Oral treatment against marine Ich

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Aquaculture
Volume 321, Number 3-4 (December 2011)
In vitro and in vivo efficacies of ionophores against Cryptocaryon irritans

Authors: T. Yoshinaga, H.J. Im, S. Nishida, K. Ogawa
Author Affiliations: no affiliations available

Source: Aquaculture, Volume 321, Number 3-4 (December 2011)
Page Numbers: 167 – 172
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Abstract: We assayed the effects of a variety of antiprotozoal compounds against trophonts of Cryptocaryon irritans, the causative agent of ‘white spot disease of marine fish’ in vitro using the double layered media that we developed previously for the culture of the parasite. In the assay, ionophores, particularly sodium salinomycin, showed apparent killing and growth-suppression effects against the parasite. As there was no mortality in Japanese flounder Paralychthys olivaceusthat were fed a diet containing sodium salinomycin (200ppm) for two weeks, we evaluated the efficacy of 200ppm sodium salinomycin against C. irritansin Japanese flounder. We fed Japanese flounders a medicated diet for 5d prior to and 3d after challenge with C. irritans.In the experimental group, the number of protomonts recovered from the fish and the size of tomonts that were transformed from the protomonts were significantly reduced, when compared to the control group. Furthermore, in a different experiment, the fish that were fed a diet medicated with sodium salinomycin survived longer than those fed an unmedicated diet after challenge. Sodium salinomycin can be a good candidate drug for chemotherapy and control of Cryptocaron irritansinfection.
Citation: T. Yoshinaga, H.J. Im, S. Nishida, K. Ogawa . In vitro and in vivo efficacies of ionophores against Cryptocaryon irritans. Aquaculture, Volume 321, Numbers 3-4 (December 2011), pp. 167-172,

How TB escapes the immune system…

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I wonder if there are parallels with fish tuberculosis…

The article below is from –

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003180430.htm

Tuberculosis bacterium’s outer cell wall disarms the body’s defense to remain infectious
18 October 2011
The bacterium that causes tuberculosis has a unique molecule on its outer cell surface that blocks a key part of the body’s defense. New research suggests this represents a novel mechanism in the microbe’s evolving efforts to remain hidden from the human immune system. Researchers found that the TB bacterium has a molecule on its outer surface called lipomannan that can stop production of an important protein in the body’s immune cells that helps contain TB infection and maintain it in a latent state. This protein is called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). When TNF is not produced in sufficient quantities, the TB bacterium can grow unchecked and cause an uncontrolled active infection inside and outside of the lungs. “There are several unique components on the Mycobacterium tuberculosisouter cell wall that help it sneak into the lung relatively unnoticed,” said Larry Schlesinger, professor and chair of the Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity at Ohio State University and senior author of the study. “The more we can learn about how these cell wall structures influence the human immune response, the closer we can get to developing a more effective strategy to treat or even prevent an active tuberculosis infection.”Lipomannan resembles a tree branch sprinkled with smaller sugar molecules protruding from the outer cell wall of the bacterium. The findings show that lipomannan can block TNF production at the microRNA level. MicroRNAs are small segments of RNA that regulate — or fine-tune — a gene’s protein-building function. To date, microRNAs have been implicated most frequently in the development of cancer. Schlesinger said this research is among the first studies to show that pathogenic bacteria can influence microRNA activation in immune cells and is the first to explore how microRNAs regulate the macrophage inflammatory response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Macrophages are first-responder cells in the immune response. They eat TB bacteria at the point of infection in the lung and then normally activate molecules that make pieces of the bacteria visible to infection-fighting warriors, triggering an eventual T-cell response to come to the macrophages’ aid. The research is published this week in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.About 2 billion people worldwide are thought to be infected with TB bacteria. People who are infected can harbor the bacterium without symptoms for decades, but an estimated one in 10 will develop active disease characterized by a chronic cough and chest pain. Both active and latent infections are treated with a combination of antibiotics that patients take for at least six months, and such treatment is becoming less effective with more drug-resistant bacterial strains. Schlesinger and colleagues conducted the study comparing lipomannans from two types of bacteria — a virulent strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a harmless strain called Mycobacterium smegmatis, which is often used as a control bacterium in TB research. Many of these same researchers, led by Schlesinger, had previously isolated the lipomannans from each type of bacterial cell’s surface and used powerful biochemical analyses to characterize the significance of the lipomannans’ structural differences. In a study published recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the group reported on how the surface structures on virulent TB bacteria lowered the response of a specific T-cell that typically gets recruited to fight tuberculosis. In this newer study, the scientists compared how the structures affected the production of TNF in primary human macrophage culture experiments.

