What kind of fish should you not mess with?
The Cod Father!
This is courtesy of Toni Erkinharju, my colleague from Aquavet.
Yeast is good for fish too!
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| Aquaculture | |||||||||||||||||
| Volume 357, Number 3 (August 2012) | |||||||||||||||||
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Cytokine responses in the common carp, Cyprinus carpioL. treated with baker’s yeast extract | ||||||||||||||||
| Authors: | G. Biswas, H. Korenaga, H. Takayama, T. Kono, H. Shimokawa, M. Sakai | ||||||||||||||||
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| Source: | Aquaculture, Volume 357, Number 3 (August 2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Page Numbers: | 169 – 175 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Abstract: | Cytokines are important regulators of the immune system and investigation of their functions may prove useful for the development of vaccines and immunostimulants for aquaculture. We therefore investigated the cytokine [interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-10, IL-12 p35 and p40, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, CXC-chemokine and interferon (IFN)-a and ?] responses of the common carp, Cyprinus carpioL., upon treatment with a commercial baker’s yeast extract (CW-I) that contained nucleotides and ß-glucan. Additionally, to confirm that the CW-I-induced cytokines were functional, we also assessed the effect of CW-I administration on superoxide anion production and phagocytic activities of head kidney leucocytes and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophilainfection in the common carp. Our results demonstrate that baker’s yeast extract-treated fish displayed a significant up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1ß, IL-12 p35 and p40, TNF-a, CXC-chemokine, IFN-?2) gene expression and a down-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) gene expression. Furthermore, significantly increased phagocytic activity and superoxide anion production in kidney cells, and resistance to a bacterial pathogen, were observed in the yeast extract-treated fish compared to non-treated fish. The current study indicates the immunostimulatory effects of a baker’s yeast extract rich in nucleotides and ß-glucan on the carp immune system and supports its potential use in aquaculture. | ||||||||||||||||
| Citation: | G. Biswas, H. Korenaga, H. Takayama, T. Kono, H. Shimokawa, M. Sakai . Cytokine responses in the common carp, Cyprinus carpioL. treated with baker’s yeast extract. Aquaculture, Volume 357, Number 3 (August 2012), pp. 169-175, ; | ||||||||||||||||
| URL: | http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4452BF835526CF3E9375 | ||||||||||||||||
Would inflicting biological warfare on carp constitute animal cruelty?
Following on from my post last week about the planned Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) release (https://thefishvet.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/exotic-carp-killer-virus-planned-to-be-released-in-as-little-as-5-years/), the lead scientist on the animal experimentation stated that the disease course would be variable and is temperature dependent. It will take one week for the fish to die at a water temperature of 26oC and up to 3 weeks to kill at 17oC.
This being said, there is an animal welfare aspect that has not been addressed. Practices that were acceptable in the 1950’s in terms of inflicting pain and suffering on “pests” should not be tolerated today.
The ends do not justify the means.
Integrated aquaculture using rabbits and tilapia.
This is an interesting concept, but it wouldn’t work in Australia because we have introduced killer rabbit diseases (myxomatosis
and calicivirus) as a measure to control feral rabbits. This has also been the one of the factors in the demise of the rabbit industry in Australia. It’s a lesson we need to remember whenever a biological control agent is ever to be considered for any purpose. It is whether we plan to ever use the species for any other purposes (pets, meat, leather/fur).
A good case in point is the common carp. The exotic killer koi herpesvirus could be released into the wild in Australia in as little as 5 years if some scientists and fisherfolk lobbyists could have their own way. Could Australia find a use for this fish? Live export to improve genetic stocks in their native Europe? Sustainable food fish aquaculture for local consumption or export? Fertiliser? Coarse fishing?
