Occurrence and histopathology of Ascocotyle tenuicollis metacercaria in gill of platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus) imported to Iran

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of metacercarial infection in plathyfish imported to Iran. A total of 100 imported live common platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus) from approximately 24 shipments were collected from a quarantine facility in Iran in 2007 and examined in our veterinary laboratory. Among 800 examined gill arches about 1300 cysts were found in different locations of gill filaments and were identified as a heterophyid parasite metacercaria Ascocotyle (Ascocotyle) tenuicollis Price, 1935. The prevalence of this parasite was 58%, the maximum and minimum quantity of metacercarial cysts per infected platyfish were 70 and 10, respectively. The adult worms are non-pathogenic and are intestinal parasites of piscivorous birds (e.g. Heron and Egret) and mammals. The first intermediate hosts are snails and the second intermediate hosts are centrarchiid, cyprinodontid, mugilid, and poeciliid fishes. Histopathologic examination of the infected fish gills revealed cartilage proliferation around metacercarial cysts, hyperplasia, hypertrophy and fusion in the affected gill filaments. To our knowledge, this is the first report of infection with Ascocotyle tenuicollis in the imported platyfish in Iran

Non-surgical removal of some stones from a red tailed catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) stomach as gastric foreign bodies

A red-tailed catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) referred to Aquatic Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran for showing lethargy, bottom sitting, extension of abdomen and severe abdominal injuries. Its abdomen was swollen and the bulk of the foreign bodies were easily palpated. The heaviness of foreign bodies had made swimming and buoyancy difficult for fish. Several radiographic images were taken after anaesthetizing the catfish with 10% carvacrol, 2 drops in 1 liter of water. Radiographs revealed some stones with their size, number and location. Stones were removed non-surgically through the large oral cavity using suitable forceps. Totally 16 stones and 2 shells were removed from the stomach of the fish. The catfish was then returned to the water where normal swimming and buoyancy was restored

Selected morpho-chemical features of hemocytes in farmed shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus in Iran

The aim of the present study was to determine various types of hemocytes, total and differential hemocyte count and to show some indices of phagocytosis, including percent phagocytosis and phagocytic index in Indian white shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus in Iranian shrimp farms. The hemolymph was extracted from the shrimps and mixed with anticoagulant. It then stained and Yeast was added as foreign particles to samples. Based on the cell size and presence of the granules and nucleocytoplasmic ratio, three major groups of hemocytes, including hyaline cells, small granular cells (SGC) and large granular cells (LGC) were identified. Hyaline cell (HC) was the smallest hemocyte. HC (hyaline cell) about was 10-15%, lower quantity in comparison to some species and those of LGC and SGC were 20-25% and 60-65%, respectively, suggesting that relative percentage of differential hemocyte count in Fenneropenaeus indicus is different from other decapods. Also, in this study, it was shown that SGH and LGH could engulf the yeast particles. In Contrast to some previous studies, no engulfment was observed by hyaline cells in vitro. In this study it was showed that there are some variations in total and differential hemocyte count compare to other species in the family of Penaeidae

Hemocytosis, a new disease in cultured shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus

Certain parasites can cause severe diseases in shrimp. Among these, protozoa are very important. The objective of our study was to describe the signs, prevalence, and intensity of hemocytosis, a new disease in shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus. The experimental design included three groups, one treatment as infected shrimp or group B and 2 controls with non-infected but exposure to White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) shrimp as group A and non-infected non-exposure to WSSV shrimp as group C in triplicate. The results revealed that Hemocytosis associated with a decrease in hyalinocytes and large-granulocytes (less than 8%) and a considerable increase in semi-granulocytes in group A and B in contrast to group C that Hyalinocyte increased. This infection made the shrimp susceptible to WSSV disease. It is believed that Hemocytosis causes a condition which can result in a rapid mortality among susceptible species, F. indicus when exposure to WSSV is occurred

The effect of different salinities on mortality and histopathological changes of SPF imported Litopenaeus vannamei, experimentally exposed to White Spot Virus and a new differential hemocyte staining method

