Early ontogeny of Labeo capensis (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

The early ontogeny of Labeo capensis (A. Smith 1841) is described from wild-spawned, laboratory-reared specimens which were monitored for five months. Fertile eggs were non-adhesive, demersal and 2,9 mm (2,7-3,4 mm) in diameter. Total length at hatching was 5,4 mm (5,3-5,7 mm); at yolk absorption 7,9 mm and at pelvic bud formation 11,1 mm. Pigment patterns during larval development are described. Pigmentation began on the head and covered most of the body by the juvenile period. Myomere number remained constant after hatching and fin rays appeared in the order of caudal, dorsal, anal, pelvic and pectoral. Larvae periodically swam upwards and then passively sank, as has been reported for other  Labeo species. Egg buoyancy and larval behaviour are discussed with relevance to spawning habitat

Effects of turbidity on the neural structures of two closely related redfin minnows, Pseudobarbus afer and P. asper, in the Gamtoos River System, South Africa

The neural structures of the sister species Pseudobarbus afer and P. asper were compared. P. afer, a redfin minnow which inhabits clear, perennial mountain streams, was found to have larger neural structures related to vision than P. asper, which inhabits turbid, intermittent streams of the Gamtoos River system, P. asperdid not show any compensation to inhabiting a turbid environment. Overall, P. afer males had the largest neural structures, most notably the optic lobes and cerebella, and P. asper females had the smallest neural structures

Early development of an endangered african barb, BARBUS TREVELYANI (pisces : cyprinidae)

BARBUS TREVELYANI GUNTHER, 1877, est une espèce de poisson d'eau douce africain menacée de disparition. La ponte d'individus collectés dans le milieu naturel a été artificiellement provoquée en utilisant une gonadotropine humaine. Les oeufs ont été fertilisés et leur développement a été suivi du stade embryonnaire au stade juvénile. La vitesse du développement et la morphologie des différents stades ont été décrites. Les oeufs fertilisés de 1,5 mm (1,4 à 1,7 mm) sont démersaux et adhésifs. Ils éclosent après 2,8 jours à une température de 17-19°C. La larve à l'éclosion a une taille de 3,7 mm (3,5 à 4,0 mm). Cette taille est de 7,1 mm à la résorption de la vésicule vitelline et de 10,6 mm lors de la formation du bourgeon pelvien. La pigmentation a été décrite. Le comportement larvaire de ce BARBUS est similaire de B. ANOPLUS qui a une vaste répartition. La nécessité d'étudier les premiers stades de développement des Cyprinidae africains est discutée. (Résumé d'auteur

Patterns of distribution and conservation status of freshwater fishes in South Africa

The combined fish collection databases of the Albany Museum and the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology are used to identify hotspots of endemism and threatened fish distributions in South Africa. Hotspots of fish species richness occur in the north-eastern lowveld sectors of South Africa and along the ecotone between the tropical/ subtropical and temperate faunal zones. Hotspots of endemic fish richness occur within both the tropical and temperate faunal regions, notably in the Olifants River system, Western Cape and in areas of high relief such as the Cape Fold Mountains, the Amatola-Wrnterberg (Eastern Cape), and the Drakensberg Escarpment (Kwazulu/ Natal-Eastern Transvaal). Threatened taxa are concentrated in the hotspots of endemic species richness which coincide largely with areas of major river conservation concern. There is limited scope for fish conservation within the ambit of formal (or informal) declared reserves, and the survival of the fauna depends on the success of river catchment conservation management. The value of museum collections in identifying areas of conservation concern for freshwater fishes is emphasized, and highlights the importance of well-preserved voucher specimens for biodiversity conservation

Early ontogeny of an endangered, relict, cold-water cyprinid from Lesotho Oreodaimon quathlambae (Barnard, 1938)

Description de l'ontogénèse de premier âge du vairon en voie de disparition #Oreodaimon quathlambae. Des embryons en cours de développement furent pêchés dans une crevasse du mi-lit fleuve Tsoelikana dans le Parc National de Sehlabathebe, Lesotho. Les tuniques des oeufs étaient légèrement non-adhésives et au moment de l'éclosion des embryons libres dans un bras de décharge où ils se transformèrent en poissons larvaires se nourrissant d'invertébrés aquatiques : principalement de larves chironomides, de nymphes éphéméoroptères, ainsi que de copépodes. Le développement de l'ostéogénèse fut suivi et révéla que plusieurs dents pharyngiennes étaient ossifiées au commencement de l'alimentation exogène, à 7,95 mm LT (LN 7,5 mm). Le modèle de pigmentation du #O. quathlambae larvaire était distinct et le séparait d'une autre larve de l'espèce des cyprinidés avec laquelle elle cohabitait, #Barbus aenus$. Seront enfin discutés les effets de la dégradation de l'environnement (y compris l'effet de l'introduction de truites) sur les stades de vie du premier âge. (Résumé d'auteur

Aspects of the biology of a rare redfm minnow, Barbus burchelli (pisces, Cyprinidae), from South Africa

Burchell's redfin, Barbus burchelli is endemic to the Breede River and adjacent smaller river systems in the Cape Province. Negative human influences have led to a drastic decline in numbers of this medium-sized minnow, especially agricultural demand on the water resource and the introduction of exotic predatory fish. The breeding season is extended, from September to February, with a peak in December. The absolute fecundity of a 123 mm FL specimen was 10 678, which includes both mature and recruitment ova. Females grow larger (123 mm FL), and live longer (6 +years), than males (113 mm FL and 4 + years). B. burchelli grow rapidly in their first year attaining a length of between 40 and 50 mm FL. Pronounced conical tubercles of sexually mature males erupt in spring, begin to show signs of wear in November and by March are worn or sloughed off. The survival of this species is dependent upon proper management of the Breede River system

