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Studies of acanthocephalans have increased due to outbreaks in Brazilian fish farms. This review aimed to compile results of studies carried out in Brazil, which have reported occurrences of acanthocephalans in fish from fish farms, discuss histopathological and haematological implications, and describe the different treatments in use to combat these parasites. Scientific articles, short communications, monographs, dissertations and theses are included. Eight species of acanthocephalans have been recorded: Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae, Neoechinorhynchus sp. and Echinorhynchus jucundus, Echinorhynchus gomesi, Polyacanthorhynchus macrorhynchus, Polyacanthorhynchus sp., Pomphorhynchus sp., and Quadrigyrus sp. Studies of histopathology and haematology have reported perforations, inflammation and changes in host intestines and immune cells, due to infection with acanthocephalans. Early-stage testing, both in vitro and in vivo, has shown essential oils, oleoresins and plant extracts to be highly efficacious in combating acanthocephalans. However, there are no national records regulating the use of these anthelmintics in commercial fish farms. In view of this, we are recommending good management practices, including (a) cleaning tanks after fish removal (drying the soil and adding hydrated lime); (b) crop cycles with time intervals, (c) acquisition of healthy fry followed by quarantine; and (d) controlled feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum (CUVIER, 1818), is the most farmed fish in Brazil. Endemic to the Amazonas and Orinoco basins, it is currently raised in all Brazillian regions. The lack of basic genetic information on tambaqui broodstock has been one of the problems of improvement programs in the species. The goal of this study is to provide information on the genetic basis of tambaqui broodstock from six fish farms located in three different regions of Brazil for application in improvement programs. Thus, genetic analyses were conducted using 15 microsatellite loci. We observed that the broodstock of Biofish (NortB), Prosperidade (NortP), and Tajá (NortT) presented loss of genetic variability. However, their genetic diversity values are higher when compared with the broodstock from the AquaBrasil (improved, NortA) project, Brumado (SoutB), and Departamento Nacional de Obras Contra a Seca (DNOCS) (NorthD), respectively. Furthermore, the broodstock of DNOCS needs to be renovated or increased, and the AquaBrasil individuals need to be better evaluated to verify the improvement achieved in the improvement program. Thus, aimed at the improvement of tambaqui production in the fish farms analyzed, we recommend increasing the population size of the broodstock to avoid inbreeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive accumulation of sediment-associated organic matter in river beds has detrimental impacts on aquatic ecology, including fish. Sediment and source samples were collected from 3 headwater tributaries of the River Itchen, in southern England. Near infrared spectra and bulk stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were employed as fingerprint properties to quantify the relative contributions from catchment-based (farmyard manures/slurries, damaged road verges, and septic tanks) and channel-based (decaying instream vegetation, watercress farms, and fish farms) sources. The findings suggested that over the duration of the sampling period, the final estimated median relative contributions in the Candover Stream subcatchment were in the order: farmyard measures/slurries 74% > decaying instream vegetation 15% > watercress farms 6% > septic tanks 3% > damaged road verges 2%. For the River Arle subcatchment, corresponding estimated median relative contributions were in the order: watercress farms 40% > farmyard manures/slurries 28% > decaying instream vegetation 21% > fish farms 7% > damaged road verges and septic tanks 2% each. Similar contributions were estimated for the Tichborne Stream subcatchment: watercress farms 36% > farmyard manures/slurries 26% > decaying instream vegetation 26% and damaged road verges and septic tanks at 6% each. These source apportionment estimates will contribute to stakeholder engagement and targeted management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic variability of four Colossoma macropomum broodstocks, three from fish farms in different regions and one from the natural environment in Brazil, was analyzed using microsatellite markers. The wild progeny ( n = 30) were caught in the Solimões-Amazonas River, at the varzea lakes; this location is used to mature the fish from larvae to juveniles. The three fish farms were selected according to the age of their lineages and broodstock availability: DNOCS ( n = 21) is located in the Ceará State, representing the oldest lineage of cultivated tambaqui in Brazil; Balbina ( n = 30) is located in the Amazonas State, representing the youngest stocks of tambaqui farmed in Brazil (approximately 15 years); and UFRPE ( n = 30) is located in the Pernambuco State and is considered to be a mixed stock formed from the DNOCS and Balbina lineages. The analysis of 13 microsatellite loci indicated the occurrence of a variability reduction in the farmed populations; the UFRPE stock was the population with the highest diversity level. Low values of molecular coancestry were found in these populations. Additionally, significant differences in the R ST values among the populations were detected, as was the occurrence of genetic structure. The genetic loss found in these populations may have been influenced by the founder effect. Because no breeding programs were during the entire production period and no pedigree records were kept for these broodstocks, we suggest that a wild population might be used as an important genetic resource to increase the genetic diversity of renewal stock lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escape incidents in coastal aquaculture lead to economic losses for farmers and may have indirect socioeconomic effects on local fisheries. In this study, the relationship of meagre, Argyrosomus regius (Asso), production in open-sea cages and coastal small-scale fisheries was analysed through captures of escapes, which are easily detected because this species is considered locally absent in native communities in Western Mediterranean regions. Scale reading showed that 100% of captured meagre were escapees. The existence of a direct relationship, in terms of biomass, between the development of meagre coastal aquaculture and the increase of captures of this species by local fisheries was demonstrated. The spatial distribution of meagre captures suggested that there is a local environmental and economic interaction between meagre aquaculture and fisheries through escapees. Monitoring the presence of locally absent species such as meagre within landings might help to assess the magnitude of escapes, the potential economic effects on local aquaculture and fishery industries, and the potential adverse ecological impacts on local ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines how sea lice infestation affects predation risk and mortality of juvenile pink and chum salmon. It outlines the method of the study, which separately observes pink and chum salmon in different settings. The result of the study indicates that lice may increase the rate of prey capture and therefore concludes that predation is an important component of salmon-louse dynamics.

