Morphological variation of shad fish Alosa brashnicowi (Teleostei, Clupeidae) populations along the southern Caspian Sea coasts, using a truss system

A 15-landmark morphometric truss network system was used to investigate the hypothesis of population fragmentation of Shad fish Alosa braschnicowi Borodin, 1904 along the southern Caspian Sea. A total of 181 A. braschnicowi specimens were caught from six localities, respectively from the west to the east including; Astara, Rezvanshahr, Anzali, Tonekabon, Sari and Miankale. Principal component analysis, canonical variates analysis and clustering analysis were used to examine morphological differences. Univariate analysis of variance showed significant differences between the means of the six groups for 72 standardized morphometric measurements out of 105 characters studied. In canonical variates analysis, the overall assignment of individuals into their original groups was 71.46% and scatter plot of individual component scores between CV1 and CV2 showed fish specimens grouped into six areas. Clustering analysis based on Euclidean square distances among groups of centroids using UPGMA resulted into six main clusters indicating morphologically distinction populations of A. braschnicowi in the region. These populations of A. braschnicowi are distinguished especially by head shape, eye diameter, and pre-dorsal, pre-pelvic and pre-anal distances. Therefore, it is suggested considering these morphologically different populations as distinct stock in the southern Caspian Sea coasts

The effects of dietary lysozyme on growth performance and haematological indices of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerling

The present study investigates the effects of dietary lysozyme on growth performance and haematological indices of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerlings. One hundred and twenty Juvenile rainbow trout fish (initial average weight 5.46±0.05 g) were fed on varying levels of dietary lysozyme (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g kg-1) for 8 weeks. Thereafter, growth performance as well as haematological indices including WBC, RBC and Hct were measured. Evaluation of growth performance showed no significant increase in fishes fed on different levels of dietary lysozyme (P>0.05). Also, feeding on dietary lysozyme significantly increased WBC compared control (P<0.05); the highest level was detected in 1.5 g kg-1 treatment. Furthermore, RBC of fish fed 1 or 1.5 g kg-1 lysozyme were significantly higher than other treatments. The same results were noticed in case of Hct which was higher in fish fed treated diet. These results indicated that dietary lysozyme affect haematological parameters rather than growth performance

Antimicrobial properties of Thymus vulgaris, Origanum majorana and Ziziphora clinopodioides combined essential oils and their effects on growth behavior of Aeromonas hydrophila

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of Thymus vulgaris, Origanum majorana and Ziziphora clinopodioides and evaluate the antimicrobial properties of their combined essential oils i.e. T.o.z 50% T.v, 25% O.m and 25% Z.c; t.O.z = 25% T.v, 50% O.m and 25% Z.c and t.o.Z = 25% T.v, 25% O.m and 50% Z.c, against Aeromonas Hydrophila (in vitro). The compositions of the herbal essential oils were determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the antimicrobial effects was conducted using agar-disc diffusion method, determination of MIC and MBC, and bacterial growth curves determination based on OD at 600 nm. The main compounds were Thymol (40.60%) and Limonene (15.98%) for T. vulgaris, Carvacrol (57.86%) and Thymol (13.54%) as the major compounds in O. magorana. Regarding Z. clinopodiodes, α-pinene (22.6%) and Carvacrol (21.1%) represented the major constituents. Base on the disc-diffusion results, t.O.z showed the best inhibition zone (26 mm). The inhibitory activity and bactericidal effect of t.O.z, unveiled by the MIC and MBC values, was clearly the highest between all combined herbal oils. Regarding the bacterial growth curves, the combined essential oils exhibited significant differences in all tested concentrations. The t.O.z was the most effective between the three tested combined oils at different temperature that cannot affect herbal oil performance. As conclusion, we suggested that the mixing of herbal oils with growth media was delaying exponential phase starting in the bacterial growth curves

Effects of dietary vitamin E and Zn on growth performance and metabolism rate of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus 1758) during exposure to chronic hypoxia