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism combination pattern of the Klotho gene with non-cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an elevated risk of all-cause mortality, with cardiovascular death being extensively investigated. However, non-cardiovascular mortality represents the biggest percentage, showing an evident increase in recent years. Klotho is a gene highly expressed in the kidney, with a clear influence on lifespan. Low levels of Klotho have been linked to CKD progression and adverse outcomes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the Klotho gene have been associated with several diseases, but studies investigating the association of Klotho SNPs with noncardiovascular death in CKD populations are lacking. The main aim of this study was to assess whether 11 Klotho SNPs were associated with non-cardiovascular death in a subpopulation of the National Observatory of Atherosclerosis in Nephrology (NEFRONA) study (n ¼ 2185 CKD patients). After 48 months of follow-up, 62 cardiovascular deaths and 108 non-cardiovascular deaths were recorded. We identified a high non-cardiovascular death risk combination of SNPs corresponding to individuals carrying the most frequent allele (G) at rs562020, the rare allele (C) at rs2283368 and homozygotes for the rare allele (G) at rs2320762 (rs562020 GG/AG þ rs2283368 CC/CT þ rs2320762 GG). Among the patients with the three SNPs genotyped (n ¼ 1016), 75 (7.4%) showed this combination. Furthermore, 95 (9.3%) patients showed a low-risk combination carrying all the opposite genotypes (rs562020 AA þ rs2283368 TT þ rs2320762 GT/TT). All the other combinations [n ¼ 846 (83.3%)] were considered as normal risk. Using competing risk regression analysis, we confirmed that the proposed combinations are independently associated with a higher fhazard ratio [HR] 3.28 [confidence interval (CI) 1.51-7.12]g and lower [HR 6 × 10- (95% CI 3.3 × 10--1.1 × 10-)] risk of suffering a non-cardiovascular death in the CKD population of the NEFRONA cohort compared with patients with the normal-risk combination. Determination of three SNPs of the Klotho gene could help in the prediction of non-cardiovascular death in CKD

Association of candidate gene polymorphisms with chronic kidney disease : Results of a case-control analysis in the NEFRONA cohort

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease and premature death. Despite classical clinical risk factors for CKD and some genetic risk factors have been identified, the residual risk observed in prediction models is still high. Therefore, new risk factors need to be identified in order to better predict the risk of CKD in the population. Here, we analyzed the genetic association of 79 SNPs of proteins associated with mineral metabolism disturbances with CKD in a cohort that includes 2,445 CKD cases and 559 controls. Genotyping was performed with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. We used logistic regression models considering different genetic inheritance models to assess the association of the SNPs with the prevalence of CKD, adjusting for known risk factors. Eight SNPs (rs1126616, rs35068180, rs2238135, rs1800247, rs385564, rs4236, rs2248359, and rs1564858) were associated with CKD even after adjusting by sex, age and race. A model containing five of these SNPs (rs1126616, rs35068180, rs1800247, rs4236, and rs2248359), diabetes and hypertension showed better performance than models considering only clinical risk factors, significantly increasing the area under the curve of the model without polymorphisms. Furthermore, one of the SNPs (the rs2248359) showed an interaction with hypertension, being the risk genotype affecting only hypertensive patients. We conclude that 5 SNPs related to proteins implicated in mineral metabolism disturbances (Osteopontin, osteocalcin, matrix gla protein, matrix metalloprotease 3 and 24 hydroxylase) are associated to an increased risk of suffering CKD

Early development and larval behaviour of a minnow, Barbus anopius (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

The chubbyhead barb, Barbus anoplus, underwent a population explosion in the early phases of filling of Lake be Roux on the Orange River. This successful colonization was possibly related to the survival strategy of the young stages of this minnow. It is suggested that some of the development traits of B. anoplus enabled it to become the most widespread freshwater fish species south of the Limpopo River. The development and behaviour of embryos and larvae of B. anoplus are described and discussed with reference to their survival strategy and potential colonizing ability. Some of the protolarvae were pelagic and the relevance of this behaviour is noted

Early development of an endangered african barb, BARBUS TREVELYANI (pisces : cyprinidae)

BARBUS TREVELYANI GUNTHER, 1877, est une espèce de poisson d'eau douce africain menacée de disparition. La ponte d'individus collectés dans le milieu naturel a été artificiellement provoquée en utilisant une gonadotropine humaine. Les oeufs ont été fertilisés et leur développement a été suivi du stade embryonnaire au stade juvénile. La vitesse du développement et la morphologie des différents stades ont été décrites. Les oeufs fertilisés de 1,5 mm (1,4 à 1,7 mm) sont démersaux et adhésifs. Ils éclosent après 2,8 jours à une température de 17-19°C. La larve à l'éclosion a une taille de 3,7 mm (3,5 à 4,0 mm). Cette taille est de 7,1 mm à la résorption de la vésicule vitelline et de 10,6 mm lors de la formation du bourgeon pelvien. La pigmentation a été décrite. Le comportement larvaire de ce BARBUS est similaire de B. ANOPLUS qui a une vaste répartition. La nécessité d'étudier les premiers stades de développement des Cyprinidae africains est discutée. (Résumé d'auteur