Stress proteins concentration in caged Cyprinus carpioas a tool to monitor ecological stability in a model dam reservoir

Variability of stress proteins concentration in caged carp exposed to transplantation experiment model dam reservoir was caused only by natural (climatic and biological) conditions. Thus, the reference data of stress proteins concentration range in young carp individuals were obtained. Metallothionein, HSP70 and HSP90 protein concentrations as biomarkers were assayed in the livers, gills and muscles of six-month-old (summer) or nine-month-old (autumn) carp individuals in relation to the site of encaging, season (summer or autumn), the term of sampling (1, 2 or 3 weeks after the transplantation) and tissue. Physicochemical analyses of the condition of water as well as pollution detection were conducted during each stage of the experiment. As the result of this study, the range of the variability of the stress protein concentration in young carp individuals was obtained. According to the analyses of the aquatic conditions of a reservoir with no detectable pollutants, we conclude that the variability in the stress protein concentration levels in the groups that were compared is solely the result of the natural conditions. Future regular monitoring of the reservoir using the transplantation method and young carp individuals will be both possible and reliable. Moreover, the range of variability in the stress protein concentrations that were measured in the young C. carpio individuals acquired from the model dam reservoir in relation to all of the studied factors may be applied in the monitoring of any other similar reservoir

C-reactive protein and complement as acute phase reactants in common carp Cyprinus carpio during CyHV-3 infection

Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) is the aetiological agent of a highly virulent and lethal disease of common carp Cyprinus carpio and its ornamental koi varieties. However, specific knowledge about immune mechanisms behind the infection process is very limited. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the CyHV-3 infection on the profile of 2 major components of the common carp immune acute phase response: the C-reactive protein (CRP) and the complement system. Common carp were infected with CyHV-3 by bath immersion. Fish were sampled before the infection and at 6, 12, 24, 72, 120 and 336 h post-infection for serum and head kidney, liver, gill and spleen tissues. CRP levels and complement activity were determined from the serum, whereas CRP- and complement-related genes (crp1, crp2, c1rs, bf/c2, c3, masp2) expression profiles were analysed in the tissues by quantitative PCR. Both CRP levels and complement activity increased significantly up to 10- and 3-fold, respectively, in the serum of infected fish during the challenge. Analysis revealed distinct organ- and time-dependent expression profile patterns for all selected genes. These results suggest that CRP and complement behave as acute phase reactants to CyHV-3 infection in common carp with an organ- and time-dependent response

Differential effects of Alloherpesvirus CyHV-3 and Rhabdovirus SVCV on apoptosis in fish cells

Whilst Herpesviridae, which infect higher vertebrates, actively influence host immune responses to ensure viral replication, it is mostly unknown if Alloherpesviridae, which infect lower vertebrates, possess similar abilities. An important antiviral response is clearance of infected cells via apoptosis, which in mammals influences the outcome of infection. Here, we utilise common carp infected with CyHV-3 to determine the effect on the expression of genes encoding apoptosis-related proteins (p53, Caspase 9, Apaf-1, IAP, iNOS) in the pronephros, spleen and gills. The influence of CyHV-3 on CCB cells was also studied and compared to SVCV (a rhabdovirus) which induces apoptosis in carp cell lines. Although CyHV-3 induced iNOS expression in vivo, significant induction of the genetic apoptosis pathway was only seen in the pronephros. In vitro CyHV-3 did not induce apoptosis or apoptosis-related expression whilst SVCV did stimulate apoptosis. This suggests that CyHV-3 possesses mechanisms similar to herpesviruses of higher vertebrates to inhibit the antiviral apoptotic process

Modifications in aquaculture technology for increasing fishpond’s primary productivity in temperate climatic conditions

Aquaculture plays a great role in producing foodstuffs, sustaining inland capture fisheries and providing employment. The key to future development in pond aquaculture is diversification of production technology, intensity, and function connected to increasing the environmental value of pond areas. New production systems involve a combination of intensive and extensive pond culture, increasing productivity and improving nutrient utilisation and fish species diversification. The most important principle of these systems is the possibility to use the wastes from intensive aquaculture as the input for extensive, environment-friendly fish production. These systems were proven to be profitable and sustainable in tropical and subtropical areas. However, for temperate climatic conditions, such data are scarce. For this reason, we decided to discuss modifications that, in our opinion, can be applied in an extensive part of the integrated intensive-extensive system in temperate climatic conditions in order to increase the overall productivity of the pond aquaculture

Influence of the genetic makeup of common carp on the expression of iron-related genes during Trypanoplasma borreli infection

Genes related to iron metabolism play an important role in inflammatory response. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of ferritin, transferrin receptors 1a and 1b, and transferrin genes in the response to blood parasite infection in common carp (Cyprinuscarpio L.)