Oxygen concentration is known as one of the limiting factors in aquaculture production. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E and zinc (Zn) on the metabolic rate and some growth indices in common carp Cyprinus carpio exposed to chronic low oxygen levels. So, 495 fingerling fish with an average weight of 15.38 ± 1.23 g were randomly selected and divided into two independent groups and fed with diets containing different amounts of vitamin E and Zn for 8 weeks. The vitamin E and Zn (E:Zn) concentrations were 0:0, 60:0, 0:20, 60:20 mg/kg for the control groups (C1-C4) and 0:0, 60:0, 0:20, 60:20, 0:40, 120:0 and 120:40 mg/kg for the treatment groups (T1-T4), respectively. All the physicochemical parameters of water except oxygen were the same for both control and treatment groups. Oxygen concentration for the control and the treatment groups were 8.7 ± 0.43 and 4.1 ± 0.38 mg/L, respectively. Chronic hypoxia led to a significant decrease in growth indices such as final weight and body length (p<0.05). In addition, the level of fish basic metabolic rate and maximum fish metabolic rate, aerobic metabolism scope in chronic hypoxia conditions were significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). Nevertheless, using dietary supplements in the fish diet led to a significant improvement in the examined parameters in the treatment groups (p<0.05). The results of the present study showed that using food supplements, in addition to improving the metabolic rate of fish under chronic hypoxia condition, lead to an elevated efficiency of feeding and growth, which is directly related to the production efficiency of aquaculture systems

Morphological variation of shad fish Alosa brashnicowi (Teleostei, Clupeidae) populations along the southern Caspian Sea coasts, using a truss system

A 15-landmark morphometric truss network system was used to investigate the hypothesis of population fragmentation of Shad fish Alosa braschnicowi Borodin, 1904 along the southern Caspian Sea. A total of 181 A. braschnicowi specimens were caught from six localities, respectively from the west to the east including; Astara, Rezvanshahr, Anzali, Tonekabon, Sari and Miankale. Principal component analysis, canonical variates analysis and clustering analysis were used to examine morphological differences. Univariate analysis of variance showed significant differences between the means of the six groups for 72 standardized morphometric measurements out of 105 characters studied. In canonical variates analysis, the overall assignment of individuals into their original groups was 71.46% and scatter plot of individual component scores between CV1 and CV2 showed fish specimens grouped into six areas. Clustering analysis based on Euclidean square distances among groups of centroids using UPGMA resulted into six main clusters indicating morphologically distinction populations of A. braschnicowi in the region. These populations of A. braschnicowi are distinguished especially by head shape, eye diameter, and pre-dorsal, pre-pelvic and pre-anal distances. Therefore, it is suggested considering these morphologically different populations as distinct stock in the southern Caspian Sea coasts

Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Channa Species from Riverine System of Pakistan Using COI Gene as a DNA Barcoding Marker

Channa are the freshwater and important food fish species in Pakistan belonging to family Channidae. However, identification and phylogenetic analysis based on molecular tools of these species in Pakistan was not well known. Herein, the current investigation was conceptualized, which dealt with mitochondrial DNA sequences from three geographically distinct populations of this species from Pakistan’s water system. DNA from fin tissues was extracted. COI region of mtDNA was amplified using universal primers for fish. PCR products were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis conducted in the present study, i.e. neighbor-joining (NJ) cladogram, maximum likelihood, K2P genetic divergence and histogram suggests that the studied species of family Channidae are genetically different. The K2P intraspecific divergences were lower than interspecific divergences. The clades in the evolutionary tree for three species were clearly separated

Preparation and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibody Against Truncated Recombinant Nuclear Matrix Protein (NMP22)

