Fischparasiten als Bioindikatoren: Zum Umweltstatus von Küstenökosystemen und einer Zackenbarschmarikultur in Indonesien

In the present study a total of 325 groupers belonging to the species Epinephelus coioides (195), E. areolatus (60) and E. fuscoguttatus (70) from Indonesian coastal marine ecosystems in the Segara Anakan Lagoon (Central Java), Balinese waters and the Thousand Islands were investigated for parasites in 2008 and 2009. A total of 33 different parasite species/taxa belonging to the Ciliata (1), Microsporea (1), Digenea (9), Monogenea (2), Cestoda (4), Nematoda (6), Acanthocephala (2), Hirudinea (1) and Crustacea (7) was found. Furthermore, the morphologically predetermined Anisakis sp. were confirmed as Anisakis typica and Anisakis sp. (HC-2005) using molecular biological methods. Scatophagus argus (58) from inside and outside the Segara Anakan Lagoon were studied for additional regional comparisons. In total 13 different parasite species/taxa belonging to the Ciliata (1), Microsporea (1), Digenea (2), Monogenea (1), Cestoda (1), Nematoda (1), Acanthocephala (1) and Crustacea (5) could be listed. Therefore, 41 parasite species/taxa, including 16 ectoparasitic and 25 endoparasitic parasites, could be isolated from all 383 investigated fishes of all sampling sites. These 41 detected fish parasites were taxonomically processed by using different techniques. 20 new host records (E. coioides four, E. areolatus 13, E. fuscoguttatus one and S. argus two new records) und 23 new locality records, mainly from Balinese waters and the coastal zone of the Segara Anakan, Central Java, could be revealed. Because of minor variability within parasite communities of free living and mariculture fishes in stable ecosystems between two years, annual differences can only be indicated over a long-term period. A comparison of the new data with previous investigations (Rückert 2006) of E. fuscoguttatus (2003/04-2008/09) indicates either a broad degradation of the surrounding ecosystem or management changes within the mariculture (Palm et al. submitted). The parameters Evenness of endoparasites, ecto-/endoparasite ratio and endoparasite diversity appear to be especially adequate to reveal differences in the parasite infestation over several years. The parameters endoparasite diversity and Evenness were tested ( Trendtest after Neumann) and confirmed a decreasing trend. This trend represents a higher dominance level and decreasing parasite diversity of particular endoparasite species in this mariculture farm from 2003/04 to 2008/09. This might be due to increasing extraneous causes and/or changes in the facilities management that are directly linked to the occurrence of intermediate hosts and the feed usage, respectively. Accordingly, fish parasites have been shown to be useful as bioindicators and to monitor culture conditions and environmental status in and around a grouper mariculture farm. It was possible to illustrate regional differences and long-term changes in parasite communities of the studied epinephelids by using visual integration of a variety of parasitological parameters within a stargraph. The utilised parameters have been demonstrated to be useful to indicate a general ecosystem change and also long-term variations. The application of a stargraph can be further developed into a fish parasite based evaluation system that can monitor regional environmental health. Cluster-Analyses and MDS Plots likewise can illustrate such differences but fall short in concluding, in explaining these differences. In contrast, the stargraph method enables visualisation of existing differences and also allows statements concerning the respective environmental change by using a variety of ecological parameters. This method can be helpful to monitor environmental impact and change of grouper finfish mariculture in Indonesia

PEMETAAN SPASIAL DAN TEMPORAL STATUS PEMANFAATAN IKAN KERAPU DI PERAIRAN TELUK SALEH, NUSA TENGGARA BARAT

The Saleh Bay is one of the bays in West Nusa Tenggara utilized as the grouper fishing ground. However, in the previous spawning potential ratio study, some grouper species have been overexploited in Saleh Bay. This study aimed to estimate the status of grouper utilization with a catch per unit effort (CPUE) approach and the spatio-temporal fishing intensity of grouper in fishing grounds in Saleh Bay. Data were gathered using the fish landing data and geo-reference of fishing ground grouper in Saleh Bay. This study used several methods: descriptive analysis, catch per unit effort, and spatial-temporal analysis. The result showed that the catch unit effort positively impacts production, with the increasing trend of grouper fishing in Saleh Bay waters. The CPUE value in 2016 was 2.82 kg/trip, while in 2020, it increased to 3.99 kg/trip. Spatially and temporally, fishers caught grouper around small islands such as Liang Island, Dempu Island, Lipan Island, Takat Nusa Pudu, and Rakit Island. The highest intensity of grouper fishing around the marine protected area, namely Rakit Island, Liang Island, and Ngali Island. Keywords: catch per unit effort, fishing ground, grouper, Saleh Ba