Reduced inflammatory response to Aeromonas salmonicida infection in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fed with β-glucan supplements

The objective of the present study was to determine the action of beta-glucans as feed additives on the gene expression profile of some inflammatory-related cytokines from common carp (Cyprinus carpio L) during the early stages of a non-lethal bacterial infection with Aeromonas salmonicida. beta-glucan (MacroGard (R)), was administered daily to carp (6 mg per kg body weight) in the form of supplemented commercial food pellets for 14 days prior to infection. Control and treated fish were then intraperitoneally injected with PBS or 4 x 10(8) bacteria per fish and were sampled at time 0 and 6 h, 12 h, I day, 3 days and 5 days post-injection. Head kidney and gut were collected and the gene expression patterns for tnf alpha 1, tnf alpha 2, il1 beta, il6 and il10 were analyzed by quantitative PCR. Results obtained showed that treatment with beta-glucans generally down-regulated the expression of all measured genes when compared to their corresponding controls. After injection, highest changes in the gene expression levels were obtained at 6 h: particularly, in head kidney there was higher up-regulation of tnfa1 and tnfa2 in infected fish fed beta-glucans in comparison to control feed: however, in gut there was a significant down-regulation of tnf alpha 1, tnf alpha 2, il1 beta and il6 in infected fish fed beta-glucans. Analysis of carp specific antibodies against A. salmonicida 30 days after injection revealed their levels were reduced in the infected beta-glucan group. In conclusion, a diet supplemented with beta-glucan (MacroGard (R)) reduced the gene expression levels of some inflammation-related cytokines in common carp. Such a response appears to be dependent of organ studied and therefore the immunostimulant may be preventing an acute and potential dangerous response in gut, whilst enhancing the inflammatory response in head kidney when exposed to A. salmonicid

Dietary β-glucan stimulate complement and C-reactive protein acute phase responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during an Aeromonas salmonicida infection

The effect of beta-glucans as feed additive on the profile of C-reactive protein (CRP) and complement acute phase responses was studied in common carp Cyprinus carpio after exposition to a bacterial infection with Aeromonas salmonicida. Carp were orally administered with beta-glucan (MacroGard (R)) for 14 days with a daily beta-glucan intake of 6 mg per kg body weight. Fish were then intraperitoneally injected with either PBS or 1 x 10(8) bacteria per fish and sampled at time 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h post-injection (p.i.) for serum and head kidney, liver and mid-gut tissues. CRP levels and complement activity were determined in the serum samples whilst the gene expression profiles of CRP and complement related genes (crp1, crp2, c1r/s, bf/c2, c3 and masp2) were analysed in the tissues by quantitative PCR. Results obtained showed that oral administration of beta-glucan for 14 days significantly increased serum CRP levels up to 2 fold and serum alternative complement activity (ACP) up to 35 fold. The bacterial infection on its own (i.e. not combined with a beta-glucan feeding) did have significant effects on complement response whilst CRP was not detectably induced during the carp acute phase reaction. However, the combination of the infection and the beta-glucan feeding did show significant effects on both CRP and complement profiles with higher serum CRP levels and serum ACP activity in the beta-glucan fed fish than in the control fed fish. In addition, a distinct organ and time dependent expression profile pattern was detected for all the selected genes: a peak of gene expression first occurred in the head kidney tissue (6 h p.i. or 12 h p.i.), then an up-regulation in the liver several hours later (24 h p.i.) and finally up- or down-regulations in the mid-gut at 24 h p.i. and 72 h p.i. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that MacroGard (R) stimulated CRP and complement responses to A. salmonicida infection in common carp