Impact of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) co-infection on survival of penaeid shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

White spot syndrome virus(WSSV) is an important viral pathogen that infects farmed penaeid shrimp, and the threat of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection to shrimp farming has become increasingly severe. Viral and bacterial cross or superimposed infections may induce higher shrimp mortality. We used a feeding method to infect L itopenaeus vannamei with WSSV and then injected a low dose of V. parahaemolyticus(WSSV+Vp), or we fi rst infected L. vannamei with a low-dose injection of V. parahaemolyticus and then fed the shrimp WSSV to achieve viral infection(Vp+WSSV). The effect of V. parahaemolyticus and WSSV co-infection on survival of L. vannamei was evaluated by comparing cumulative mortality rates between experimental and control groups. We also spread L. vannamei hemolymph on thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose agar plates to determine the number of V ibrio, and the WSSV copy number in L. vannamei gills was determined using an absolute quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method. L v My D88 and Lvakt gene expression levels were detected in gills of L. vannamei by real-time PCR to determine the cause of the different mortality rates. Our results show that(1) the cumulative mortality rate of L. vannamei in the WSSV+Vp group reached 100% on day 10 after WSSV infection, whereas the cumulative mortality rate of L. vannamei in the Vp+WSSV group and the WSSV-alone control group approached 100% on days 11 and 13 of infection;(2) the number of Vibrio in the L. vannamei group infected with V. parahaemolyticus alone declined gradually, whereas the other groups showed signifi cant increases in the numbers of Vibrio( P 0.05);(3) the WSSV copy numbers in the gills of the WSSV+Vp, Vp+WSSV, and the WSSV-alone groups increased from 10 5 to 10 7 /mg tissue 72, 96, and 144 h after infection, respectively. These results suggest that V. parahaemolyticus infection accelerated proliferation of WSSV in L. vannamei and vice versa. The combined accelerated proliferation of both V. parahaemolyticus and WSSV led to massive death of L. vannamei.     

Responses of prophenoloxidase system and related defence parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis> to low salinity

In this study, we investigated the effects of low salinity(26 and 21)on the prophenoloxidase(proPO)system and related defence parameters in the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. The results showed that low salinity induced a significant increase of dopamine(DA)concentration in haemolymph at 6h of the experiment; on the other hand, total haemocyte count(THC), differential haemocyte count(DHC)and PO activity decreased over time to the lowest level at 24 h and remained low thereafter. Serine Protease(SP)and Proteinase Inhibitor(PI)activity in the two lower salinity treatments decreased to the lowest level at 12 and 24h, respectively, and both recovered to the control level at 72 h. In contrast, α2-macroglobulin(α2M)activity in the two lower salinity treatments peaked at 24h and then decreased to the control level at 72h. Therefore, it may be concluded that stress-induced DA plays an important temporary role in neurotransmission and causes immune response in L. Vannamei in adapting to salinity changes.     

凡纳滨对虾和斑节对虾对WSSV敏感性的比较

用6.0×104拷贝、1.2×104拷贝和6.0×103拷贝3种剂量白斑综合症病毒(WSSV)对凡纳滨对虾和斑节对虾进行人工注射感染,比较了两种对虾对WSSV敏感性的差异。结果表明,凡纳滨对虾死亡时间随病毒剂量降低而延长,斑节对虾死亡时间没有明显差异;随病毒剂量的降低,凡纳滨对虾人工注射感染后病毒复制高峰时间显著延长,斑节对虾感染后病毒复制高峰时间相同,WSSV在凡纳滨对虾体内比在斑节对虾体内复制慢。对虾携带WSSV数量最低为3.3×107拷贝.g-1,最高为4.3×108拷贝.g-1。凡纳滨对虾比斑节对虾对WSSV的抵抗性更强。     

Glutamate dehydrogenase and Na+-K+ ATPase expression and growth response of Litopenaeus vannamei to different salinities and dietary protein levels