Background: Bladder cancer is a major worldwide health problem. Diagnosis of acute and chronic bladder carcinoma is based on the detection of a number of tumor markers such as nmp22 (nuclear matrix protein 22). Nmp22 is one of the tumor markers used for detecting the recurrence of bladder cancer. Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop hybrid cell producing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), specifically for nmp22 using hybridoma technology. Materials and Methods: Complete and incomplete adjuvant with recombinant truncated nmp22 antigens were emulsified and injected to BALB/c mice. The spleen was removed and the splenocytes were fused with sp2/0 myeloma cells. Characterization of the produced mAb was carried out. Results: As a result of the fusion, hybridoma cells were produced and exhibited high- titer antibodies. By testing of colons based on the EnzymeLinkedImmunosorbent Assay (ELISA), 135hybridomacolonswere selected, out of whicheight high titer clones including 54D-6F-2E-36-7H-2A-8E-1D-6D were detected and one of the clones named FPR92 was selected, and the produced mAb was further characterized. The produced antibody belongs to the IgG class and its light chain was kappa. With respect to affinity, the mAb was included as high affinity 3�10-7 reacting with NMP22 recombinant protein .The western blot of cancerous bladder tissue showed the presence of 40 and 55 kD proteins as major bands that reacted with this mAb. Conclusions: Based on a double limiting dilution protocol, a type of monoclonal antibody, named FPR92 was produced and characterized. Keywords: Nmp22, Hybridoma, mAb, FPR92, Characterizatio

Effect of microencapsulation of Pediococus acidilactici on growth performance, body composition and the bacterial flora of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotic bacteria Pediocucus acidilactici encapsulated with alginate and resistant starch (Hi maize) coated by chitosan, on growth indices, intestinal flora and carcass composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Rainbow trout fingerling with an average weight of 18.41 ± 0.32 g were fed with diets including: encapsulated probiotic, free probiotic, diet containing capsules free of bacteria (positive control) and control diet containing no probiotics for 60 days. The results exhibited that there were no significant differences in growth rate, weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio in different groups. The highest number of lactic acid bacteria was found in the fish received the encapsulated bacteria while the lowest was in the control group (p<0.05). Maximum carcass protein and fat contents were observed in encapsulated bacteria treatment and maximum carcass ash was in control group (p<0.05). Totally, the results suggest that encapsulated P. acidilactici improves the growth performance, body composition and bacterial flora of rainbow trout

In vitro Selection of Synbiotics and in vivo Investigation of Growth Indices, Reproduction Performance, Survival, and Ovarian Cyp19 alpha Gene Expression in Zebrafish Danio rerio

In this study, we tested the compatibility of two extracts from the plant Jerusalem artichokes and button mushrooms with two different Lactobacillus probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus; La and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus; Lb) to develop a synbiotic formulation to improve the growth, survival, and reproductive performances of farmed fishes. Initially, we employed in vitro approach to monitor the growth of the probiotic lactobacilli in the presence of the different doses of the plant-based prebiotics, with the aim of selecting interesting combination(s) for further verification under in vivo conditions using zebrafish as a model. Results from the in vitro screening assay in the broth showed that both the probiotic species showed a preference for 50% mushroom extract as a source of prebiotic. A synbiotic formulation, developed with the selected combination of L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, and 50% mushroom extract, showed a positive influence on the growth and reproductive performances of the zebrafish. Our findings also imply that the improvement in the reproductive indices was associated with the upregulation of a cyp19a gene. Overall results suggest that a combination of L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, and mushroom extract can be considered as a potential synbiotic for the successful production of aquaculture species

Evaluation of growth performance, carcass composition and hematological indices in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, fed with encapsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus encapsulated with alginate and resistant starch (Hi maize) coated by chitosan on the growth and hematological indices as well as carcass composition in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Rainbow trout fingerlings averaged 19.49 ± 0.32 g in weight were fed with diets containing encapsulated probiotic, free probiotic, and diet containing capsules without bacteria (positive control) as well as control diet without probiotics for 60 days. The results exhibited that there were significant differences in growth rate, weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio in different groups. So that, the best results were obtained in the encapsulated probiotic group (p0.05). Totally, the results suggest that encapsulation of L. rhamnosus can increase the potential for probiotic employing in aquaculture