Efficacy and toxicity of orally administrated anti-coccidial drug treatment on Enteromyxum leei infections in sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo C.)

Three drugs effective against myxosporeans and commonly used to treat spore-forming para- sites were tested in sharpsnout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo) infected by Enteromyxum leei. Two medicated diets were applied, one containing salinomycin and amprolium and the second containing fumagillin. Compared to untreated fish, both treatments resulted in significant reduc- tions in prevalence, intensity of all developmental myxosporean stages, and mortality. The effect was more prominent with the salinomycin and amprolium combination, where the significant reductions in intensity, prevalence, and mortality were unaccompanied by any histopathological evidence of toxic side effects or growth reduction. Sporoblasts and mature spores with distorted structures were observed in both drug treatments, but were more prevalent in the salinomycin and amprolium treatment than in the fumagillin treatment, indicating direct effectiveness on the parasite. Salinomycin with amprolium is a promising treatment for myxosporean infections in intensively cultured warmwater fish, leading to parasite elimination

Prevalence and pathology of ectoparasites of Mediterranean sea bream and sea bass reared under different environmental and aquaculture conditions

Sea bream, Sparus aurata L., and sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L., were sampled from an off- shore cage farm in eastern Greece, an inshore cage fish farm in southern Greece, and a lagoon in northern Greece. The prevalence and intensity of Metazoan parasites and factors associated with the prevalence were investigated. In Farm 1 (eastern Greece), ectoparasite prevalence in sea bream and sea bass was 61.5% and 76.9% for Monogenea, none for Isopoda, and 0 and 23% for Copepoda. In Farm 2 the prevalence was 13.3% and 26.3% for Monogenea, 13.7% and 20% for Isopoda, and 0 and 13.6% for Copepoda. In the lagoon, the prevalence of ectoparasites was 100% and 21.9% for Monogenea and Copepoda, respectively. The lagoon had the highest prevalence of parasites among the studied ecosystems, however, the variety did not significant- ly affect the health of the infected fish. In Sparidae, gill lesions were due to monogeneans while skin and eye lesions were due to larvae of the isopod Ceratothoa oestroides that caused severe pathology. Furnestinia echeneis and Diplectanum aequans were host specific to sea bream and sea bass, respectively, and persisted in all aquaculture systems. Lernanthropus kroyeri was host specific and detected only in sea bass from the cage farms

Experimental transmission of Enteromyxum leei Diamant, Lom and Dykova, 1994 in sharpsnout sea bream, Diplodus puntazzo C. and the effect on some innate immune parameters

Enteromyxum leei has been implicated in outbreaks in sharpsnout sea bream, causing a serious economic impact on Mediterranean fish fanning. Information about transmission and life cycles of marine myxosporea is limited to only a few fish species. In the present study, direct transmission of the infection was achieved by cohabitation of infected and healthy Diplodus puntazzo C. for the first time. The progress of the infection was monitored by the detection of different developmental stages of the parasite in the posterior intestine. Infected fish with E. leei were firstly observed in day 5 (prevalence of 20%). The total prevalence reached 100% in day 19 and was maintained in this high level until the end of the experimental period (day 55). In addition, the initial intensity of the different parasite stages was low, but on day 26 the intensity of trophozoites was suddenly increased, followed by the increased intensity of sporoblasts and mature spores. Also, the experimental transmission of E. leei in recovered D. puntazzo previously treated for parasite elimination proved to be unsuccessful, suggesting of a possible development of protective immunity against the parasite. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Report of Sparicotyle (Microcotyle) chrysophrii Van Beneden and Hesse 1863, Atrispinum seminalis Euzet and Maillard 1973 and Polylabris tubicirrus Paperna and Kohn 1964 (Monogenea) on captive sea bream (Sparus aurata) and sharp snout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo) in coastal Greece and Italy

