Sung-Yong Oh

The caligid life cycle: new evidence from Lepeophtheirus elegans reconciles the cycles of Caligus and Lepeophtheirus (Copepoda: Caligidae).

The developmental stages of the sea louse Lepeophtheirus elegans (Copepoda: Caligidae) are described from material collected from marine ranched Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii. In L. elegans, setal number on the proximal segment of the antennule increases from 3 in the copepodid to 27 in the adult. Using the number of setae as a stage marker supports the inference that the post-naupliar phase of the life cycle comprises six stages: copepodid, chalimus I, chalimus II, pre-adult I, pre-adult II, and the adult. We observed variation in body length in both of the chalimus stages which we consider represents an early expression of sexual size dimorphism. We interpret the larger specimens of chalimus I as putative females, and the smaller as putative males; similarly with chalimus II, larger specimens are putative females and the smaller are males. Two patterns of life cycle are currently recognized within the Caligidae but the evidence presented here reconciles the two. We conclude that the typical caligid life cycle comprises only eight stages: two naupliar, one copepodid, and four chalimus stages preceding the adult in Caligus, but with the four chalimus stages represented by two chalimus and two pre-adult stages in Lepeophtheirus. This is a profound change with significant implications for the aquaculture industry, given that lice monitoring protocols include counts of chalimus stages and use temperature to predict when they will moult into the more pathogenic, mobile pre-adults. Lice management strategies must be tailored to the precise life cycle of the parasite.

Caligus sclerotinosus (Copepoda: Caligidae), a serious pest of cultured red seabream Pagrus major (Sparidae) in Korea

Caligid copepods (Crustacea) known as sea lice are pests of cultured fish, causing serious diseases and economic losses in fish aquaculture worldwide. One species, Caligus sclerotinosus Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983 (Caligidae), is considered a serious pest of the highly prized red seabream Pagrus major (Temminck and Schlegel, 1843) (Sparidae) cultured in Japan. Recently, in neighboring Korea, red seabream culture has intensified and almost replaced yellow tail culture. However, until now, there have been no reports on infection of this sea louse from red seabream in Korea. We surveyed 120 (20 fish per month) P. major from a sea ranched Tongyeong Marine Research Center aquaculture facility, Gyeongsangnamdo, Korea for six months in 2011 (June to November). We recorded severe infection by the sea louse C. sclerotinosus on the skin of P. major. Prevalence was 100%, mean intensity 7.06, maximum intensity 49, and minimum intensity 2. Adult females (624), males (219) and few chalimi (5) were observed and identified by their morphology. As an average of all our collections, less than 0.6% of individuals were chalimi. We suggest, therefore, that adults of C. sclerotinosus undergo ontogenetic host switching after their final moult. No infection of C. sclerotinosus was found on wild P. major collected from Tongyeong and Yeosu fish markets on the southern coast of Korea. Severe infection by this sea louse may cause secondary infections of the host. This copepod is already reported from Australia and Japan and hence, this is the first report from Korea. We expect this pest to have an impact on Korean red seabream fisheries equally serious to that being experienced in Japan.

Redescription of two Pennellids (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida) from Korea with a key to species of Peniculus von Nordmann, 1832

Abstract Redescriptions of two pennellid copepods, Peniculus minuticaudae Shiino, 1956 and Peniculus truncatus Shiino, 1956, are provided, based on postmetamorphic adult females collected from marine ranched fishes captured at Tongyeong marine living resources research & conservation center, Korea. Peniculus minuticaudae was collected from the soft fin rays of black scraper Thamnaconus modestus. It can be distinguished from the other two closely related congeners Peniculus ostraciontis Yamaguti, 1939 and Peniculus truncatus by having a well developed triangular-shaped abdomen; the abdomen is rudimentary in other two species. This is thefirst report of the occurrence of Peniculus minuticaudae in Korea. Peniculus truncatus was collected from the dorsal fin of Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegelii. It can be distinguished from Peniculus minuticaudae by the combination of a rudimentary abdomen, long neck and setae on leg 1 and from Peniculus ostraciontis by the long neck, slender trunk, and setae on leg 1. It is also shown that Peniculus truncatus captured from the same host in Korea was misidentified as Peniculus ostraciontis and hence, this is thesecond record of the occurrence of Peniculus truncatus in Korea. A key is provided for the 14 nominal species of Peniculus.