Improvement in the osmoregulation capacity via nutritional supplies is vitally important in shrimp aquaculture.The effects of dietary protein levels on the osmoregulation capacity of the Pacific white shrimp(L.vannamei) were investigated.This involved an examination of growth performance,glutamate dehydrogenase(GDH) and Na+-K+ ATPase mRNA expression,,and GDH activity in muscles and gills.Three experimental diets were formulated,containing 25%,40%,and 50% dietary protein,and fed to the shrimp at a salinity of 25.After 20 days,no significant difference was observed in weight gain,though GDH and Na+-K+ ATPase gene expression and GDH activity increased with higher dietary protein levels.Subsequently,shrimp fed diets with 25% and 50% dietary protein were transferred into tanks with salinities of 38 and 5,respectively,and sampled at weeks 1 and 2.Shrimp fed with 40% protein at 25 in salinity(optimal conditions) were used as a control.Regardless of the salinities,shrimp fed with 50% dietary protein had significantly higher growth performance than other diets;no significant differences were found in comparison with the control.Shrimp fed with 25% dietary protein and maintained at salinities of 38 and 5 had significantly lower weight gain values after 2 weeks.Ambient salinity change also stimulated the hepatosomatic index,which increased in the first week and then recovered to a relatively normal level,as in the control,after 2 weeks.These findings indicate that in white shrimp,the specific protein nutrient and energy demands related to ambient salinity change are associated with protein metabolism.Increased dietary protein level could improve the osmoregulation capacity of L.vannamei with more energy resources allocated to GDH activity and expression.     

Impact of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio parahaemolyticus</Emphasis> and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) co-infection on survival of penaeid shrimp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis>

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is an important viral pathogen that infects farmed penaeid shrimp, and the threat of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection to shrimp farming has become increasingly severe. Viral and bacterial cross or superimposed infections may induce higher shrimp mortality. We used a feeding method to infect Litopenaeus vannamei with WSSV and then injected a low dose of V. parahaemolyticus (WSSV+Vp), or we first infected L. vannamei with a low-dose injection of V. parahaemolyticus and then fed the shrimp WSSV to achieve viral infection (Vp+WSSV). The eff ect of V. parahaemolyticus and WSSV co-infection on survival of L. vannamei was evaluated by comparing cumulative mortality rates between experimental and control groups. We also spread L. vannamei hemolymph on thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose agar plates to determine the number of Vibrio, and the WSSV copy number in L. vannamei gills was determined using an absolute quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. LvMyD88 and Lvakt gene expression levels were detected in gills of L. vannamei by real-time PCR to determine the cause of the diff erent mortality rates. Our results show that (1) the cumulative mortality rate of L. vannamei in the WSSV+Vp group reached 100% on day 10 after WSSV infection, whereas the cumulative mortality rate of L. vannamei in the Vp+WSSV group and the WSSV-alone control group approached 100% on days 11 and 13 of infection; (2) the number of Vibrio in the L. vannamei group infected with V. parahaemolyticus alone declined gradually, whereas the other groups showed significant increases in the numbers of Vibrio (P<0.05); (3) the WSSV copy numbers in the gills of the WSSV+Vp, Vp+WSSV, and the WSSV-alone groups increased from 10⁵ to 10⁷ /mg tissue 72, 96, and 144 h after infection, respectively. These results suggest that V. parahaemolyticus infection accelerated proliferation of WSSV in L. vannamei and vice versa. The combined accelerated proliferation of both V. parahaemolyticus and WSSV led to massive death of L. vannamei.     