The article presents a study which focuses on determining the origin of Gyrodactylus brachymystacis Ergens on farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the seasonal occurrence of an infection on wild Manchurian trout (Brachymystax lenok) in central China. This study, which was conducted at a private fish farm on the Shibianyu River in the Qinling Mountains, examines the prevalence of the infection and determined the mean number of parasites on the different body sites and fins. The spatial distribution of the parasites over the body surfaces is also analyzed.

Check formation on scales of roach Rutilus rutilus was examined during their production cycle at a fish farm in England through analysis of circuli patterns. Regular check formation was associated with the movement of fish from one type of grow-out facility to another; this resulted in a sudden shift in growth rate and the formation of a new check. As these had the characteristics of annual marks, their formation potentially invalidates their use as structures to determine the age of individuals during recapture events that may follow their introduction to the wild. At low growth rates, the number of circuli was constant throughout the year; this situation changed when fast growth rates were achieved. Five methods of backcalculation were also validated. When the proportionality between the body length and scale radii was weak, backcalculation methods were poor in determining length at check formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal occurrence of the parasitic copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis(sea lice) was studied from March to December 2001 in two large north Norwegian sill fjords without fish farming activity, the Ranafjord and the Balsfjord. Anadromous brown trout Salmo trutta(sea trout) in both fjords had a low infestation rate during all sampling periods, but followed a seasonal pattern. During early and late winter (November to December and March to April) and spring (May to June), the prevalence varied from 0 to 25% and the abundance was <0·5 sea lice. Adults dominated (92%) during this period, particularly gravid females. In both fjords, the highest prevalence was during September (80–81%, all stages represented). In Ranafjord, the abundance and mean intensity during this month was 6·8 and 8·6 sea lice, respectively, while in Balsfjord it was 3·6 and 4·5 sea lice, respectively. Fish were captured at temperatures down to 1° C and at full strength sea water which is supposed to cause osmoregulatory problems for the fish. This observation has implications for the understanding of high-latitude sea trout behaviour and can also make the fish more vulnerable to heavy sea lice infestation during this period. It is suggested that winter running sea trout help to maintain a self replicating local population of sea lice within such fjord systems where other possible hosts ( e.g. farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar) are not present during a whole year cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea trout ( Salmo trutta L.) stocks on the West Coast of Scotland and Ireland have decreased due to reduced survival during the marine phase of their life cycle. Lice-infested sea trout returning to rivers could indicate that parasite burdens are contributing to the decline. Salmon farms represent a potential source of substantial quantities of sea lice, leading to a conjectured link between parasites on salmon fish farms and infestations on wild sea trout. To investigate the potential infective pressure on sea trout in Loch Shieldaig, offshore and sub-littoral plankton samples were collected and analysed for sea lice nauplius and copepodid stages. During the plankton survey, numbers of sea lice on a fish farm in the loch reached a maximum in November 2001. Soon after, numbers of sea lice larvae peaked in open-water samples and then in sub-littoral samples. Nauplii were found adjacent to the farm and occurred less elsewhere. This study reports a concentration of sea lice larvae at the head of Loch Shieldaig and indicates a possible relationship between sea lice numbers on the fish farm and lice larvae densities in the open-water of the loch and in the sub-littoral zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mediterranean monk seals Monachus monachus attacked fish on 11 marine fish farms in the Turkish Aegean between 1992 and 2000. There were 40 attacks on fish farms where gilthead sea bream Sparus auratus and European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax were raised in holding cages. Single seals usually attacked cages at night, regardless of the size of fish in the cages. The seals damaged both holding nets of the cages and fish and, on most occasions, fish escaped as a result of the attacks. With the exception of only one facility, all fish farms attacked by monk seals were concentrated on the large peninsulas including Karaburun and Bodrum Peninsulas, and the number of seal attacks was higher during the winter months. A direct intervention to deter seals such as the use of lights, feeding with pesticide-injected fish, noise generation, warning and direct shots with rifles and physical exclusion of seals from holding cages by installing antipredator nets were applied to prevent or reduce seal attacks. Our study shows that deterrents such as lights and warning shots were not effective in preventing monk seal attacks. However, both curtain- and bag-type antipredator nets were found to be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study presents an overview of the distribution of proliferative kidney disease (PKD) in wild and farmed fish in Switzerland based on two sources: (1) the results of routine diagnostic work at the National Fish Disease Laboratory, and (2) the results of a country-wide survey for PKD. The first case of PKD in Switzerland was diagnosed in 1979 and since 1981, a few cases have been found every year. Affected species were rainbow trout, brown trout and grayling from rivers and fish farms. Most of the diseased fish were found in the lower altitude regions of the country (Swiss midlands). A seasonal distribution of the cases was evident: PKD-positive fish occurred only from June to November withprominent peaks in August and September. Among infected fish all length classes were present, but the highest numbers of affected fish were found in the length classes <10 cm and 16–20 cm. The evaluation of the samples from a survey of the occurrence of PKD in 2000/2001 revealed a much broader geographical distribution of the infection than expected from routine diagnostic observations. Fish from 56 of 139 rivers analysed by histological examination were positive for parasites. Fish from 131 of these sites were examined macroscopically. Of these, trout from 45 sites showed gross alterations indicative for PKD. Most of the positive fish were found in the Swiss midlands north of the Alps. Fish from six of 65 fish farms investigated were found to be PKD-positive by histopathological analysis, and in four of these cases fish could be identified as infected on the basis of gross examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]