Parasites of the aquaculture candidate Siganus canaliculatus Park, 1797 (Siganidae: Perciformes) from Omani waters, including their potential to indicate environmental health

This study aims to investigate the parasite fauna of a marine herbivorous fish inhabiting the coasts of the Sultanate of Oman. The parasite fauna of S. canaliculatus is highly diverse and species rich marine parasite community. The results of this study provide insight into the richness and diversity of the marine ecosystem in the waters of Oman. Several species were reported for the first time as new host and locality records. Some are described and identified as new species to science. in addition, the study provided an opportunity to assess the status of the marine ecosystem of Oman

The Omani sandfish sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra Jaeger, 1833 (Holothuroidea: Holothuriidae): Fishery, length-Weight relationship and condition factor

The fishery of Omani sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, is limited so far to the Mahout Bay in Al Wusta governorate. This fishery supports an uncertain number of fishermen ranging from 100 to 150. This fishery is not well-studied and has no current management program. In order to prepare a management strategy, the government has suspended this fishery for 2 years from March 2018 to March 2021. Apart from presenting a thorough review on the sea cucumber fishery in Oman, the current work presents a detailed analysis of the length–weight relationship, sex ratio, and condition factor of the H. scabra collected from four different areas during the period February-May 2019. Based on the results, the females were longer than males, that is 226±33.4 and 221±37.8 mm, respectively. The overall sex ratio of the entire/pooled sample was 0.49 which was not different from the anticipated theoretical sex ratio of 0.5. The mean Kn and the empirical weight–length equations for the total sample were between 0.12±0.01 and 1.0±0.16, and W=0.03L1.6, respectively

Effectiveness of a Short Refresher Course on the Retention of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation-Related Psychomotor Skills (REF-CPR)

Objectives: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills deteriorate within 6–12 months of formal basic life support (BLS) training. The impact of refresher BLS training timing and format on the retention of CPR-related psychomotor skills is still under investigation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of BLS refresher training on the retention of CPR psychomotor skills. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted between February 2018 to August 2020 at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Healthcare workers with prior CPR training were enrolled. Baseline CPR-related knowledge and skills were assessed; subsequently, all participants received CPR training until they achieved 100% performance. At six months, a preassessment test was conducted, after which the intervention group received refresher training while the control group did not. At 12 months, both groups underwent assessment. Little Anne® QCPR manikins (Laerdal Corp., Stavanger, Norway) were used to assess CPR performance at each stage. Results: A total of 38 personnel participated in the trial, comprising 19 in each arm. Overall, there were equal numbers of males and females; 21 participants (55.3%) were nurses, 15 (39.5%) were physicians, and two (5.3%) were paramedics. All participants demonstrated good baseline CPR knowledge. Within the intervention and control groups, CPR performance was 72.7% and 75.8% (p =0.638) at baseline, 87.2% and 88.5% (p =0.682) at six months, and 93.8% and 79.4% (p =0.010) at 12 months, perspectively. Conclusions: Refresher CPR training six months after initial training was found to promote skills retention at 12 months

Evaluation of length-weight relationship for a native goby, Awaous jayakari (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the Middle East

Parameters of length-weight relationship of freshwater and marine fishes have long been of interest as a longstanding theme fisheries sciences and have been estimated for many fishes around the world. In this study, for the first time, length weight relationship (LWR) was estimated for a native fish, the long nose goby Awaous jayakari (Gobiidae) collected from the inland waters of Oman in 2020 using foldable shrimp and crab fishing traps (mesh size of 3*3mm). The parameter of b for male and female specimens based on standard length (SL) was within the range of 2.666-4.377 and 2.852-3.374 respectively. As proposed for different fishes there was high and significant correlation coefficients with between length and weight of (0.970-0.983). Bailey’s ‘t’ test revealed that b value significantly deviated from 3 for both males and females

Length-Weight relationships of nine goatfish species (Teleostei: Mullidae) from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Goatfishes (Teleostei, Mullidae) are a group of mainly coastal fishes that form an important part of food chains, and also have commercial value. In addition, they are valuable fishes in ecosystem monitoring and management programs because they are sensitive to human-induced activities such as fisheries and habitat modification. Mathematical models of fish growth provide an objective and practical method for description of growth parameters and estimation of fish weight at different time series. This study presents and describes length-weight relationships for nine goatfish species belonging to three genera (Mulloidichthys, Parupeneus and Upeneus) collected from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. The estimated parameter "˜b' values ranged from The slope (b) of LWRs for all mullid species fell within the expected range of 2-4 varying from 2.370 for Parupeneus heptacanthus to 3.179 for Upeneus vittatus based on TL and from 2.391 for U. sundaicus to 3.804 for P. rubescens based on SL,and r2 values ranged from 0.927 for Upeneus tragula to 0.992 for U. pori. All the LWRs were highly significant, with p<0.005.

Lamellodiscus aff. euzeti Diamanka, Boudaya, Toguebaye & Pariselle, 2011 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from the gills of Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes) (Pisces: Sparidae) collected in the Arabian Sea, with comments on the distribution, specificity and historical biogeography of Lamellodiscus spp.

