Muscle bioenergetics of two emblematic Mediterranean fish species: Sardina pilchardus and Sparus aurata

Cytogenomics, the integration of cytogenetic and genomic data, has been used here to reconstruct the evolution of chromosomes 2 and 4 of Solea senegalensis. S. senegalensis is a flat fish with a karyotype comprising 2n = 42 chromosomes: 6 metacentric + 4 submetacentric + 8 subtelocentric + 24 telocentric. The Fluorescence in situ Hybridization with Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (FISH-BAC) technique was applied to locate BACs in these chromosomes (11 and 10 BACs in chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively) and to generate integrated maps. Synteny analysis, taking eight reference fish species (Cynoglossus semilaevis, Scophthalmus maximus, Sparus aurata, Gasterosteus aculeatus, Xiphophorus maculatus, Oryzias latipes, Danio rerio, and Lepisosteus oculatus) for comparison, showed that the BACs of these two chromosomes of S. senegalensis were mainly distributed in two principal chromosomes in the reference species. Transposable Elements (TE) analysis showed significant differences between the two chromosomes, in terms of number of loci per Mb and coverage, and the class of TE (I or II) present. Analysis of TE divergence in chromosomes 2 and 4 compared to their syntenic regions in four reference fish species (C. semilaevis, S. maximus, O. latipes, and D. rerio) revealed differences in their age of activity compared with those species but less notable differences between the two chromosomes. Differences were also observed in peaks of divergence and coverage of TE families for all reference species even in those close to S. senegalensis, like S. maximus and C. semilaevis. Considered together, chromosomes 2 and 4 have evolved by Robertsonian fusions, pericentric inversions, and other chromosomal rearrangements mediated by TEs.

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Prevalence of Anisakis Larvae in Different Fish Species in Southern Albania: Five-Year Monitoring (2016–2020)

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app112311528 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (23) ◽

pp. 11528

Author(s):

Enkeleda Ozuni ◽

Ani Vodica ◽

Marta Castrica ◽

Gabriele Brecchia ◽

Giulio Curone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Coastal Area ◽

Sparus Aurata ◽

Dicentrarchus Labrax ◽

Health Impact ◽

Coelomic Cavity ◽

Farmed Fish ◽

Risk Area ◽

High Risk Area ◽

Negative Results

Anisakidae are nematodes that commonly parasitize in the coelomic cavity and viscera of several fish species. They can be found in flesh, which is why they have an important economic and public health impact. The aim of the current work was to assess the presence and prevalence of Anisakis larvae in fish species caught in the coastal area of the Karaburun Peninsula in Vlora Bay (Albania). A total of 856 of wild teleosts and 219 specimens of farmed fish were collected over a 5-year period (from 2016 to 2020). The results showed that out of a total of 1075 analyzed samples, 361 (33.58%) were parasitized with L3 larvae. In particular, only Solea vulgaris returned negative results, while Sparus aurata, Dicentrarchus labrax, and Sardinella aurita showed the lowest prevalence (4.55%, 9.17%, and 10.53%, respectively) and mean abundance (0.84, 1.19, and 0.92, respectively). Conversely, Scomber japonicus and Scomber scombrus showed the highest prevalence (74.07% and 68.00%, respectively) and mean abundance (188.24 and 249.82, respectively). The data suggest that the coastal area of the Karaburun Peninsula (southern Albania) may be a high-risk area for zoonotic diseases, and the consumption of raw or undercooked fish caught in the Vlora district could result in the acquisition of human anisakiasis. For these reasons, it is necessary to improve the surveillance plan.

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Preliminary observations of caulerpin accumulation from the invasive Caulerpa cylindracea in native Mediterranean fish species

Aquatic Biology ◽

10.3354/ab00671 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 27-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

S Felline ◽

E Mollo ◽

A Cutignano ◽

L Grauso ◽

F Andaloro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Mediterranean Fish

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Radiological risks assessment due to natural radioactivity in Mediterranean sea fishes

Current Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.2174/1573401317666210908163356 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

Author(s):

F. Caridi ◽

G. Belmusto

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Sparus Aurata ◽

Dicentrarchus Labrax ◽

Sardina Pilchardus ◽

Cancer Risks ◽

Merluccius Merluccius ◽

Solea Solea ◽

Mullus Surmuletus ◽

Thunnus Alalunga ◽

Belone Belone

Background and Objectives: In this article a comprehensive study was carried out for the determination of natural radioactivity in Mediterranean sea fishes and the evaluation of radiological health risks due to their ingestion. All analyzed samples came from the Calabria region, southern Italy, and, in particular, from the district of Reggio Calabria. Method: A total of seventy representative samples, five for each investigated species (Sardina Pilchardus, Mugil Cephalus, Scomber Scombrus, Sparus Aurata, Dicentrarchus Labrax, Tonnus Thynnus, Thunnus Alalunga, Xiphaias Gladius, Pagellus Erythrinnus, Engraulis Encrasicholus, Belone Belone, Solea Solea, Merluccius Merluccius, Mullus Surmuletus) were analyzed through HPGe gamma spectrometry. The evaluation of dose levels and lifetime cancer risks for adult members of the population due to the fishes ingestion was also performed. Results: The specific activity of 40K was investigated and its mean value was found to be: (157 ± 17) for Sardina Pilchardus, (138 ± 14) for Mugil Cephalus, (118 ± 13) for Scomber Scombrus, (128 ± 14) for Sparus Aurata, (146 ± 17) for Dicentrarchus Labrax, (93 ± 11) for Tonnus Thynnus, (137 ± 15) for Thunnus Alalunga, (98 ± 10) for Xiphaias Gladius, (105 ± 12) for Pagellus Erythrinnus, (132 ± 14) for Engraulis Encrasicholus, (113 ± 12) for Belone Belone, (34 ± 5) for Solea Solea, (76 ± 9) for Merluccius Merluccius and (96 ± 11) for Mullus Surmuletus, respectively. Conclusions: The committed effective dose and the lifetime cancer risks for adult members of the population due to the consumption of the investigated samples are lower than the average world value, the maximum acceptable level and the allowed range, respectively. It can then be concluded that the Mediterranean sea fishes consumed in the study area pose no significant health risks to the population from a radiological point of view.

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Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii in Mediterranean Fish Farms: New Trouble for European Aquaculture?

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9080610 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 610

Author(s):

Davide Mugetti ◽

Katia Varello ◽

Andrea Gustinelli ◽

Paolo Pastorino ◽

Vasco Menconi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Sparus Aurata ◽

Dicentrarchus Labrax ◽

Housekeeping Genes ◽

The United States ◽

Sciaenops Ocellatus ◽

Fish Farms ◽

Farmed Fish ◽

Potential Threat ◽

European Aquaculture

Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii, a slow-growing mycobacterium closely related to M. marinum, has been isolated only in wild fish in the United States and in Japanese fish farms to date. Here, we report cases of mortality in three farmed fish species (Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus aurata, and Sciaenops ocellatus) caused by M. pseudoshottsii in Italy. Samples underwent necropsy, histology, and culture with pathogen identification based on PCR and sequencing of housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, hsp65, rpoB). Multifocal to coalescing granulomatous and necrotizing inflammation with acid-fast bacilli were observed in the parenchymatous organs, from which M. pseudoshottsii was isolated and identified. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the results of gene sequencing and allowed subdivision of the isolates into three distinct groups. M. pseudoshottsii poses a potential threat for Mediterranean aquaculture. Its origin in the area under study needs to be clarified, as well as the threat to the farmed fish species.

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