Fungal Diseases in Elasmobranchs and Their Possible Treatment with a Special Mention to Azole Antifungal Agents

Author Contributions: D.C.-C., P.M-E. and T.E. designed the review; D.C.-C., P.M.-E. and T.E. wrote, edited and reviewed the manuscript, D.G.-P., C.R.-S. and E.P.-G. reviewed the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscriptIntroduction: Elasmobranchs currently constitute an important part of the animal collection of many aquariums worldwide. Their maintenance under human care has allowed us to describe and identify new pathogens and diseases affecting them, as well as to determine different treatments for these diseases. Great advances in elasmobranch husbandry have been developed. Methods: A search was performed on scientific databases as PubMed and other specialized sources (IAAAM archive). Results: Little information on pharmacotherapeutics is available in this taxonomic group, and treatments lack a scientific base and instead are frequently dependent on empirical knowledge. Pharmacokinetic studies are the first step to determining therapeutic protocols that are safe and effective. The available bibliography shows that a majority of the mycoses recorded in cartilaginous fish are severe, aggravated by the fact that the antifungal treatments administered, following the guidelines used for teleost species, are ineffective in elasmobranchs. Azoles appear to be a promising group of antifungals for use in treating systemic mycoses in sharks and rays. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this review, it is essential to investigate the pharmacokinetics of the different antifungals in these species in order to provide therapeutic options for fungal infections in cartilaginous fish.Simple Summary: Fungal diseases, despite their low incidence in fish, appear to be lethal in many teleost and elasmobranch species. There are many fungi involved, including Paecilomyces spp., Exophiala spp. and Fusarium spp., among the most frequently diagnosed. Fungal diseases in elasmobranchs have been documented in animals under human care in aquariums since 1980. Most cases have resulted in high mortality due to a lack of information concerning the treatment and medical and environmental management of mycoses in these species. Antifungal drugs are frequently prescribed to improve clinical signs or lesions in animals affected by fungal infections. Azole agents appear to be the most effective antifungals in the treatment of systemic fungal infections. However, more evidence concerning the use of these drugs in elasmobranchs is needed.Sección Deptal. de Farmacología y Toxicología (Veterinaria)Fac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Pharmacokinetics of the Anti-Inflammatory Drug Meloxicam after Single 1.5 mg/kg Intramuscular Administration to Undulate Skates (Raja undulata)

The therapy database currently used in elasmobranchs is still mostly based on empirical data, and there are few efficacy and safety studies supporting clinical practice. In this study, meloxicam pharmacokinetics (PK) were evaluated after a single 1.5 mg/kg IM administration to a group of seven clinically healthy adult undulate skates (Raja undulata Lacepède, 1802). Blood samples were collected before administration and at 15, 30, 60 and 90 min and 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after the IM injection. The meloxicam concentrations in plasma were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography, and PK parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental model approach. The mean ± SEM values of the main PK values were 1.84 ± 0.31 μg/mL for peak plasma concentration, 1.5 ± 0.24 h for time to maximum plasma concentration, 11.43 ± 2.04 h·µg/mL for area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve, 3.55 ± 0.65 h for elimination half-life, and 5.37 ± 0.94 h for mean residency time. No adverse reactions were detected. The relatively high plasma concentration and short time to maximum plasma concentration suggest that meloxicam could turn into an efficient analgesic and anti-inflammatory candidate drug to be used in skates. Further efficacy, pharmacodynamic, and multiple-dose studies with meloxicam are needed in elasmobranchs

Diseño y desarrollo de una herramienta audiovisual para la docencia virtual de la inspección veterinaria oficial de pescados y productos de la pesca en un mercado central

El objetivo global de este Proyecto de Innovación Docente es la creación de vídeos explicativos como una herramienta de aprendizaje incorporada en el Campus Virtual para mejorar el estudio sobre las actividades de higiene, inspección y control alimentario que se realizan en el Mercado Central de Pescados de Mercamadrid. La creación y el empleo de estos vídeos están dirigidos, en un principio, a los estudiantes universitarios de Grado en Veterinaria que cursan la asignatura de Higiene, Inspección y Seguridad Alimentaria. En este Proyecto se han creado vídeos explicativos que tratan sobre: (i) los controles oficiales realizados por los Técnicos Superiores Veterinarios de Mercamadrid; (ii) los riesgos sanitarios asociados al consumo de pescados, crustáceos y moluscos; (iii) la frescura del pescado; (iv) el etiquetado del pescado; (v) la identificación de especies de pescado y marisco; (vi) la prevención de fraudes en la comercialización de pescados y mariscos; y (vii) la autentificación de pescados fileteados mediante técnicas de análisis