Specimens of Lamellodiscus Johnston & Tiegs, 1922 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) were collected from the gills of Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes) (Sparidae) in the Arabian Sea. All of these parasites belonged to one and the same species, which is morphologically very close to L. euzeti Diamanka, Boudaya, Toguebaye & Pariselle, 2011. A different host, distant locality and small morphological differences compared with the original description of L. euzeti acted as a stimulus for a detailed redescription. The specimens from the Arabian Sea differ slightly in the details of the male copulatory organ (MCO) from the type-specimens of L. euzeti, which were re-examined, and from the respective drawings in its original description. Such differences include a longer inner process of the large element of the accessory piece associated with the proximal part of the copulatory tube, a longer point on the small element of the accessory piece associated with the distal part of the copulatory tube, and the presence of a smooth or slightly folded inner margin of this element rather than structures resembling spines which occur in the typespecimens of L. euzeti. Therefore, the present specimens infecting C. nufar in the Indo-Pacific may represent a different, but morphologically very similar species to the Atlantic form L. euzeti; consequently, they are recognised here as Lamellodiscus aff. euzeti. This form belongs to the ‘ignoratus s. str.’ subgroup of the genus. The composition of this subgroup is redefined to comprise 17 species, including L. corallinus Paperna, 1965 but excluding L. acanthopagri Roubal, 1981, and the morphology of the MCO of representatives of this group is clarified. A link between the diversity of Lamellodiscus species and the ancestral origin of present-day sparid species in the Tethys Sea is suggested. It is shown that Lamellodiscus spp. exhibit rather high levels of specificity to their hosts, since half of them parasitise only a single host species and c.90% infect closely related host species. Comparison of the levels of host-specificity of the species of this genus with other narrowly specific genera of the Dactylogyridea revealed that their estimations are comparable. The possibility of intrahost speciation within Lamellodiscus is discussed. It is shown that a co-evolutionary model is more discernible if it includes data on the occurrence of morphologically similar species from different regions and host taxa

Microcotyle omanae n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae), a parasite of Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes) (Sparidae) from the Arabian Sea

Microcotyle omanae n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) is described from the gills of Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes) (Sparidae) from the Arabian Sea. The new species closely resembles Microcotyle arripis Sandars, 1945, M. helotes Sandars, 1944, M. caudata Goto, 1984 and M. sebastis Goto, 1984, which have also been found in the Indo-Pacific. Microcotyle omanae n. sp. differs from M. arripis, M. helotes and M. caudata by its greater number of testes, from M. arripis, M. helotes by its greater length of the genital atrium, length/width ratio of the genital atrium and length of the eggs, and from M. helotes also in greater width of the clamps, from M. caudata and M. sebastis in its greater number of clamps and additionally from M. sebastis by its smaller genital atrial spines and clamps and by the ratio between length and width of the genital atrium. Moreover, the mature specimens of the new species have greater average body length than all above mentioned species. Correlations between 15 morphometric characters and body length are analysed in the new species, and their significance for species differentiation is discussed

Length-weight relationships and condition factors of Sardinella longiceps (Valenciennes, 1847) from Seeb, Sultanate of Oman

Decadal (from 1997 to 2009) comparative analysis of the length-weight relationship and condition factors of Indian Oil Sardine (Sardinella longiceps) of the Sultanate of Oman was studied for long-term management. The length-weight data were collected from Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Sultanate of Oman. An isometric growth (b = 3) was seen in 1997, a positive allometric growth (b > 3) was observed between 2004 and 2009, and a negative allometric growth (b < 3) was observed in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Fulton’s condition factor in the studied years were 0.857, 0.897, 0.911, 0.902, 0.885 and 0.900, respectively. The results of this study can be used as a valuable tool by fishery biologists, managers and conservationists to carry out Sardinella longiceps stock assessments along the coast of Sultanate of Oman and its neighbouring countries

Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the incidence and features of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections among HCWs at a tertiary hospital in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2020 and February 2021 among HCWs with no history of COVID-19 infection using an online questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and clinical data. COVID-19 infection was diagnosed using nasopharyngeal/throat swabs, which were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Analyses were performed using Chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, or univariate ordinary least squares regression, as appropriate. Results: A total of 583 HCWs participated in the study. Most were female (56.6%) and the mean age was 35 ± 8 years . Only 9.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.3–12.3%) of the HCWs were at high exposure risk as they were directly involved in the care of COVID-19-infected patients. Overall, 4.1% (95% CI: 2.7–6.1%) of the HCWs screened positive for SARS-CoV-2; of these, five (20.8%) developed symptoms within two weeks. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs working in high, intermediate, low, and miscellaneous risk areas was 1.8% (95% CI: <0.1–9.6%), 2.6% (95% CI: <0.1–6.5%), 5.3% (95% CI: 0.3–9.3%), and 4.8% (95% CI: <0.1–69.3%), respectively. Working in high-risk areas was associated with increased compliance with various infection control strategies (P <0.001). Conclusion: There was a greater frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs working in lower-risk areas, whereas HCWs who worked in high-risk areas were significantly more likely to report increased compliance with infection control strategies. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; Asymptomatic Infections; Health Personnel; Occupational Exposure; Infection Control; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Oman