Shrimp farmers have been suffering from loss of production due to White Spot Disease (WSD) in the last decades. A few studies focused on the environmental factors predisposed WSD. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of the different salinities on occurrence of WSD. The treatments were 30 ppt, 40 ppt and 50 ppt in triplicate and corresponding untreated control groups. White Spot Virus (WSV) was intramuscularly injected to the shrimp in whole treatments. PCR and histopathological findings within the measurement of some hemolymph parameters such as Differentiated Hemocyte Count (DHC), Total Hemocyte Count (THC) and Total Plasma Protein (TPP) were carried out. A positive result was observed for the occurrence of the antigen of the WSV obtained from the samples of each treatment of salinity due to the challenging treatments with the WSV. Mortality at the salinity of 30 ppt began at 72 h post inoculation as well as the salinity of 40 ppt, but at 50 ppt it started after 50 h. The Minimum and maximum count of mortality at the salinity of 30, 40 and 50 ppt were 3.5, 8.5 0.5, 4.5 and 1.5, 7.5, respectively. No mortality was observed in the untreated control groups of 30, 40 and 50 ppt during the experiment. It is concluded that the higher and the lower salinity, lesser or greater than the normal condition in exposed to WSV could lead to severe mortality of WSD

Evaluation of physiological aspects and molecular identification of Saprolegnia isolates from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Caspian trout (Salmo trutta caspius) eggs based on RAPD–PCR

The genus of saprolegnia is one of the most important pathogenic aquatic fungi in farmed and wild fish. In the present study, fungal infected egss were collected from rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) and Caspian trout (Salmo trutta caspius). After purification, 16 isolates were obtained (8 isolates from rainbow trout and 8 isolates from Caspian salmon, respectively). The isolates were then coded as R2 – R9 (rainbow trout) and S2 – S9 (Caspian trout).The registered DNA for S. parasitica (ACTT # 200048) and S. diclina (ACTT # 4206) were used and coded as R1 and S1, respectively. Based on the RAPD profile obtained all samples were divided to 3 groups and members of each group had more than 90% similarity among themselves. According to matrix of similarity and reference strains, the isolates were classified as three groups. Therefore, all of isolates in group 1 and 3 were S. parasitica and S. diclina, respectively, and the members of group 2 were known as Saprolegnia sp. The results of thermal resistance assessment showed that the isolates of rainbow trout and Caspian salmon eggs had slow growth in the temperature between 18 – 20 °C. Thus, R2 and S8 isolates had the lowest radial growth compared to other isolates. The isolates categorized in S. parasitica (group 1) created secoundry zoospores but not observed in two other groups. Thus, catenulated gamme was found in 78% and 55.55% isolates of rainbow trout and Caspian trout eggs, respectively. This study indicated that molecular methods were the best methods for identification of Saprolegnia spp. and it could be applied as a supplementary confirming method

Effects of different dietary levels of AFB1 on survival rate and growth factors of Beluga (Huso huso)

In the present study, the impacts of various concentrations of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on Beluga, Huso huso, under controlled conditions were investigated. Belugas (120±10g) were fed on diets containing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppb AFB1/kg of diet for 3 months. Results showed various levels of AFB1 do not significantly affect the specific growth ratio (SGR) (P<0.05) of fish in different treatments. However, weight gain and food conversion ratio (FCR) were varied significantly (P<0.05 between control and treatments with diets contaminated with 75 and 100 ppb AFB1/kg after 90 days). The increase AFB1 level of did not affect on the percent of survival rate (SR) and no mortality was observed in treatments (SR=100%) suggesting that various AFB1 levels under experimental conditions of the present study affect some growth factors, such as, weight gain and FCR but have no significant impact on SR and SGR. Histopathological studies showed that different level of AFB1 can cause broad range of change in liver tissue, including progressive fat deposition, hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis, particularly at concentration of 75 and 100 ppb AFB1/kg of diets after 60 days

Characteristics and Assessing Biological Risks of Airborne Bacteria in Waste Sorting Plant