Australia could remain the only place in the world with a carp population that is free from so many of the killer diseases. In terms of food security, should we be protecting the humble carp rather than release the killer virus amongst them?
| Journal of Applied Aquaculture | |||||||||||||||||
| Volume 24, Number 2 (April 2012) | |||||||||||||||||
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Rearing Rabbits Over Earthen Fish Ponds in Rwanda: Effects on Water and Sediment Quality, Growth, and Production of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus | ||||||||||||||||
| Authors: | Simon Rukera Tabaro 1, Onisimo Mutanga 1, Denis Rugege 1, Jean-Claude Micha 2 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Source: | Journal of Applied Aquaculture, Volume 24, Number 2 (April 2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Page Numbers: | 170 – 181 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Abstract: | Nine earthen ponds of 400 m2each, were stocked with 800 mixed sex Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticusfingerlings (14 g mean weight stocked at 2 fish/m-2) and fertilized with rabbit droppings from rabbits reared over fish ponds and stocked at three different densities: T1 = one, T2 = two, and T4 = four rabbits per 100 m2of pond. After 152 days, results from this integrated rabbit/fish system showed: 1) increasing nutrient content of all ponds in the three treatments except for nitrates, which decreased with time and, 2) good water quality in terms of pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Fish mean weight at harvest and fish yield were higher in ponds fertilized by the highest rabbit stocking rate: 42.32 g and 6.35 ± 1.0 kg/are, respectively (1 are = 100 m2). | ||||||||||||||||
| Citation: | Simon Rukera Tabaro, Onisimo Mutanga, Denis Rugege, Jean-Claude Micha . Rearing Rabbits Over Earthen Fish Ponds in Rwanda: Effects on Water and Sediment Quality, Growth, and Production of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Journal of Applied Aquaculture, Volume 24, Number 2 (April 2012), pp. 170-181, ; | ||||||||||||||||
| URL: | http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=48CF8D9813011C307401 | ||||||||||||||||
Fish Trivia
Dear Fishy folks,
I hope you have all been enjoying reading my posts so far and despite my “corny” Monday-itis “dad” jokes. Now I’d like to include a new recurring subject and I will need your help with populating it.
The theme for the new subject is “fish trivia”. Anything that’s interesting about fishes, starting with the popular aquarium fishes. It could be where they come from, how they live, how they catch their prey, why they have particular patterning, etc.
An example to illustrate what I’m after is this :
Did you know that when it comes to swordtail swords, size DOES matter? Female swordtail fish shows preference to the male with the longest tail.
You can email your Fish Trivia to:
thefishvet@gmail.com
Thank you in advance for contributing and for your continued following.
Closure of Vet lab in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
Following on from a previous post (https://thefishvet.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/imminent-closure-of-the-aquatic-lab-in-townsville-what-are-the-ramifications/), there is an update about the impending veterinary laboratory closure.
TOWNSVILLE FACILITIES CUT TO HELP RESTORE BUDGET
THE State Government has shelved plans for an $18 million biosecurity lab in Townsville, which was to replace the old lab in the suburb of Oonoonba, which is closing. The Opposition and the Australian Party have criticised the move and said that it left North and Far North Queensland exposed to biosecurity risks. It could also mean the loss of up to 20 jobs, which follows recent media reports that there would be 550 jobs cut in the Agriculture department. Opposition agriculture spokesman Tim Mulherin said construction had already begun at the facility. Minister for Agriculture John McVeigh said the facility was unfunded, and he made the decision based on the need to rein-in spending. He said that testing for major outbreaks was done at Coopers Plains, Brisbane, while animal health tests were done in Geelong, and that the government was committed to biosecurity .
The decision has shocked aquaculture industries in Far North Queensland, which say it has serious and significant ramifications for the detection of both aquatic and terrestrial animal diseases. The Oonoonba facility has done very important work on the detection of diseases in marine species farmed in the tropics, including prawns and barramundi. While QFF fully supports the need for the State Budget to be restored to order, the impact of the closure of this lab will need to be managed to ensure critical services can be delivered effectively and economically for producers. These matters as yet have not been discussed with industry groups. There seems little doubt that the service is important but there remains widespread concern about whether the other options for the provision of that service have the capacity to handle the increased workload or that testing can be done in a timely and cost-effective way.