Circulating growth/differentiation factor 15 is associated with human CD56 natural killer cell dysfunction and nosocomial infection in severe systemic inflammation

BACKGROUND Systemic inflammation induced by sterile or infectious insults is associated with an enhanced susceptibility to life-threatening opportunistic, mostly bacterial, infections due to unknown pathogenesis. Natural killer (NK) cells contribute to the defence against bacterial infections through the release of Interferon (IFN) γ in response to Interleukin (IL) 12. Considering the relevance of NK cells in the immune defence we investigated whether the function of NK cells is disturbed in patients suffering from serious systemic inflammation. METHODS NK cells from severely injured patients were analysed from the first day after the initial inflammatory insult until the day of discharge in terms of IL-12 receptor signalling and IFN-γ synthesis. FINDINGS During systemic inflammation, the expression of the IL-12 receptor β2 chain, phosphorylation of signal transducer and activation 4, and IFN-γ production on/in NK cells was impaired upon exposure to Staphylococcus aureus. The profound suppression of NK cells developed within 24 h after the initial insult and persisted for several weeks. NK cells displayed signs of exhaustion. Extrinsic changes were mediated by the early and long-lasting presence of growth/differentiation factor (GDF) 15 in the circulation that signalled through the transforming growth factor β receptor I and activated Smad1/5. Moreover, the concentration of GDF-15 in the serum inversely correlated with the IL-12 receptor β2 expression on NK cells and was enhanced in patients who later acquired septic complications. INTERPRETATION GDF-15 is associated with the development of NK cell dysfunction during systemic inflammation and might represent a novel target to prevent nosocomial infections. FUND: The study was supported by the Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Essen

Fish parasites as bioindicators: Environmental status of coastal marine ecosystems and a grouper mariculture farm in Indonesia.

In the present study a total of 325 groupers belonging to the species Epinephelus coioides (195), E. areolatus (60) and E. fuscoguttatus (70) from Indonesian coastal marine ecosystems in the Segara Anakan Lagoon (Central Java), Balinese waters and the Thousand Islands were investigated for parasites in 2008 and 2009. A total of 33 different parasite species/taxa belonging to the Ciliata (1), Microsporea (1), Digenea (9), Monogenea (2), Cestoda (4), Nematoda (6), Acanthocephala (2), Hirudinea (1) and Crustacea (7) was found. Furthermore, the morphologically predetermined Anisakis sp. were confirmed as Anisakis typica and Anisakis sp. (HC-2005) using molecular biological methods. Scatophagus argus (58) from inside and outside the Segara Anakan Lagoon were studied for additional regional comparisons. In total 13 different parasite species/taxa belonging to the Ciliata (1), Microsporea (1), Digenea (2), Monogenea (1), Cestoda (1), Nematoda (1), Acanthocephala (1) and Crustacea (5) could be listed. Therefore, 41 parasite species/taxa, including 16 ectoparasitic and 25 endoparasitic parasites, could be isolated from all 383 investigated fishes of all sampling sites. These 41 detected fish parasites were taxonomically processed by using different techniques. 20 new host records (E. coioides four, E. areolatus 13, E. fuscoguttatus one and S. argus two new records) und 23 new locality records, mainly from Balinese waters and the coastal zone of the Segara Anakan, Central Java, could be revealed. Because of minor variability within parasite communities of free living and mariculture fishes in stable ecosystems between two years, annual differences can only be indicated over a long-term period. A comparison of the new data with previous investigations (Rückert 2006) of E. fuscoguttatus (2003/04-2008/09) indicates either a broad degradation of the surrounding ecosystem or management changes within the mariculture (Palm et al. submitted). The parameters Evenness of endoparasites, ecto-/endoparasite ratio and endoparasite diversity appear to be especially adequate to reveal differences in the parasite infestation over several years. The parameters endoparasite diversity and Evenness were tested ( Trendtest after Neumann) and confirmed a decreasing trend. This trend represents a higher dominance level and decreasing parasite diversity of particular endoparasite species in this mariculture farm from 2003/04 to 2008/09. This might be due to increasing extraneous causes and/or changes in the facilities management that are directly linked to the occurrence of intermediate hosts and the feed usage, respectively. Accordingly, fish parasites have been shown to be useful as bioindicators and to monitor culture conditions and environmental status in and around a grouper mariculture farm. It was possible to illustrate regional differences and long-term changes in parasite communities of the studied epinephelids by using visual integration of a variety of parasitological parameters within a stargraph. The utilised parameters have been demonstrated to be useful to indicate a general ecosystem change and also long-term variations. The application of a stargraph can be further developed into a fish parasite based evaluation system that can monitor regional environmental health. Cluster-Analyses and MDS Plots likewise can illustrate such differences but fall short in concluding, in explaining these differences. In contrast, the stargraph method enables visualisation of existing differences and also allows statements concerning the respective environmental change by using a variety of ecological parameters. This method can be helpful to monitor environmental impact and change of grouper finfish mariculture in Indonesia

