A Brief Overview of Population Biology of Mangrove Fisheries in Malaysia

One of important habitat for estuarine fish and their juvenile are mangrove areas, as hundreds of studies had been conducted since 1950s until now to assess and understand the distribution and diversity of them over there. The study of population biology in tropical and sub-tropical mangrove estuaries nowadays have reached new level of achievement where they contribute significantly in the socio-economic field. So, the main objective of this paper are briefly described and reviewed some aspects of population biology (such as distribution and diversity) of mangrove fisheries in Malaysia. In the making of this paper, literature materials from the past such as scientific journals, reference books and online statistics related to mangrove fisheries were collected and referred. Species diversity and distribution of fish is one of the most important aspects in stock assessment of mangrove fishes as it provides a brief information on the composition of fish species and their populations. Overall, the information from this paper can be shared with the concerned authorities and researchers for management purposes and population studies to a greater extent

A Brief Overview of the Integrated Fish Farming of Three Commercially Popular Fish Species (Snakehead, Tilapia and Catfish) in Malaysia

Aquaculture industry in Malaysia involves culture of many fish species of either fresh or brackish water origin and among the important fish species are Snakehead, Tilapia and Catfish.  There is a substantial culture of these fish in Malaysia nowadays, though there are not one hundred percent native fish species but their presence in Malaysia is getting closer to over several decades and for almost a decade now, these species had been among the highest finfish produced in either fresh or brackish waters. As the global aquaculture production continue growing in order to meet up with ever increasing fish demand, especially as fish from capture has levelled off and makes an increase in aquaculture production as the only hope to meet the demand for fish, one of suggested ways in culturing them is by venturing into integrated fish farming. Integrated fish farming of different species is a practice which links together two or more normally separate farming systems, whereby the fish from different species become subsystems of a whole farming system. Although integrated fish farming may not be huge globally based on the available official statistical data but it is becoming important industry in Malaysia and neighboring countries. This review discussed briefly about the integrated fish farming of three commercially popular species (Snakehead, Tilapia and Catfish) in Malaysia and neighboring countries

Length-weight and length-length relationship models of four carangid fishes from the Matang Mangrove Estuaries, Perak, Malaysia

Four species of Carangid fishes from Matang Mangrove Estuaries, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia were selected for the study of length-weight relationships (LWR) and length-length relationships (LLR). A total of 308 individuals were collected from September 2015 to August 2016 by push net (mesh sizes ranges from 2.5 to 5.0 cm). Overall, the growth coefficient (b) values were 2.005, 3.014, 3.452 and 3.194 for Carangoides malabricus, Atule mate, Decapterus macrosoma and Selaroides leptolepis, respectively. Growth coefficient of three species (A. mate, D. macrosoma and S. leptolepis) in the present study were within expected range of 2.5 - 3.5 and this indicated that those species have normal growth pattern. This research serves as the first record of LWR and LLR data for four species of Carangid fishes in the Matang Mangrove Estuaries and surrounding ecosystem, Malaysia

Population parameters of Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816) in the Marudu Bay, Sabah, Malaysia

An investigation of the population parameters of Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816) in the Marudu Bay, Sabah, Malaysia was carried out from January to September 2013. The relationship between total length and body weight was estimated as W=0.006TL3.215 or Log W=3.215LogTL – 2.22 (R2=0.946). Monthly length frequency data of R. kanagurta were analyzed by FiSAT software to evaluate the mortality rates and its exploitation level. Asymptotic length (Lµ) and growth co-efficient (K) were estimated at 27.83 cm and 1.50 yr-1, respectively. The growth performance index (φ') was calculated as 3.07. Total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) was calculated at 4.44 yr-1, 2.46 yr-1 and 1.98 yr-1, respectively. Exploitation level (E) of R. kanagurta was found to be 0.45. The exploitation level was below the optimum level of exploitation (E=0.50). It is revealed that the stock of R. kanagurta was found to be still under exploited in Marudu Bay

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Population biology of dominant fish species in Matang Mangrove Estuaries, Perak, Malaysia