They first established that human macrophages respond differently to the two different types of bacteria lipomannans after 24 hours of exposure. Lipomannan from the virulent TB bacterium produced significantly less TNF than lipomannan from the M. smegmatis bacterium. Though the study showed that the harmless cells increase production of TNF through a well-known receptor pathway as expected, the virulent TB bacteria did not make use of that receptor pathway. This supported the concept that the pathogenic TB bacterium has figured out another way to block the TNF protein in its quest to keep the immune system guessing, said Schlesinger, also the director of Ohio State’s Center for Microbial Interface Biology. A single microRNA can affect the production of hundreds of proteins, and the process of identifying those relationships is ongoing. However, two microRNAs in this study were known to be relevant for their connections to genes and proteins already established as players in the immune response to TB infection: miR-125b and miR-155.

Biochemical and genetic experiments showed that macrophages stimulated with lipomannan from TB bacteria had enhanced expression of miR-125b, effectively inhibiting the production of TNF. In contrast, the lipomannan from the harmless bacteria had enhanced expression of miR-155, which regulates other compounds in a way that stimulates TNF production. Researchers’ experimental manipulation to lower the expression of miR-125b in macrophages increased production of TNF in response to the TB bacteria lipomannan, further confirming that this regulation of TNF occurred at the microRNA level, Schlesinger said. “This really speaks to the power of the tuberculosis bacterium to adapt to the human host,” he said. “It has had centuries to develop a sophisticated way to deal with its encounter with the human. Fortunately, genomic technology is allowing us to identify microRNAs more and more rapidly, which might allow us to catch up with the TB bacterium and figure out a way to outsmart it.”

How do you clean salt drips from your tank?

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

Do you have streaky white precipitates develop on your glass where water drips and dries? How do you have perfectly clean glass to clearly view your fishes and to make photographing fishes easier?

Do not use any chemicals or sprays as it could be harmful to your aquarium inhabitants. The safest way to do it is…

Dissolve the salt precipitates with a cloth soaked in warm freshwater. Then wipe dry with scrunched up newspaper.

You can also use white vinegar on the exterior glass surfaces to dissolve the salt. Then, warm water, followed by newspapers.

“The Fish Vet Advertisement – sleight of hands.m4v”

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Fish Vetting Essentials

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Fish Health Professionals – Land the Catch of the Year!

The target audience is the busy general veterinary practitioner who does not have the time to leaf through complicated text books.  The simplicity in which it is written has found favour with many readers and so it is widely used in educational institutes, laboratories, zoos, public aquaria, aquaculturists and fish enthusiasts worldwide.

This book is a comprehensive resource that incorporates elements of fish keeping, clinical medicine and fish pathology.

Fish Vetting Essentials (2011) has important information for diagnosticians:

  • how to interpret water quality
  • how to diagnose common fish diseases
  • how to medicate fish
  • how to treat fish diseases using drugs available in your surgery.

View sample pages here –  eFishVetEssentialswLinks.

To order your copy of the latest Fish Vetting Essentials (only $A99 per copy plus $A15 for postage and handling within Australia), visit www.thefishvet.com.au or click here to proceed directly to the shopping cart.

Check out the book reviews on The Fish Vet’s Facebook Fanpage.

Testimonials

The book is what it says and is an essential addition to the practice bookshelf for any practice that sees ornamental fish or a veterinarian wishing to explore the exciting discipline of ornamental fish veterinary medicine.

Dr Chris Walster BVMS, MVPH, MRCVS, The Island Veterinary Associates, England.

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Once in a while comes a book that has the potential to become indispensable to zoos and aquariums. Fish Vetting Essentials has what it needs. It is written by two highly experienced veterinarians with fish health as their specialty. The main part of the book is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of common diseases. This is a book that should be recommended for all veterinarians who feel the need to familiarise themselves with fish health at any aquarium.

Mr Svein A Fossa, Pet Scandinavia Magazine.

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I use “Fish Vetting Essentials” as my first reference for matters pertaining to aquatic animal health.  Its clear, concise layout and colour photographs make it a highly practical source of information.  The information on diagnostic sample collection and treatment is easy to follow and has enabled us to develop the skills necessary to manage disease cases in fish effectively. I highly recommend “Fish Vetting Essentials” for veterinarians dealing with aquatic species.

Dr Simone Vitali BSc, BVMS, PhD, MACVS (Zoo Animal Medicine), Senior Veterinarian, Perth Zoo.

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I have owned a veterinary general practice for 30 years and my copy of Fish Vetting Essentials has been an excellent resource for me when I am asked to treat exotic aquarium fish. Previously the only readily available information on treating and diagnosing fish were anecdotal, unreliable and outdated popular press publications or high-end scientific material that was not useful from a practical point of view. Fish Vetting Essentials is concisely written and contains everything a general practitioner needs to take a logical, helpful approach to aquarium fish problems.

Dr Owen Lavers BVSc, Earlville Vet Surgery, Queensland.

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As a veterinary clinician with an interest in the “unusual and exotic” fish species, I am frequently asked to consult with clients who present their fish for examination, diagnosis and treatment. I have an extensive medical library, and Fish Vetting Essentials is by far the most useful reference on fish diseases and fish treatments.