Examining the concentration and types of airborne bacteria in waste paper and cardboard sorting plants (WPCSP) is an urgent matter to inform policy makers about the health impacts on exposed workers. Herein, we collected 20 samples at 9 points of a WPCSP every 6 winter days, and found that the most abundant airborne bacteria were positively and negatively correlated to relative humidity and temperature, respectively. The most abundant airborne bacteria (in units of CFU m−3) were: Staphylococcus sp. (72.4) \u3e Micrococcus sp. (52.2) \u3e Bacillus sp. (30.3) \u3e Enterococcus sp. (24.0) \u3e Serratia marcescens (20.1) \u3e E. coli (19.1) \u3e Pseudomonas sp. (16.0) \u3e Nocardia sp. (1.9). The lifetime average daily dose (LADD) for the inhalation and dermal routes for the intake of airborne bacteria ranged from 3.7 × 10−3 ≤ LADDInhalation ≤ 2.07 × 101 CFU (kg d)−1 and 4.75 × 10−6 ≤ LADDDermal ≤ 1.64 × 10−5 CFU (kg d)−1, respectively. Based on a sensitivity analysis (SA), the concentration of airborne bacteria (C) and the exposure duration (ED) had the most effect on the LADDInhalation and LADDDermal for all sampling locations. Although the Hazard Quotient of airborne bacteria was HQ \u3c 1, an acceptable level, the indoor/outdoor ratio (1.5 ≤ I/O ≤ 6.6) of airborne bacteria typically exceeded the threshold value (I/O \u3e 2), indicating worker’s exposure to an infected environment. Therefore, in the absence of sufficient natural ventilation the indoor ambient conditions of the WPCSP studied should be controlled by supplying mechanical ventilation

Unbalanced segregation of a paternal t(9;11)(p24.3;p15.4) translocation causing familial Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The vast majority of cases with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) are caused by a molecular defect in the imprinted chromosome region 11p15.5. The underlying mechanisms include epimutations, uniparental disomy, copy number variations, and structural rearrangements. In addition, maternal loss-of-function mutations in CDKN1C are found. Despite growing knowledge on BWS pathogenesis, up to 20% of patients with BWS phenotype remain without molecular diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report an Iranian family with two females affected with BWS in different generations. Bisulfite pyrosequencing revealed hypermethylation of the H19/IGF2: intergenic differentially methylated region (IG DMR), also known as imprinting center 1 (IC1) and hypomethylation of the KCNQ1OT1: transcriptional start site (TSS) DMR (IC2). Array CGH demonstrated an 8 Mb duplication on chromosome 11p15.5p15.4 (205,827-8,150,933) and a 1 Mb deletion on chromosome 9p24.3 (209,020-1,288,114). Chromosome painting revealed that this duplication-deficiency in both patients is due to unbalanced segregation of a paternal reciprocal t(9;11)(p24.3;p15.4) translocation. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of a paternally inherited unbalanced translocation between the chromosome 9 and 11 short arms underlying familial BWS. Copy number variations involving the 11p15.5 region are detected by the consensus diagnostic algorithm. However, in complex cases which do not only affect the BWS region itself, characterization of submicroscopic chromosome rearrangements can assist to estimate the recurrence risk and possible phenotypic outcomes

The study of skin lesions in beluga (Huso huso) fed with different dietary levels of Aflatoxin B1

In this study, 180 Beluga (Huso huso) weighing 120110g each with a stocking density of 12 fish per tank were adapted with synthetic diet and then fed with different levels of AFBI (0, 25, 50,75 & 100pplpikg of diets) under controlled conditions (T=1 8±2°C, DO=7.3ppm). The fish were fed 3% of their body weight four times a day for three months. Prevalence of skin lesions evaluated through clinical observations monthly. With regard to toxin concentration and time of exposure to AFBi in experimental fish, different degree of skin lesions (simple hemorrhage to progressive wounds) were observed in different parts of body especially in vent, caudal peduncle, fins, and head. "Yellow sores" on head and trunk regions were considerable and led to deterioration of appearance. Prevalence of skin lesion in different treatments was 8•m53.3%. After feeding with toxic diets was stopped, 16.w24% healing was obsenTed in the fish