Parasite diversity as an indicator of environmental change? An example from tropical grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) mariculture in Indonesia

Fish parasites are used to monitor long-term change in finfish grouper mariculture in Indonesia. A total of 210 Epinephelus fuscoguttatus were sampled in six consecutive years between 2003/04 and 2008/09 and examined for parasites. The fish were obtained from floating net cages of a commercially run mariculture facility that opened in 2001. The fauna was species rich, consisting of ten ecto- and 18 endoparasite species. The ectoparasite diversity and composition was relatively stable, with the monogeneans Pseudorhabdosynochus spp. (83–100% prevalence, Berger-Parker Index of 0·82–0·97) being the predominant taxon. Tetraphyllidean larvae Scolex pleuronectis and the nematodes Terranova sp. and Raphidascaris sp. 1 were highly abundant in 2003/04–2005/06 (max. prevalence S. pleuronectis 40%, Terranova sp. 57%, Raphidascaris sp. 1 100%), and drastically reduced until 2008/09. These parasites together with the prevalence of Trichodina spp., ecto-/endoparasite ratio and endoparasite diversity illustrate a significant change in holding conditions over the years. This can be either referred to a definite change in management methods such as feed use and fish treatment, or a possible transition of a relatively undisturbed marine environment into a more affected habitat. By visualizing all parameters within a single diagram, we demonstrate that fish parasites are useful bioindicators to monitor long-term change in Indonesian grouper mariculture. This also indicates that groupers can be used to monitor environmental change in the wild. Further taxonomic and systematic efforts in less sampled regions significantly contributes to this new application, supporting fish culture and environmental impact monitoring also in other tropical marine habitats

Genetic variability in Hysterothylacium aduncum, a raphidascarid nematode isolated from sprat (Sprattus sprattus) of different geographical areas of the northeastern Atlantic

Species of the genus Hysterothylacium are among the most common marine nematode fish parasites in the northern Atlantic. Due to recent findings of cryptic speciation in other parasitic ascaridoid nematodes, a similar pattern of sibling species was hypothesized also for Hysterothylacium aduncum. By investigating a 886- to 890-bp-long genomic DNA fragment including ITS-1, 5.8S rDNA and ITS-2 of 40 specimens of H. aduncum of sprat (Sprattus sprattus) of four different biogeographical regions (North Sea, English Channel, Bay of Biscay, Adriatic Sea), we could not detect significant genetic variability and therefore cryptic speciation. Nevertheless, while ITS-1 and 5.8S rDNA sequences were identical for all analysed specimens, ITS-2 sequences showed a population-specific pattern with the differentiation of an English Channel/Bay of Biscay group from a North Sea/Mediterranean Sea group

Endoparasitic Insights of Free-Living Fin (Balaenoptera physalus), Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and North Atlantic Right Whales (Eubalaena glacialis) from Eastern Canadian Waters