Effects of different enzymatic hydrolysis methods on the bioactivity of peptidoglycan in Litopenaeus vannamei

The effects of different hydrolysis methods on peptidoglycan(PG) were assessed in terms of their impact on the innate immunity and disease resistance of Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei.PG derived from Bifidobacterium thermophilum was prepared in the laboratory and processed with lysozyme and protease under varying conditions to produce several different PG preparations.A standard shrimp feed was mixed with 0.05% PG preparations to produce a number of experimental diets for shrimp.The composition,concentration,and molecular weight ranges of the soluble PG were analyzed.Serum phenoloxidase and acid phosphatase activity in the shrimp were determined on Days 6-31 of the experiment.The protective activity of the PG preparations was evaluated by exposing shrimp to white spot syndrome virus(WSSV).Data on the composition of the PG preparations indicated that preparations hydrolyzed with lysozyme for 72 h had more low-molecular-weight PG than those treated for 24 h,and hydrolysis by protease enhanced efficiency of hydrolysis compared to lysozyme.SDS-PAGE showed changes in the molecular weight of the soluble PG produced by the different hydrolysis methods.Measurements of serum phenoloxidase and acid phosphatase activity levels in the shrimp indicated that the PG preparations processed with enzymes were superior to the preparation which had not undergone hydrolysis in enhancing the activity of the two serum enzymes.In addition,the preparation containing more low-molecular-weight PG enhanced the resistance of the shrimp to WSSV,whereas no increased resistance was observed for preparations containing less low-molecular-weight PG.These findings suggest that the immunity-enhancing activity of PG is related to its molecular weight and that increasing the quantity of low-molecular-weight PG can fortify the effect of immunity enhancement.     

Single or combined effects of dietary arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide and inulin on growth performance,gut microbiota,and immune response in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

The single and synergistic effects of dietary arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide(AXOS) and inulin at different doses(2,4,and 8 mg/g diet) on survival,growth performance,gut microbiota,and immune response in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei were assessed.Singular application of either inulin or AXOS at doses of 4 mg/g diet showed the most stimulatory effects on the growth rate and gene expression levels of chitinase,cathepsin L,chymotrypsin,and extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) in each single prebiotic feeding trial.Compared with single prebiotic treatments,simultaneous application of AXOS and inulin at 4 mg/g diet enhanced remarkably the growth parameters of shrimp and the expression of related genes(chitinase,cathepsin L,chymotrypsin ERK,myeloid differentiation factor88,and phenoloxidase) after 8-week feeding(P0.05).Additionally,gut microbiota analysis indicated the dietary supplementation with combined prebiotics increased significantly the bacterial community richness and relative abundance of Bacillus,Pseudomonas,Bacteriovorax,and Lactobacillus,and reduced the abundance of Vibrio,Rhodococcus,and Photobacterium in the digestive tract of L.vannamei.Compared with the single prebiotic treatment and the control,combined prebiotics supplementation boosted notably the survival rate and expression levels of immune-related genes in shrimp infected with Vibrio alginolyticus or white spot syndrome virus.Therefore,simultaneous application of AXOS and inulin shall have a great potential of dietary supplement in the culture of L.vannamei.     

Influence of white spot syndrome virus infection on hepatopancreas gene expression of ‘Huanghai No. 2’ shrimp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fenneropenaeus chinensis</Emphasis>)

To elucidate the molecular response of shrimp hepatopancreas to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection, microarray was applied to investigate the differentially expressed genes in the hepatopancreas of ‘Huanghai No. 2’ (Fenneropenaeus chinensis). A total of 59137 unigenes were designed onto a custom-made 60K Agilent chip. After infection, the gene expression profiles in the hepatopancreas of the shrimp with a lower viral load at early (48–96 h), peak (168–192 h) and late (264–288 h) infection phases were analyzed. Of 18704 differentially expressed genes, 6412 were annotated. In total, 5453 differentially expressed genes (1916 annotated) expressed at all three phases, and most of the annotated were either up- or down-regulated continuously. These genes function diversely in, for example, immune response, cytoskeletal system, signal transduction, stress resistance, protein synthesis and processing, metabolism among others. Some of the immune-related genes, including antilipopolysaccharide factor, Kazal-type proteinase inhibitor, C-type lectin and serine protease encoding genes, were up-regulated after WSSV infection. These genes have been reported to be involved in the anti-WSSV responses. The expression of genes related to the cytoskeletal system, including β-actin and myosin but without tubulin genes, were down-regulated after WSSV infection. Astakine was found for the first time in the WSSV-infected F. chinensis. To further confirm the expression of differentially expressed genes, quantitative real-time PCR was performed to test the expression of eight randomly selected genes and verified the reliability and accuracy of the microarray expression analysis. The data will provide valuable information to understanding the immune mechanism of shrimp’s response to WSSV.     

