Intestinal absorption by Sarotherodon galilaeus (syn Tilapia galilaea ) of Lake Kainji, Nigeria

Carbohydrates, protein, lipid and crude fibre were found to reduce in amount from the anterior to posterior regions along the gut of Sarotherodon galilaeus collected from Lake Kainji. Different regions of the gut exhibited different absorptive powers and all the compounds were differently absorbed in amount. Different sizes of fish showed different absorptive capacity

Study on the intestinal bacteria of Labeo rohita (Ham.)

The quantitative and qualitative aspects of intestinal bacteria of rohu fish (Labeo rohita) showed that total viable count of bacteria ranged from 9.9 x 106 to 1.4 x 107 CFU/g of intestine in different age groups of fish. The bacterial load was highest in the month of July and lowest in January. The genera of the isolates from intestine included Coryneform, Micrococcus, Flavobacterium, Cytophaga, Achromobacter, Aeromonas Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrio. Coryneform was the dominant group throughout the study period followed by Micrococcus and Enterobacteriaceae. Marked variations in the bacterial load and generic composition of intestinal bacteria were evident during the study period in different age groups of rohu fish.

Effects of dietary supplementation of commercial human probiotic and antibiotic on the growth rate and content of intestinal microflora in ornamental fishes

The effects of dietary supplementation of commercial human probiotic, Lactobacil and antibiotic, oxytetracycline on the growth, survival, disease resistance and content of intestinal microflora in two ornamental fishes, viz., goldfish, Carassius auratus and swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri were studied. The total wet weight gain, food conversion ratio and specific growth rate of C. auratus did not vary significantly (p>0.05) among treatments. While in X. helleri, significant differences existed in the total wet weight gain, survival, food conversion ratio and specific growth rate among treatment groups (p<0.05). The counts of antibiotic resistant bacteria in fish gut increased with days of culture in all the treatments and the increase was more in antibiotic fed fishes. A reduction in the development of antibiotic resistance among the bacterial flora of fish gut was noticed in probiotic fed groups of C auratus and X. helleri. The results of the present study revealed that the effects of human probiotic on the growth, survival and disease resistance of ornamental fishes are variable and difficult to reproduce the similar effect on different species.

Effect of dietary inulin as prebiotic on growth, survival and intestinal bacterial density of juvenile great sturgeon (Huso huso)

Use of prebiotics, nondigestible dietary ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth of and/or activating the metabolism of healthpromoting bacteria in the intestinal tract, is a novel concept in aquaculture. An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary prebiotic inulin on the growth performance, intestinal bacterial density, body composition and values of blood serum enzymes in the juvenile great sturgeon (Huso huso). Three replicate groups of fish (initially averaging weight 16.14±0.38g) were fed diets containing prebiotic inulin at levels ranging from 1% to 3%. The basal diet was contained 3% cellulose. The results of linear regression showed there was a negative relationship between some performance indices including weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein utilization (NPU), energy retention (ERE), feed efficincy (FE), protein retention (PR) and supplementation level of inulin. At the end of trial, the 1% inulin treatment insignificantly showed an enhaced survival between the treatment groups. Intestinal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) increased in group treated with 1% inulin compare to other groups. No significant difference were observed in body composition and level of serum enzymes (P>0.05). Moreover there was significant correlation between ALT and LDH values (P<0.01). Result obtained in this study shows that the prebiotic inulin didn’t influence the increase of the growth performance of juvenile great sturgeon and it is not appropriate for supplementation in the diet of beluga.

Marine Flora and Fauna of the eastern United States: Acanthocephala

The phylum Acanthocephala (intestinal worm parasites of vertebrates) of the Atlantic coast of the United States comprises 43 species and 20 genera belonging to three orders: Echinorhynchida, Neoechinorhynchida, and Polymorphida. Adults are exclusively intestinal parasites of vertebrates. This study includes those species found in vertebrates of marine and estuarine environments along the North American Atlantic coast between Maine and Texas. Species that can be found within that geographical range and those that typically infect freshwater fishes but that are occasionally present in marine or estuarine hosts are also included. The taxonamy, anatomy, natural history, and ecology of the phylum Acanthocephala are discussed, and an illustrated key to the genera is presented. Techniques, an annotated systematic treatment of all 43 species, and a systematic index are included. No systematic decisions will be made at this time, but areas where such decisions are pending will be indicated and discussed for future reports. (PDF file contains 32 pages.)

Experimental research on dormancy in Cyclops vicinus [Translation from: Naturwissenschaften 56 93-94, 1969]

Dormancy has been observed in several species of Cyclops. Animals in dormancy are characterised by almost complete inactivity of the main appendages and sluggish intestinal peristalsis. In Cyclops vicinus dormancy can take place in copepod stages III (19%), IV (78%) and V (3%) but one and the same animal only in one developmental stage. The author gives his own results between frequency of dormancy and photoperiod (20 C, 1000 lux). He concludes that dormancy in C. vicinus can be influenced by day length and can be ended prematurely by short day length.

Flood circulation in oligomictic lakes: an undervalued reason for restriction of zooplankton production [Translation from: Memorie dell'Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia Dott.Marco de Marchi 22 9-52, 1967]

Dormancy has been observed in several species of Cyclops. Animals in dormancy are characterised by almost complete inactivity of the main appendages and sluggish intestinal peristalsis. In Cyclops vicinus dormancy can take place in copepod stages III (19%), IV (78%) and V (3%) but one and the same animal only in one developmental stage. The author gives his own results between frequency of dormancy and photoperiod (20 C, 1000 lux). He concludes that dormancy in C. vicinus can be influenced by day length and can be ended prematurely by short day length.

Enterolith with a stingray spine nidus in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

In March 2006, a dead, male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found in the salt marsh in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. During necropsy, an enterolith was found completely obstructing the intestinal lumen. Further examination of the enterolith revealed a stingray spine nidus. Most terrestrial enteroliths are composed primarily of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate); however, the majority of the enterolith discovered in the stranded dolphin was composed of calcium phosphate carbonate. This case provides an interesting comparison of the variation in the mineral composition between terrestrial and marine enteroliths.

Induced breeding, embryonic and larval development in Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) in the agro-climatic conditions of Maharashtra

Heteropneustes fossilis was induced bred for the first time in the agro-climatic conditions of Maharashtra, India. The embryonic development was completed within 16-18h after fertilisation. Head and tail ends were distinguishable after 3h and 11-12 somites were visible after 6-7h. The eggs started hatching after 14h of incubation. Average hatching time was 16-18h at 26 degrees C. In first day old pro-larva, notochord was deflected upwards, eyes were darkly pigmented and alimentary canal appeared. In fourth day old post-larva intestinal coiling could be seen and yolk was absorbed. Aerial respiration started by 8th day. The 10 day old post-larva was free swimming and fed voraciously attaining a length of 20 mm in 30 days.