Effects of feed restriction to enhance the profitable farming of blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii schlegelii in sea cages

The feed intake, growth and body composition of juvenile blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii schlegelii (Sparidae) (5.6 g fish−1) were investigated for 16 weeks in sea cages under seven repetitive feeding cycles: every day feeding (control), 6-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F6.1), 5-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F5.1), 4-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F4.1), 3-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F3.1), 2-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F2.1), and 1-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F1.1). The survival of the fish during the experimental period was not different among the feeding cycles. The greatest weight gain of fish was observed in the control, but not significantly different from that of the F6.1 and F5.1 groups (p > 0.05). Total feed intake and daily feed intake decreased with the increase of fasting frequency, however, actual feed intake, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio increased with the increase of the fasting frequency. Proximate composition of the whole body of fish was not affected by different feeding cycles. These results suggest that juvenile blackhead seabreams subjected to repetitive feeding cycles of 6- or 5-days feeding and 1 day fasting for 16 weeks could achieve compensatory growth, and that such mild feeding deprivation could save significant amounts of feed without causing any profit reduction that might result from a decrease in fish size or quality.

Kisspeptin2 stimulates the HPG axis in immature Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

It has been suggested that kisspeptin influences reproduction and onset of puberty in fishes. Unlike mammals, which produce only one kisspeptin (Kiss1), some teleosts have two, Kiss1 and Kiss2, both thought to be involved in the stimulation of gonadotropin (GTH) secretion. In Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), however, only Kiss2 has been identified so far. The effect of Kiss2 on GTH release varies significantly depending on species and reproductive stage. Furthermore, its physiological function in this species is not clearly defined. In this study, kiss2 gene expression profiles were examined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in the brain, pituitary, and gonads of Nile tilapia at different reproductive stages (male: immature, pre-spermiation, post-spermiation; female: immature, pre-spawning, post-spawning). The kiss2 mRNA expression profiles of the brain, pituitary, and gonads of both sexes shared a similar pattern their expression was significantly higher at the immature stage than at the mature or post-spawning stages, implying it is involved in early gonadal maturation in this species. To investigate the effect of kisspeptin on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis in vivo, synthetic kisspeptin2 (FNYNPLSLRF) was injected into immature male and female tilapia intraperitoneally (i.p.) at a dose of 200pmol/g body weight. The results showed that synthetic Kiss2 administration increased the expression of GnRH I, fshβ and lhβ mRNA in the brain and increased 17β-estradiol (E2) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) levels in the plasma. These results suggest that Kiss2 stimulates the expression of GnRH and GTH genes in immature Nile tilapia.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the dark-banded rockfish Sebastes inermis (Scorpaenidae, Scorpaeniformes)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of the dark-banded rockfish Sebastes inermis was determined using next-generation sequencing, including Sanger sequencing. The full genome was 16,504 bp in length, including 2 rRNA, 22 tRNA and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), as well as the control region. The genome was 27.8% A, 26.8% T, 17.1% G and 28.3% C, showing a slight AT bias (54.6%). All PCGs started with an ATG initial codon, except for COX1, which started with a GTG. The stop codon of all PCGs was a TAR, except for Cytb, which contained an incomplete termination codon, T. All tRNAs had the typical clover-leaf structure except tRNASer (AGY), which lacked the DHU arm. The complete mitogenome of S. inermis will aid the identification and genetic population studies on the genus Sebastes.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the oblong rockfish Sebastes oblongus (Scorpaenidae, Scorpaeniformes).

Abstract The complete mitogenome of the oblong rockfish Sebastes oblongus was constructed using next-generation sequencing. The full genome was 16,396 bp in length, including two rRNA, 22 tRNA, one control region and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). The genome consisted of 28.0% A, 26.4% T, 16.9% G and 28.6% C, showing a slight AT bias (54.4%). All PCGs contained an ATG start codon, excluding COX1 that contained a GTG. All PCGs contained the stop codon TAA, excluding ND3 (TAG stop codon) and Cytb (incomplete termination codon, T). All tRNAs contained the typical clover leaf structure, except for two tRNAs, serine (AGY) and threonine, which lacked the DHU arm. The complete mitogenome of S. oblongus will contribute to genetic analysis of the effective population size for aquaculture.

