvate kinase (ATP:pyruvate phosphotransferase, E.C. 2.7.1.40) purified from white striated (epaxial) muscle of two marine fish Mugil lisa (Brazilian mullet) and Chaetoditerus faber (harvest fish). This included the establishment of kinetic parameters. Attention was given to the effect of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-P2) on PK activity. Effects of ATP, alanine and the divalent ions, Mg2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Be2+ and Co2+, on the fish muscle enzyme were also studied.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the striped mullet,Mugil cephalus

Forty‐three microsatellites were isolated from grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) of Mediterranean origin using the standard enrichment methods followed by enhanced chemiluminescence for the rapid identification of clones containing microsatellites. Eleven microsatellites were characterized to assess genetic diversity of different populations surrounding the island of Sardinia in Italy. The versatility of these markers was also assessed using an Australian population. All 11 microsatellites were highly polymorphic with a mean heterozygosity of 0.834. The number of alleles ranged from 14 to 38 in the Sardinian populations and from 11 to 25 in the Australian samples.     

On the Capture of the Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus (Mugilidae) in the Eastern Part of Taganrog Bay (Sea of Azov)

Journal of Ichthyology - The striped mullet Mugil cephalus is reported to be captured for the first time in the eastern part of Taganrog Bay. Basic meristic and morphometric traits of the captured...     

Motile aeromonas infection of striped (grey) mullet Mugil cephalus

Infection of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) with Aeromonas hydrophila results in an acute septicemic disease. The disease can be experimentally induced by intramuscular injection, skin or gill scarification or by the oral route using pellets purposely seeded with bacteria. The organism was isolated from the blood 1–2 days after infection and from all organs 24 hr or longer after infection. The disease is characterized by early inflammatory and proliferative changes and later necrotic changes. Enteritis and hepatic necrosis are constant findings in aeromonad disease of M. cephalus but surface lesions are not pathognomic for these infections in mullet. Death of infected fish may be attributed to bacterial toxins which cause necrosis of parenchymal organs and soft tissue structure.     

Cucculanus bioccai n. sp. (nematoda: cucullanidae), parasite of Mugil cephalus L

Cucullanus bioccai n. sp. described from the intestine of Mugil cephalus caught in Lake Sabaudia (Latina, Italy) is compared with C. dodsworthi and C. mugili parasites of mullets. It differs from C. dodsworthi mainly for the position of the 1st pair of precloacal papillae, the position of vulva, the shape of gubernaculum, the measurements of eggs; from C. mugili for the number of papillae, the position of the 1st pair of precloacal papillae, the conformation of cloaca and the position of vulva.     

A redescription of the morphology of Metamicrocotyla macracantha (Alexander, 1954) Koratha, 1955 (Monogenea,Microcotylidae) from Mugil liza in Brazil

Metamicrocotyla macracantha (Alexander, 1954) from a new host, Mugil liza (Pisces, Mugilidae) from the Atlantic coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is redescribed using light and scanning electron microscopy. The type-specimens of Metamicrocotyla inoblita Buhrnheim, 1970, from Mugil platanus from Espirito Santo, Brazil, were re-examined and compared with the parasites from M. liza. Discrepancies in the original measurements of the penis spines of Metamicrocotyla inoblita were discovered and comments are made on its possible synonymy with M. macracantha.     

Variation in habitat use along the freshwater–marine continuum by grey mullet Mugil cephalus at the southern limits of its distribution

In this study, habitat use by Mugil cephalus was investigated in the waters of the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand by analysing microchemical composition of otoliths (laser‐ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) obtained from individuals from commercial fish stocks and research surveys. Results of this study show that M. cephalus at the southern limits of its distribution display highly flexible migratory behaviour with extensive use of freshwater and brackish habitats, potentially enabling them to maximize foraging opportunities. Mugil cephalus can tolerate a wide range of salinities and can therefore utilize higher productivity areas, such as estuaries and eutrophic riverine lakes. Finally, M. cephalus populations across a range of climates and latitudes appear to differ in the extent to which they utilize freshwater and brackish habitats, possibly with increasing penetration of fresh waters with increasing latitude.     