Purpose!#!To date, little is still known on parasite infections affecting free-living large whale populations worldwide. Data presented should be considered as a baseline study for future monitoring surveys on endoparasites affecting whales, thereby enhancing investigations on impacts of zoonotic parasitoses not only on vulnerable or endangered baleen whale population health but also on public health.!##!Methods!#!The presented study is a first report on gastrointestinal parasites infecting different free-living baleen whales inhabiting East Canadian waters using non-invasive methods. Individual faecal samples from fin (n = 3; Balaenoptera physalus), humpback (n = 4; Megaptera novaeangliae) and North Atlantic right whales (n = 1; Eubalaena glacialis) were collected without animal disturbance, within their natural habitats on an ecological expedition during annual surveys in summer 2017. Faecal samples were assessed by standardized diagnostic methods, such as sodium acetate acetic formalin (SAF) technique, carbol fuchsin-stained faecal smears, Giardia/Cryptosporidium coproantigen ELISAs and were applied for further identification.!##!Results!#!Parasitological infections included three different potentially zoonotic parasite species, one protozoa (Entamoeba spp.) and two metazoans (Diphyllobothriidae gen. sp., Ascaridida indet.). No positive Giardia/Cryptosporidium coproantigen ELISA could be found in the studied whales.!##!Conclusion!#!This study adds to the current knowledge of intestinal and zoonotic parasite infections of vulnerable to partly endangered free-ranging baleen whales. Only few or no parasitological studies exist for these whale species, usually dealing with only one dead specimen. We call for more research in this field especially for the importance of conservation of free-living marine mammals using non-invasive methods

Endo- and ectoparasites of large whales (Cetartiodactyla: Balaenopteridae, Physeteridae): Overcoming difficulties in obtaining appropriate samples by non- and minimally-invasive methods

Baleen and sperm whales, belonging to the Order Cetartiodactyla, are the largest and heaviest existent mammals in the world, collectively known as large whales. Large whales have been subjected to a variety of conservation means, which could be better monitored and managed if physiological and pathophysiological information, such as pathogen infections, could already be gathered from free-swimming animals instead of carcasses. Parasitic diseases are increasingly recognized for their profound influences on individual, population, and even ecosystem health. Furthermore, a number of parasite species have gained importance as opportunistic neozoan infections in the marine environment. Nonetheless, traditional approaches to study parasitic diseases have been impractical for large whales, since there is no current routine method for the capture and handling of these large animals and there is presently no practical method to obtain blood samples remotely from free-ranging whales. Therefore, we here not only intend to review the endo- and ectoparasite fauna of large whales but also to provide new insights in current available methods for gathering parasitological data by using non- or minimally invasive sampling techniques. We focus on methods, which will allow detailed parasitological studies to gain a broader knowledge on parasitoses affecting wild, free-swimming large whale populations

Parasite Fauna of the White-Streaked Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) from the Thousand Islands, Java, Indonesia

Purpose!#!Fish parasites can cause diseases in humans and lead to commercial losses in fisheries and aquaculture. The objectives of this study were to analyze E. ongus's parasite fauna regarding food safety and parasite transmission risk between Epinephelus species and test whether E.ongus populations can be distinguished by their parasite community.!##!Methods!#!We studied the metazoan parasite fauna of 30 white-streaked groupers Epinephelus ongus from the Thousand Islands, Java Sea, Indonesia, and compared the parasite community with specimens from Karimunjawa archipelago, Java Sea, from a former study. We used common fish parasitological methods for fish examination and parasite calculations.!##!Results!#!We found 12 metazoan parasite species, establishing five new host and five new locality records, increasing the known parasite fauna of E. ongus by 21%. No anisakid worms infected E. ongus. All but one (trematode Gyliauchen cf. nahaensis) species have been previously reported from Epinephelus. Parasite abundance of E. ongus differed significantly between the two regions.!##!Conclusions!#!Due to a certain degree of host specificity to groupers, there is potential risk of parasite transmission from E. ongus into groupers in mariculture or surrounding fishes, which increases (sea) food security related health risks from zoonotic parasites and calls for better monitoring and management plans for E. ongus. The regional separation of the Thousand Islands and Karimunjawa with different food availability and fish ecology causes different parasite abundances, distinguishing two separate E. ongus populations by their parasite fauna

Maximum likelihood tree inferred from the analysis of LSU rDNA.

<p>The generated sequences were aligned with their closest matches in GenBank (23 ingroup and <i>Actinocleidus recurvatus</i> as an outgroup taxa). Phylogenetic analysis based on General Time Reversible Model with complete deletion used as gaps missing data treatment. The robustness was assessed using a bootstrap procedure with 1,000 replications [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184376#pone.0184376.ref020" target="_blank">20</a>–<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184376#pone.0184376.ref021" target="_blank">21</a>]. For sequence details, see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184376#pone.0184376.s006" target="_blank">S1 Calculation</a> (calculation of best scoring model for phylogeny studies) and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184376#pone.0184376.s004" target="_blank">S2 Fig</a> (alignment of sequences), <a href="https://figshare.com/s/75cc37ed9297dc11d983" target="_blank">https://figshare.com/s/75cc37ed9297dc11d983</a>.</p