Monogeneans (Platyhelminthes) from marine fishes of Tongyeong, Korea

Monogeneans (Platyhelminthes) mostly parasitize on fins, skin and gills of fishes. In Korea, the study on monogeneans is limited, although, fishes are frequently encountered with severe infection of monogeneans. Hence, some of ranched and wild fishes were collected from Tongyeong marine living resources research and conservation center, southern part of Korea to screen and understand the infection of monogeneans. All three fish hosts were found with the infection of monogeneans including five species from four different families. They are: (1) Anoplodiscus spari Yamaguti (Publ Seto Mar Biol Lab Kyoto Univ 7:53–88, 1958) (Anoplodiscidae) from the fins and body surface of blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii schlegelii (Bleeker); (2) A. tai Ogawa (Fish Pathol 29:5–10, 1994) from the fins of red seabream Pagrus major (Temminck and Schlegel); (3) Benedenia sekii Yamaguti (Studies on the helminth fauna of Japan. Part 19. Fourteen new ectoparasitic trematodes of fishes. Published by the author, Kyoto, 1937), Meserve (Rep Allan Hancock Paci Exped (1932–1937) 2:31–89, 1938) (Capsalidae) from the body surface of P. major; (4) Choricotyle elongata Goto (J Coll Sci Imp Univ Tokyo 8:1–273, 1894) (Diclidophoridae) from the gills of P. major; (5) Udonella fugu Freeman and Ogawa (Int J Parasitol 40:255–264, 2010) (Udonellidae) hyperparasitized on the body of parasitic copepod Pseudocaligus fugu (Yamaguti 1936) (Caligidae) infecting the wild grass puffer Takifugu niphobles (Jordan and Snyder). Capsalids are commonly reported in Korea, except B. sekii, however, other reported genera are uncommon. Hence, all reported monogeneans are considered as a first record from Korea.

Effect of Salinity on Survival, Oxygen Consumption and Blood Physiology of Korean Rockfish Sebastes schlegelii

The effect of salinity on the survival, oxygen consumption and blood physiology of Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegelii (body weight 97.4 ± 1.7 g, mean ± SD) was investigated at nine different salinities of 33.4 (control), 33.1, 32.8, 32.2, 31.0, 28.7, 23.9, 14.5 and 3.8 psu, respectively. Survival and blood physiology were measured at each salinity in two separate trials of 96 and 24 hr duration, respectively. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was determined at stepwise salinity exposure (33.4→33.1→32.8→32.2→31.0→28.7→23.9→14.5→3.8 psu) with an interval of 24 hr for each salinity. No death of fishes were observed in the range of 33.4 to 14.5 psu, but the survival rate was reduced to 26.7% at 3.8 psu after 96 hr. The OCRs were not significantly different in the range 33.4 to 28.7 psu (p > 0.05), but significantly increased until 14.5 psu and then drastically decreased at 3.8 psu compared to the control (p < 0.05). The concentrations of plasma Na+ and Cl? were significantly lower in fish exposed at 3.8 psu compared to the control (p < 0.05). The results of this study provide evidence that S. schlegelii exposed to concentrations below 23.9 psu show significant physiological responses to tolerate salinity changes under the experimental conditions we established.

Effects of Fasting on Brain Expression of Kiss2 and GnRH I and Plasma Levels of Sex Steroid Hormones, in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

In many fish species, including Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), gonadal development occurs at the expense of stored energy and nutrients. Therefore, reproductive systems are inhibited by limited food supply. It has been well established that reproductive function is highly sensitive to both metabolic status and energy balance. Nothing is known about the possible mediated connection between energy balance and reproduction. Kisspeptin, a neuropeptide product of the Kiss gene has emerged as an essential gatekeeper of reproduction and may be possibly be linked to energy balance and reproduction in non-mammalians. Thus, in this study, the effect of fasting (10 days) on the expression of kisspeptin and the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) gene were assessed in Nile tilapia (male and female) using qRTPCR. In addition, plasma levels of estradiol-17β (E₂) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in adult tilapia were measured by ELISA. In male tilapia, fasting reduced Kiss2 and GnRH I mRNA expression in the brain and 11-KT level in comparison with the fed tilapia (p 0.05). These data indicate the impact of nutritional states on kisspeptin as a potential regulatory mechanism for the control of reproduction in male Nile tilapia.