Luminous microflora associated with the fishes Mugil cephalus and Tachysurus arius

Abstract Luminous bacteria harboured in the skin, gill and gut of the fishes Mugil cephalus and Tachysurus arius were studies. Within the gut, the distribution of bacteria was studied regionwise, i.e., foregut, midgut and hindgut. In M. cephalus , maximum luminous bacterial population density was observed in the hindgut and minimum was found in the foregut. In T. arius , maximum luminous bacterial population density was recorded in the hindgut and minimum was found in the midgut. Luminous microflora associated with the host showed seasonal variation. Bacterial load of the surrounding medium and type of food governed the distribution of luminous microbiota in fish. Vibrio harveyi and V. fischeri were the two species identified, the former accounting for the majority of the isolates.     

Responses to temperature and salinity by White Mullet Mugil curema: Possible explanation for the population decrease in Baja California Sur

The white mullet Mugil curema is distributed along the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific coasts and constitutes an important food resource in Mexico. However, during recent years the capture of this mugilid has decreased considerably, especially in Bahía and Ensenada de La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The effects of different levels of temperature (22, 26, and 30°C) and salinity (15, 25, and 35) on the instantaneous growth rate, energy content, and condition factor of early juveniles of Mugil curema were evaluated. Fish showed a lower growth rate, lower body energy content, and a less condition factor when exposed to high salinity and temperature. On the basis to the results obtained and considering the unusual extreme temperatures and salinity registered in Ensenada de La Paz, it is expected low functional performance of juvenile mullets beyond the overfishing might contribute to the population decrease of this resource.     

Neuroendocrine regulation of puberty in fish: insights from the grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) model

We investigated the molecular regulation of pubertal development in the grey mullet, Mugil cephalus, a relatively late-maturing teleost fish. We have isolated and characterized the cDNAs of key reproductive genes along the brain-pituitary-gonadal (BPG) axis as well as the promoters of genes that modulate the axis at multiple levels. Together with relevant findings from other model species, we propose a conceptual model of the neuroendocrine regulation of puberty in the female grey mullet. Research areas that warrant further investigation are identified in the model.     

Haematological and serum protein profiles of Mugil cephalus: effect of two different habitats

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of two different habitats, Faro Lake (group A) and Tyrrhenian Sea (group B), on the haematological and serum protein profiles of Mugil cephalus. Our results showed significant differences of white blood cells, total proteins, prealbumin, albumin and α-globulins between groups A and B. These findings suggest that changes in haematological and serum protein profiles are important indices in monitoring the effects of aquatic habitat changes, representing an adaptive physiological response to different habitats of M. cephalus.     

Migration and reproductive biology of Mugil liza (Teleostei: Mugilidae) in south Brazil

The mullet Mugil liza occurs along the Atlantic coast of South America from Venezuela to Argentina, but 95% of the commercial catch is collected from south Brazil between São Paulo and Argentina. Mugil liza is a single spawner with oocyte development occurring synchronously in two groups. Spawning happens in marine areas and occurs after migration. The reproductive migration occurs from Argentina (38° S) to the southern Brazilian states (24–26° S) from April to July, with peak spawning in June between northern Santa Catarina and Paraná. The presence of hyaline oocytes was associated with high salinity and sea surface temperatures of 19–21° C, and followed the seasonal northward displacement of these oceanographic conditions. The average size at first maturity (L_m) for both sexes was 408·3 mm total length, L_T. Males (L_m = 400·1) matured earlier than females (L_m = 421·9 mm). Fecundity ranged from 818 992 to 2 869 767 oocytes (mean = 1 624 551) in fish that were between 426 and 660 mm L_T.