Kimberly Thompson

Effects of partial substitution of dietary fish oil with blends of vegetable oils, on blood leucocyte fatty acid compositions, immune function and histology in European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

Within a decade or so insufficient fish oil (FO) will be available to meet the requirements for aquaculture growth. Consequently, alternative sources are being investigated to reduce reliance on wild fish as a source of FO. Vegetable oils (VO) are a feasible alternative to FO. However, it is important to establish that alternative dietary lipids are not only supplied in the correct quantities and balance for optimal growth, but can maintain immune function and prevent infection, since it is known that the nutritional state of the fish can influence their immune function and disease resistance. A way of maintaining immune function, while replacing dietary FO, is by using a blend of VO rather than a single oil. In this study, juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were fed diets with a 60 % substitution of FO with a blend of rapeseed, linseed and palm oils. Two oil blends were used to achieve a fatty acid composition similar to FO, in terms of energy content, and provide a similar balance of SFA, MUFA and PUFA. Fish were fed the diets for 64 weeks, after which time growth and fatty acid compositions of liver and blood leucocytes were monitored. The impact of the dietary blends on selected innate immune responses and histopathology were also assessed, together with levels of plasma prostaglandin E2. The results suggest that potential exists for replacing FO with a VO blend in farmed sea bass feeds without compromising growth, non-specific immune function or histology.

Production and efficacy of an Aeromonas hydrophila recombinant S-layer protein vaccine for fish

A recombinant protein for the S-layer protein of Aeromonas hydrophila was produced and its ability to protect common carp Cyprinus carpio L. against six virulent isolates of A. hydrophila was assessed. A group of 120 carp (30-40 g) were vaccinated intra-peritoneally with 0.1 ml of adjuvanted vaccine (30 microg protein per fish). Another group of 120 carp were injected with 0.1 ml of PBS-adjuvant mixture to serve as controls. Twenty fish from each group were challenged with each one of six virulent isolates of A. hydrophila 35 days post-vaccination. The fish were maintained in 12 separate tanks before terminating the experiment at 16 days post-challenge. The relative percentage survival (RPS) for the six isolates of A. hydrophila ranged from 56 to 87%. The difference in survival rate of fish challenged with four of the isolates was statistically significant in vaccinated fish compared to control fish, when analysed using a Chi-square test. The results of the study suggest that the recombinant S-layer protein of A. hydrophila could be useful as a vaccine antigen to protect fish against different isolates of this pathogenic bacterium.

The effect of seasonality on normal haematological and innate immune parameters of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss L.

It is well established that seasonality dominates the life history of fish by controlling the timing of physiological events such as reproduction, food intake, locomotor activity and growth performance. Seasonal differences in immune competence and prevalence of disease have been well documented in humans. The aim of this study was to determine if season influences the immune response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss L.). Thus, a 12-month trial was carried out in which plasma lysozyme activity and respiratory burst of head kidney macrophages (two innate immune parameters) and total red and white blood cell counts (two haematological parameters) were monitored at monthly intervals. Since photoperiodic information is thought to be conveyed via melatonin secretion, plasma melatonin levels were also measured at four seasonal points (day and night). A general seasonal influence was observed in the parameters measured in these fish, with the exception of respiratory burst activity of head kidney macrophages, with the parameters highest in summer and lowest in winter for total white blood cell counts and lysozyme activity.

Draft Genome Sequence of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis STIR-GUS-F2f7, a Highly Virulent Strain Recovered from Diseased Red Nile Tilapia Farmed in Europe

ABSTRACT A highly virulent strain of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis, STIR-GUS-F2f7, was isolated from moribund red Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) farmed in Europe. In this communication, the complete genome sequencing of this bacterium is reported.

Pathogenesis of experimental salmonid alphavirus infection in vivo: an ultrastructural insight

AbstractSalmonid alphavirus (SAV) is an enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNA virus belonging to the family Togaviridae. It causes economically devastating disease in cultured salmonids. The characteristic features of SAV infection include severe histopathological changes in the heart, pancreas and skeletal muscles of diseased fish. Although the presence of virus has been reported in a wider range of tissues, the mechanisms responsible for viral tissue tropism and for lesion development during the disease are not clearly described or understood. Previously, we have described membrane-dependent morphogenesis of SAV and associated apoptosis-mediated cell death in vitro. The aims of the present study were to explore ultrastructural changes associated with SAV infection in vivo. Cytolytic changes were observed in heart, but not in gill and head-kidney of virus-infected fish, although they still exhibited signs of SAV morphogenesis. Ultrastructural changes associated with virus replication were also noted in leukocytes in the head kidney of virus-infected fish. These results further describe the presence of degenerative lesions in the heart as expected, but not in the gills and in the kidney.

A comparison of the response of diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) siblings to a commercial furunculosis vaccine and subsequent experimental infection with Aeromonas salmonicida

Sterile triploid fish represent a solution to the problems associated with sexual maturation and escapees in aquaculture. However, as disease outbreaks continue to cause significant economic losses to the industry, it is essential that the response of triploids to disease and disease treatments be characterised. The aim of this study was to compare the response of triploid Atlantic salmon to a commercial furunculosis vaccine with that of diploid fish, and to assess the vaccine efficacy in the two ploidies through an experimental infection with Aeromonas salmonicida. Diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon were injected intraperitoneally with either phosphate buffered saline, liquid paraffin adjuvant or a commercial furunculosis vaccine. Following vaccination, growth, adhesion scores and a variety of assays to assess immune function, such as respiratory burst and antibody response, were measured. Vaccination did not have a significant effect on the weight of either ploidy prior to challenge at 750° days. Adhesion scores were significantly higher in vaccinated fish compared to unvaccinated fish, although no effect of ploidy was observed. Ploidy significantly affected respiratory burst activity following vaccination, however, with triploids exhibiting higher activity than diploids. Combined with lower white blood cell numbers observed in the triploids, it may be that this low cell number is compensated for by increased cellular activity. Ploidy however, did not have a significant effect on complement activity or antibody response, with significantly higher antibody levels detected in all vaccinated fish compared to unvaccinated controls. In addition, both ploidy groups were well protected following challenge with no difference in the relative percentage survival. Based on these results, it appears that ploidy does not affect the severity of adhesions that result post-vaccinate or in the fishs immune response following vaccination, and the furunculosis vaccine performs equally well in both diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon.