Effect of age on reproductive performance in female Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspious, Kessler 1877)

Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius) is one of the economically valuable species in the Caspian Sea.Artificial propagation and production of larvae are the main problems in the early culture of this species.The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of reproductive performance of female broods on opposition reproduction efficiency in Caspian brown trout in the breeding season of 2009. Three groups of female broods (4, 5 and 6 years old) were fertilized with 9 male fish individually. The results showed that,6 year old females have maximum body weight (2150.0 ± 86.6 g), total length (59±2 cm), eggs weight (255.0 ± 30.51 g), egg size (5.37 ± 0.058 mm) and absolute fecundity rate (3060 ± 366.15), while highest average number of ovules in each gram of body weight (16.33 ± 0.58) and relative fecundity (2.08 ± 0.12) belonged to 4 years old females. There were significant differences in mean fertilization rate and survival rate until absorption of yolk sack stage (p<0.05) among the treatments studied. The present study showed that the eggs produced from fertilization of 6 year old female eggs and male mixed milt showed maximum average fertilization percentage (97.5 %), survival rate until eyed stage (92%), hatching percentage (93%), and survival rate until absorption of yolk sack (94.5%)

Epidemiological Aspects of Canine Dirofilariasis in the North of Iran

Background: Dirofilaria immitis is an important parasite in dog and other carnivores. Our objec­tive was study on incidence and periodicity of heartworm in north of Iran and using other meth­ods for its diagnosis in addition to Parasitology exam.Methods: This survey spanned two years, between 2006 and 2008. Blood samples were collected from 431 stray dogs distributed along north of Iran, the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea. The Knott's modified test was used for diagnosis of D. immitis and other filariae. Meanwhile, the periodic­ity of microfilaria in peripheral blood circulation was calculated and the imaging diagno­sis techniques of four dogs that had positive results were done.Result: Diagnostic parasitology results indicated that 16.01% of stray dogs were microfilaremic. Two different microfilariae were diagnosed: D. immitis in 13.69%, Dipetalonema reconditum in 1.86% and in 0.46% both of them. There was no statistically significant between infection to fiariae with sex and age of dogs. Also study on the periodicity of the presence of microfilaria in peripheral circulation showed that the highest rate of those was at 1 am and the lowest rate at 12 pm. Radiographic study showed distinctive signs with varied degrees of severity included: Tortu­ous and enlargement of main and lobar pulmonary artery, pulmonary parenchymal lesions and Right side heart enlargement that confirmed in electrocardiography. Also in echocardiographic images observed short parallel-sided images with the appearance of equal signs that indicated the pres­ence of the heartworm.Conclusion: These results showed that to obtain a reliable diagnosis of heartworm infection, imag­ing tests could support parasitological exams

Extra-hepatic fascioliasis with peritoneal malignancy tumor feature

Fascioliasis is a zoonose parasitic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica and is widespread in most regions of the world. Ectopic fascioliasis usually caused by juvenile Fasciola spp., but in recent years a few cases of tissue-embedded ova have been reported from different endemic areas. A 79-year-old Iranian man resident in Eird-e-Mousa village from Ardabil Province, north-west of Iran, complained with abdominal pain, nausea, and intestinal obstruction symptoms referred to Ardabil Fatemi hospital. In laparotomy multiple intestinal masses with peritoneal seeding resembling of a malignant lesion were seen. After appendectomy and peritoneal mass biopsy with numerous intraperitoneal adenopathy, paraffin embedded blocks were prepared from each tissues. A blood sample was taken from the patient 5 months later for serological diagnosis. Histopathological examination of sections showed fibrofatty stroma with dense mixed inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis in peritoneal masses. Large numbers of ova of Fasciola spp. were noted with typical circumscribed granulomas. Despite of anti-fasciola treatment, IHA test for detecting anti F. hepatica antibodies was positive 5 months after surgery with a titer of 1/128. Due to multiple clinical manifestation of extra-hepatic fascioliasis, its differential diagnosis from intraperitoneal tumors or other similar diseases should be considered

Environmental and ecological studies in northern Alborz (Guilan Province)

Caspian Sea with an area of 400 thousand square kilometers is the largest lake in the world. The Caspian Sea about 1200 km from north to south on the longest section and an average width of 320 km. along the coastline around the Caspian Sea is about 6500 kilometers. Caspian Sea is about 78,000 cubic kilometers of water volume that is 44% of stocks of blue lakes around the world. Caspian Sea basin, which is composed of seven major basins of the main watershed from west to east are: juniper, Talsh- Anzali, large Sefidrood between Haraz Sefid and, Hraz- Gharehsou, Nagorno Sv- Gorgan and Atrak in the basin of Aras no limits to the beach. Aras sub-basin is located in the North West and Iran, the second largest sub-basin of the Caspian Sea. Talysh-Anzali on the Caspian Sea basin West and the seventh largest sub-basin of the Caspian Sea. White basin is located in the South East of the Caspian Sea and the extent of the sub-basin of the Caspian Sea. Haraz located in the south Caspian Sea basin and the ninth largest sub-basin of the Caspian Sea. Gorgan is located in the South East of the Caspian Sea basin and the fourth largest sub-basin of the Caspian Sea. In these areas, about 28 percent of the total fish production in the northern waters of aquatic allocated

Identification of local microalgae & their evaluation as live food in aquaculture from Oman Sea