Letters of support for the work we do for the Aquaculture Industries of north Qld & have done for industy over the past 30 years can be directed to:
The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, John Mc Veigh.
Biological warfare against carp can also kill your backyard pet koi.
Following on from my post last week about the planned Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) release (https://thefishvet.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/exotic-carp-killer-virus-planned-to-be-released-in-as-little-as-5-years/),
has anyone given a thought about whether this will be any more effective than goldfish herpesvirus that “accidentally” introduced into Australia some 10 years ago? Today, it is clear that it has had no effect on feral goldfish.
Dr Rodman Getchell from Cornell University presented the findings of the 2005 KHV incident at Chautauqua Lake, at this year’s Aquavet II workshop. Imagine your once pristine lake, becoming littered by tonnes of smelly, decaying fish. There was an initial high level of kill and there was a massive clean-up effort undertaken by the local association and by the New York State Dept of Environment and Conservation. Many fish were trucked to a huge trench that had been dug at the local landfill. There was no way of containing the virus and it subsequently spread to other water bodies and to residents’ home ponds, killing these fish as it swept across the state. Today, the wild carp population has rebounded.
Why release an OIE listed disease in Australia? What are the implications?
Following on from my post last week about the planned Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) release (https://thefishvet.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/exotic-carp-killer-virus-planned-to-be-released-in-as-little-as-5-years/)….
I put the same post up on NOVICE today.
One comment received, I’d like to share with you:
———- Forwarded message ———-
Date: Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 7:51 PM
Subject: Aquatic Veterinary Medicine (Biological warfare to hit carp in the next 5 years!): New post from David Scarfe
While superficially the idea of purposefully introducing a virus to control
populations of other species appears to be a good idea, I would suggest
that a lot more research be done before a risk-benefit (and consequences)
analysis is ever attempted. I suspect that Biosecurity Australia and DAFF
will (or should) put a halt on this proposal – at least until a lot of
information is produced.
Purposefully introducing a virus as lethal as KHV into the environment, in
an attempt to control carp populations, is not only foolish, but it is
very irresponsible. It clearly illustrates the lack of knowledge of the
pathophysiology and epidemiology of this (or perhaps any) herpesvirus.
Furthermore, because KHV is an internationally reportable (e.g. OIE), it
will dramatically impact future export of, not only carp (e.g. Koi), but
perhaps all Australian finfish. It also clearly illustrates a lack of
understanding of ecosystem succession and evolution. I’m totally amazed, I would have thought with the extraordinary levels
Australia has historically taken to protect its animal and plant resources,
and the experience with numerous similar past approaches (e.g. controlling
cactus, rabbits, and a lot of other examples) Australia would have learned
of the dangers.
Siamese fighting fish lying on its side. Normal?
I just had an enquiry about whether it’s normal behaviour for their Siamese fighter to lie on their side when the water temperature drops over night.So, I pointed them to one of my previous blog posts – https://thefishvet.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/fighting-fish-over-wintering/
Another differential diagnosis is mycobacteriosis which is common and is a zoonotic disease, so watch out!
Fish joke for Monday-itis
Those who attended Aquavet may remember this joke shared by Dr “Skip” Jack, the channel catfish guru.
There was a man in town who always liked to tell tall tales. He would always boast about the size of the biggest fish he had ever caught. And each time he told the same story, his arms would spread further and further apart, signing to show how big the fish was. One day, one of his friends had the idea to tie the man’s hands together the next time he told the story so that it could only spread a set distance apart. So, on this day the man told the same story about the largest fish he had caught. And with his hands spread as far apart as possible, he told the listeners,”and the fish’s eyes were THIS Big!”