Matang Mangrove Estuaries, which are situated in the western shore of Peninsular Malaysia, are the main and important part of mangrove forest in Malaysia. In order to assess the stock status of the fishes in Matang Mangrove Estuaries, it is necessary to understand the key population parameters. The objective of this study is to determine several aspects of population biology of fishes over there such as species composition, spatio-temporal distribution, diversity indices, population dynamic parameters and feeding habits. The study was conducted between September 2015 and August 2016. There were three sampling stations and fish samples were collected by using push net from each station. In total, 39 fishes, 1 crab and 3 shrimp’s species were identified from the study areas. Among them, five fish species (Escualosa thoracata, Thryssa hamiltonii, Ambassis nalua, Stolephorus tri and Johnius belangerii) were the most dominant (> 2%). The abundance of 10 species was found to be correlated (positive or negative) with the water quality parameters. The highest and significant regression coefficient was observed for Nemipterus nemurus which indicated that 37% of their abundance was influenced by the major water quality parameters and the remaining 63% by other unknown factors. The species richness index showed a significant variation within the monsoon and intermonsoon seasons, peaking in the months of December - February and April – June. Shannon-wiener Index also clearly indicated two peaks in a year; with one peak in Febuary and another in June. The growth, mortality, exploitation and recruitment of the five dominant fishes (E. thoracata, T. hamiltonii, A. nalua, S. tri and J. belangerii) were estimated based on length-frequency data, using FiSAT software. In terms of length-weight relationships, A. nalua, S. tri and J. belangerii showed a negative allometric growth while E. thoracata and T. hamiltonii showed an isometric growth in the Matang Mangrove Estuaries. Recruitment pattern was continuous with two major peaks for T. hamiltonii, A. nalua, S. tri and J. belangerii while it was one major peak for E. thoracata. The exploitation level (E) of E. thoracata, T. hamiltonii, A. nalua, S. tri and J. belangerii were 0.41, 0.48, 0.51, 0.54 and 0.52, respectively. This indicates that the stock of E. thoracata and T. hamiltonii were 18% and 4% under-exploited, respectively. Meanwhile, the fisheries of A. nalua, S. tri and J. belangerii are found to be above the optimum level of exploitation (E > 0.50). According to the simple resultant index (% Rs), plant (phytoplankton, algae and plant leave) and animal (zooplankton, unidentified fish parts, fish and crustacean parts) based diets contained 42.09% and 44.40% for E. thoracata, 50.11% and 38.24% for T. hamiltonii, 50.35% and 37.99% for A. nalua, 38.17% and 46.55% for S. tri, 25.35% and 58.86% for J. belangerii. Therefore, all observed five fish species could be considered as omnivorous based on stomach contents. The similarity between diets varied from 60-80% during the wet and dry season. During the dry season, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of the samples had less variation, indicating narrow dietary sources compared to the wet season where the distribution of their isotopic values was larger

Diversity and population dynamics of estuarine fishes and crustaceans in Marudu Bay, Malaysia