Microalgae are very important organisms in aquaculture as major live food in all growth stages of bivalve, some larval stages of crustaceans, some fishes and zooplankton. In this project with the knowledge that local algae can provide better nutritional balance for local animals. Microalgae were isolated, identified and evaluated for their nutritional value for the first time. Another aim of this research was to create phytoplankton culture collection (Bank) in the south of Iran. Water was sampled from Sistan and Baluchesta coasts, then isolation and purification process were carried out in the lab. Species identification was based on morphology and molecular analyses. rDNA was extracted from each strain after PCR, partial LSU-rDNA region were sequenced and compared with similar sequence from GenBank. In order to evaluate their nutritional properties, relative growth, fatty acids composition, total lipid, carbohydrate, protein, and some vitamins of each purified strain were determined. Totally 25 species were isolated and purified, of which 12 strains were recorded in GenBank and their nutritional potential were assessed. Dunaliella cf. bardawill, Isochrysis sp. Cheatoceros sp. Clorella cf. volgaris, Ochromonas sp. and Synechococcus sp. were the most important species research. Iranian strains were varied in their amount of protein (27-40%), carbohydrate (221%) and lipid (8-13%). Proportions of SFA (21-48%), MUFA (33-53%) and PUFA (11-28.5%) were varied among strains. The highest amount of PUFA and B3 vitamin were found in Clorella cf. vulgaris. The highest content of protein (40.12% dry wt) and total fatty acid concentration (30% dry wt) were found in Dunaliella cf. bardawil and Ochromonas strain(CHPO2) respectively. The maximum content of total fatty acid was observed in Ochromonas sp. (CHPO2). Cheatoceros sp. had higher relative growth rate in comparison with other species

Determination of sediment nutrients in the cage fish culture area (before breeding) of the southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran coast-Kelarabad)

This study was conducted to determine phosphorous and nitrogen species at the surface sediment in the southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran Coast, Kelarabad). Surface sediments samples were collected at three stations from autumn of 2011 to winter of 2012. All samples were prepared by digesting and extracting processes and then phosphorous and nitrogen species concentrations determined using spectroscopy instrument. Results of this study showed that annual mean of Loosely-P, Fe-P, Al-P, Bioava.-P, Ca-P, TIP, Rese.-P and TP was obtained as 5.06±0.33, 55.11±2.52, 42.38±3.74, 102.52±5.68, 172.91±7.12, 275±9.12, 333.30±28.52 and 608±52 µg/g.dw, respectively. The results also showed that inorganic phophorous was less than organic phophorous during different seasons, however, mean percentage of residue-P containing organic compounds and non-degradable compounds was more than 50 percent. Percentage of Ca-P was higher than 60, whereas Bioava.-P was less than 40 percent. In addition, Fe-P and Loosely-P attained the maximum and minimum values, respectively, among the bioavailable phophorous. The order of different forms of phosphorous were recorded as Org-P>Ca-P>FeP>Al-P>Loosely-P. Annual mean of NH4/N, NO2/N, NO3/N, TIN, TON and TN were observed as 4.23±0.50, 0.06±0.01, 0.74±0.12, 5.02±0.53, 2.48±0.63 and 7.53±0.51 µg/g.dw, respectively. Annual percentage of TIN was two folds than TON and concentration of NH4/N was also four times than NO3/N. As a conclusion, the results revealed that main causes of Bioava.-P adsorption and desorption were temperature, Eh and pH. Also, the form of NH4+/N was of a high percentage because of anaerobic condition in the sediments. According to the high ratios of nitrogen/phosphorous of sediments to nitrogen and phosphorous of bottom water, it finds that released of those from the sediments to water will be happened with high rates. Therefore, it is expected that the establishment of fish farming cages should be carried out with more precautionary approaches which not leads to increased algae bloom

A survey on some risk factors and evaluation of their impacts on streptococcosis incidence in rainbow trout farms in west of Mazandaran province

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 5- parameter dissolved oxygen, PH, nitrite, nitrate and temperature of the water on Streptococcosis incidence in two groups of fry and grower fish. Research was performed at west Mazandaran province -Tonkabon region in 12 rainbow trout selected farms. Research conducted in 3 farms with well source water, 8 farms with water source of the river of Dohezar and one farm with water source of the river of Azarood, during 12 consecutive months. From 1390.04.01 to 1391.04.01, once time each month, and in each time 10 fish randomly sampled, inlet water were sampled simultaneously Of 1350 sampled fish 607 fish with an average weight 22.04 gr, average length 12.59 cm were in fry category and 743 fish with an average weight 156.25 gr, average length 23.32 cm in were grower category. Streptococcosis observed only in grower category Of 72 fish with clinical signs of the disease, 14 numbers were positive Streptococcosis (19.44%) and 58 numbers were negative Streptococcosis (80.55%). Three fish from grower category has not any clinical signs of disease and seemed to be healthy but were positive Streptococcosis in examinations (0.22% of total fish sampled. Fish with clinical signs of the disease but negative Streptococcosis were of at least 55.1 gr and at most weight 417 gr respectively. The results showed that 47.07% cases of Streptococcosis happened at 15.6°C water temperature, 35.29% at 16.98°C and 17.64% cases happened at 18.04°C so that 100% of Streptococcosis cases was observed at the average temperature of 16.99°C. In addition, the survey results show that despite relatively high levels of nitrite in source water of farms from wells, nitrite does not effect on the disease incidence. It seems that an optimal level of dissolved oxygen in water is effective in reducing the effectiveness of nitrite in this disease. According to equation coefficients logit model is as follows: According to Logit model, it seems that for every degree change in temperature and pH of water, morbidity change will diminish 0.37 % and 1.74 % respectively. 80.56% of fish sampled that had the clinical symptoms, was ranging from an average weight of 5.1 gr (fry) and 417 gr (grower fish), that despite having clinical signs of the disease were negative Streptococcosis. Isolation of Staphylococcus bacteria as well as Gram-negative bacilli from fish with clinical symptoms similar to the symptoms of Streptococcosis, may indicate the involvement of other pathogens in fish clinical signs