Dr James M Harris BSc, DVM, FRSPH, Mayfair Veterinary Clinic, Tasmania.

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FishVetEssentials_2011 eSample.pdf

Watch Dr Loh talk about what’s in the book and how it’s organised – click here.

To order your copy of the latest Fish Vetting Essentials, visit thefishvet.com.au or click here to proceed directly to the shopping cart.

Feel free to pass it on to others who you think might be interested.

Best method for transporting live shrimp revealed…

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Journal of the World Aquaculture Society Volume 42, Number 5 (October 2011)

Effect of Holding and Packing Conditions on Hemolymph Parameters of Freshwater Prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, during Simulated Waterless Transport

Authors: Jamie G. Skudlarek 1, Shawn D. Coyle 1, Leigh Anne Bright 1, James H. Tidwell 1 Author Affiliations:

1: Aquaculture Research Center, Kentucky State University, 103 Athletic Road, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, USA

Source: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, Volume 42, Number 5 (October 2011)

Page Numbers: 603 – 617 Available Full Text:

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Format: PDF
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Abstract: Preliminary market research has identified an unfulfilled market potential for live freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, in urban areas of the USA and Canada. Truck transport is effective but requires shipment of large numbers of prawns to be economically feasible. Most retail markets are ill-equipped to hold large quantities for subsequent live sales. Air-freight of smaller quantities has potential but water weight limits its application. Shipping of live aquatic animals in waterless environments has been reported for some finfish and crustaceans. This project utilized biochemical characteristics of prawn hemolymph as measures of sublethal stress during simulated transport. Six trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of different variables involving preshipment holding conditions, acclimation prior to shipping, and conditions inside the shipping container. Trial 1 compared animals shipped in water with those in a non-aqueous environment. Trial 2 compared three chilling rates (slow chill, fast chill, and no chill). Trial 3 evaluated different holding protocols including fed versus unfed, reduced pH, increased water hardness, and salinity. Trial 4 evaluated the addition of ammonia scavengers to the transport containers. Trial 5 evaluated the use of carbon dioxide scavengers and an anesthetic, AQUI-S®. Trial 6 used the best results of Trials 2–5 in a combination of “Best Management Practices” (BMP) over extended time periods. Treatments had either three or four replications using Styrofoam boxes, each packed with six individually tagged prawns. Presoaked wood-shavings and ice packs were used to keep the boxes moist and cool. The boxes were then sealed in individual oxygenated plastic bags. Trials 1–5 were conducted for 16 h and Trial 6 had separate boxes which were opened at 16, 24, and 32 h. Baseline hemolymph samples were taken prior to packing and from prawn alive at the end of all trials. Hemolymph variables included pH, pO2, pCO2,HCO3, tCO2, calcium, ammonia, osmolality, glucose, lactate, total protein, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Percent survival and weight loss were also measured. Results of Trial 1 indicated that compared to transport in water, non-aqueous environment significantly increased (P= 0.05) hemolymph levels of CO2and ammonia, and significantly reduced levels of oxygen. In Trial 2, survival in the Slow Chill treatment was significantly higher than in the No Chill treatment, although hemolymph characteristics were not impacted. In Trial 3 prawns held in tanks with added salt (17 ppt) had the highest survival and lowest hemolymph concentration of ammonia and partial pressure of CO2. The ammonia scavengers in Trial 4 had no significant impact on survival or hemolymph variables. The CO2scavengers and anesthetic in Trial 5 had no statistically significant impact on survival. The BMP of Trial 6 consisted of, in the following order, holding in 17 ppt marine salt mix, slow chilling, anesthetic (AQUI-S) dip, and adding limewater (Ca(OH)2+ H2O) to the shipping box as a CO2scavenger. In Trial 6, after 32 h of simulated “waterless” transport, prawns in the BMP treatment had significantly higher survival (96%) than prawns in the Control treatment (58%). The BMP prawns also had significantly higher partial pressures of oxygen and lower partial pressures of CO2in the hemolymph.

Citation: Jamie G. Skudlarek, Shawn D. Coyle, Leigh Anne Bright, James H. Tidwell . Effect of Holding and Packing Conditions on Hemolymph Parameters of Freshwater Prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, during Simulated Waterless Transport.

Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, Volume 42, Number 5 (October 2011), pp. 603-617,

URL: http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=44319D558A77E8182EB2

Remote control flying Shark or Clownfish Air Swimmer

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interesting toy….
Has anyone had a go with this?

http://www.groupon.com.au/deals/national-deal/-android-tablets-australia-/715877390?nlp=&CID=AU_CRM_1_0_0_296&a=715827934

Ever heard of the phrase Stunned ‘mullets’?

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Notice the circular marks on the heads of these Atlantic Salmon? Percussive stunning has been used during slaughter as a more humane method of euthanasia.