A study was conducted on fish composition, spatio-temporal distribution, catch-perunit- effort (CPUE), species diversity index and population dynamics of selected fishes and crustaceans from the estuarine area of Marudu Bay, Sabah, Malaysia from October 2012 to September 2013. There were five sampling stations (St1 - N 06º 36.169’ E 116º 46.400’, St2 - N 06º 36.651’ E 116º 48.895’, St3 - N 06º 36.700’ E 116º 47.775’, St4 - N 06º 36.751’ E 116º 47.816’ and St5 - N 06º 37.502’ E 116º 47.775’) for the study. Each sampling station was approximately 1 km apart from each other. Fish samples were collected by using gill nets. In total, 40 species of fish belonging to 29 families were identified from the estuarine waters of Marudu Bay, Sabah, Malaysia. Among them, 31 species occurred at St1 and St2, 26 species at St3, 25 species at St4 and 29 species at St5. Five species (Sardinella melanura, Gerres oyena, Leiognathus equulus, Atule mate and Sillago sihama) were the most dominant in the investigated areas. The higher total mean catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) were observed at St1 (13.70 kg/net/hr) and St2 (13.30 kg/net/hr) which were just 1 and 2 km away from the river mouth, respectively, while lower total CPUE were found at St3 (2.51 kg/net/hr), St4 (1.61 kg/net/hr) and St5 (1.31 kg/net/hr) which were approximately 3, 4 and 5 km away from the river mouth, respectively. The Shannon- Wiener index was significantly higher in the monsoon seasons peaking in the months of January - February and June – August 2013. None of the diversity indices were significant among stations, with the exception of evenness, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher at St3 than St2. The family richness results clearly indicated two peaks in a year; one peak was in December - March and another in August. The abundance of 10 species was found to be correlated (positive or negative) with the water parameters. The highest and significant regression coefficient was observed for Pseudorhombus cinnamoneus which indicated that 29% of their abundance was influenced by the major water parameters and the remaining 71% by other factors. The growth, mortality, recruitment and relative yield per recruit of the five selected dominant fish species (Rastrelliger kanagurta, Gerres oyena, Atule mate, Sillago sihama and Sardinella brachysoma) from Marudu Bay were investigated based on monthly length-frequency data, using FiSAT software. In terms of length-weight relationships, G. oyena, S. sihama and S. brachysoma showed a negative allometric nature of growth while R. kanagurta and A. mate showed a positive allometric nature of growth in the estuarine waters of Marudu Bay. For the record, only G. oyena had a continuous recruitment pattern with only one major cohort produced per year while the other four other species (R. kanagurta, A. mate, S. sihama and S. brachysoma) showed two major recruitment events per year indicating two cohorts were produced in a year. Results from the analysis of the exploitation rate (E) based on the fishing mortality estimates, indicate that the fishery of the selected five dominant fish species in Marudu Bay are below the optimum level of exploitation. This implies that the fish stocks in Marudu Bay are still abundant but any further unrestrained increase in fishing effort in the future might drive the fish stocks down and leads to economic losses

Population dynamics of Escualosa thoracata (Valenciennes, 1847) in Matang Mangrove Estuaries, Perak, Malaysia

An investigation on population dynamic parameters like growth, natural mortality, fishing mortality and recruitment pattern of clupeid fish, Escualosa thoracata (Valenciennes, 1847) in Matang Mangrove Estuaries, Perak, Malaysia was conducted from September 2015 to August 2016. Monthly length frequency data of E. thoracata were analyzed by FiSAT software to evaluate the mortality rates and its exploitation level. The relationship between total length and body weight was estimated as W= 0.0009TL2.9957 (R2 = 0.8954). Asymptotic length (L) and growth co-efficient (K) was estimated at 10.86 cm and 1.70 yr-1, respectively. Total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) was calculated at 5.84 yr-1, 3.47 yr-1 and 2.38 yr-1, respectively. Exploitation level (E) of E. thoracata was found to be 0.41. The fishing pressure was 18% below the optimum level of exploitation (E = 0.50). It is revealed that the stock of E. thoracata might be under-exploited in Matang Mangrove Estuaries

Population parameters of Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816) in the Marudu Bay, Sabah, Malaysia

An investigation of the population parameters of Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816) in the Marudu Bay, Sabah, Malaysia was carried out from January to September 2013. The relationship between total length and body weight was estimated as W=0.006TL3.215 or Log W=3.215LogTL – 2.22 (R2=0.946). Monthly length frequency data of R. kanagurta were analyzed by FiSAT software to evaluate the mortality rates and its exploitation level. Asymptotic length (Lµ) and growth co-efficient (K) were estimated at 27.83 cm and 1.50 yr-1, respectively. The growth performance index (φ') was calculated as 3.07. Total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) was calculated at 4.44 yr-1, 2.46 yr-1 and 1.98 yr-1, respectively. Exploitation level (E) of R. kanagurta was found to be 0.45. The exploitation level was below the optimum level of exploitation (E=0.50). It is revealed that the stock of R. kanagurta was found to be still under exploited in Marudu Bay