During the years 2000-2003, caged gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) and sharp snout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo C.) from two farms in Greece and two farms in Italy (the Central Thyrrenian Sea) were examined. Sparus aurata from Greece was moderately infected with Furnestinia echeneis and Sparicotyle chrysophrii. Diplodus puntazzo from the Greek farms were infected with three polyopisthocotylean monogeneans: Atrispinum salpae, A. seminalis and S. chrysophrii. In Italy, on the gills of cultivated S. aurata, a polyopisthocotylean parasite was identified as Polylabris tubicirrus which is considered host specific and only affecting breams of the genus Diplodus. Furthermore, D. puntazzo and S. aurata showed the transfer of the monogenean S. chrysophrii from S. aurata (its type host) to D. puntazzo which is never found infected in wild conditions by this parasite. The presence of these parasites, and in particular S. chrysophrii in cultured D. puntazzo, is an important finding for aquaculturists in terms of potential disease problems

Diseases of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus L.) reared in experimental and commercial conditions in Greece

A bacteriological and parasitological study of the white sea bream, Diplodus sargus L., was conducted as this species is a potential candidate for aquaculture in Mediterranean countries. The study comprised fish reared in commercial cages (2 farms) located in different geographical localities, as well as fish reared experimentally in cages located in a natural enclosed lagoon. Fish were examined in the fresh state by means of smears from all internal and external organs and by histology. Microbiology was also performed at all sites. Mortality was low (12%) at farm 1 (Argolida), while at farm 2 (Korinth) and the lagoon it reached 32% and 42%, respectively. Microbial infections were low in prevalence and these concerned Vibrio anguillarum, V. alginoliticus and Pseudomonas sp. The parasitic fauna comprised external Monogenea, Digenea and internal Myxosporida. Monogenea were present throughout the year at all locations, but at low intensity. Three species of Myxosporida were recorded in this study: Myxobolus sp. in the kidneys, Kudoa sp. in the musculature and Enteromyxum leei in the intestine. Nephrocalcinosis was found in all sampled fish and this was suspected to be related to Myxobolus sp. infections. The study showed that D. sargus reared under captive conditions is prone to several parasitic and bacterial infections. Amongst them the most important in terms of pathology were the myxosporeans (Myxobolus sp. and Kudoa sp). These may play a role in the mortality observed, thus making this fish culture questionable in terms of cost effectiveness

Comparison of short-term hypocaloric high-protein diets with a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet: Effect on body composition and health-related blood markers in overweight and sedentary young participants

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare the short-term effects of a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet and two high protein diets, with and without whey protein supplementation, on body composition, lipidemic profile, and inflammation and muscle-damage blood indices in overweight, sedentary, young participants. Methods: Thirty-three young, overweight, male and female participants (mean ± SD age: 22.8 ± 4.8 y; body mass: 85.5 ± 10.2 kg; body fat percentage: 34.3% ± 8.1%) were randomly allocated to three different hypocaloric (−700 kcal/d) diets: a Mediterranean diet (MD; n = 10), a high-protein diet (HP; n = 10) diet, and a high-protein diet with whey supplementation (n = 10). The intervention lasted 6 wk. Body composition and biochemical indices were evaluated 1 wk before and after the nutritional interventions. Results: Body and fat mass were decreased in the MD and HP groups (−3.5% ± 1.1% and −5.9% ± 4.2% for body and fat mass respectively in MD, and −1.7% ± 1.2% and −2.0% ± 1.8% for body and fat mass respectively in HP;P < 0.05), with no significant decline of fat-free mass observed in the MD group. The MD group's diet beneficially altered the lipid profile (P < 0.05), but the HP and HPW groups’ diets did not induce significant changes. Subclinical inflammation and muscle-damage indices significantly increased in the HP and HPW groups (7.4% ± 3.5% and 66.6% ± 40.1% for neutrophils and CRP respectively in HP, and 14.3% ± 6.4% and 266.6% ± 55.1% for neutrophils and CRP respectively in HPW; P < 0.05) but decreased in the MD group (1.8% ± 1.2% and −33.3% ± 10.1% for neutrophils and CRP respectivelyc; P < 0.05). Energy intake of carbohydrates and proteins were significantly related to the changes in body composition and biochemical blood markers (r = −0.389 and −0.889; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Among the three hypocaloric diets, only the Mediterranean diet induced positive changes in body composition and metabolic profile in overweight, sedentary individuals. © 2021 Elsevier Inc