光合细菌对养殖水质及凡纳滨对虾抗病力的影响

在凡纳滨对虾养殖环境中人工引入不同浓度的光合细菌,监测氨氮、亚硝酸氮、化学需氧量的变化,15d后测定凡纳滨对虾的AKP、POD、PO、SOD、抗菌、溶菌活力,以及不同光合细菌浓度下凡纳滨对虾的成活率与体重增长率,研究光合细菌对水质和凡纳滨对虾抗病力的影响。结果表明,引入光合细菌可显著降低水体化学需氧量、氨氮含量,并抑制亚硝酸盐氮的产生,提高凡纳滨对虾的抗病力。当光合细菌投放浓度为3×103/mL时,水体中化学需氧量、氨态氮、亚硝酸盐氮含量的均值分别比对照组降低31.59%、43.42%、52.20%,差异显著(P<0.05);对虾的AKP、POD、PO、SOD、抗菌、溶菌活力分别比照组提高31.92%、72.29%、55.56%、31.61%、39.07%、69.51%,差异显著(P<0.05);成活率,体重增长率分别比对照组提高18.67%、34.03%,差异显著(P<0.05)。     

Effects of salinity and nutrients on the growth and chlorophyll fluorescence of Caulerpa lentillifera

Caulerpa lentillifera is a green algae that distributes worldwide and is cultivated for food. We assessed vegetative propagation of C. lentillifera by measuring the specific growth rate(SGR) and chlorophyll fluorescence of the green algae cultured at different salinities and nutrient levels. The results indicated that C. lentillifera can survive in salinities ranging from 20 to 50,and can develop at salinities of 30 to 40. The maximum SGR for C. lentillifera occurred at a salinity of 35. Both chlorophyll content and the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence( Fv / Fm) were also at a maximum at a salinity of 35. Photosynthesis was inhibited in salinities greater than 45 and less than 25. Both the maximum SGR and maximum chlorophyll content were found in algae treated with a concentration of 0.5 mmol/L of NO3-N and 0.1 mmol/L of PO 4-P. The photosynthetic capacity of photosystem II(PSII) was inhibited in cultures of C. lentillifera at high nutrient levels. This occurred when NO3-N concentrations were greater than 1.0 mmol/L and when PO4- P concentrations were at 0.4 mmol/L. As there is strong need for large-scale cultivation of C. lentillifera,these data contribute important information to ensure optimal results.     

湛江港区底泥悬浮物对凡纳滨对虾仔虾成活的影响

模拟吹填、疏浚等海上施工过程所产生的底泥悬浮物浓度的变化规律,探讨不同底泥悬浮物浓度下对凡纳滨对虾仔虾成活影响。结果表明:海水中底泥悬浮物浓度超过10mg/L,持续时间超过12h时,将对凡纳滨对虾成活率产生影响,随着悬浮物实验浓度的递加,仔虾的死亡率从13.33%增至96.67%;超过80mg/L,且持续时间超过48h,将对凡纳滨对虾产生严重影响,甚至导致全部仔虾的死亡;悬浮物对凡纳滨对虾的12h、24h、36h和48h半致死量(LC50)分别为54.56、40.29、25.8和19.18mg/L。     

斑节对虾虾苗白斑综合症杆状病毒的检测和养殖跟踪

利用 2步 PCR检测技术对湛江和阳西地区的虾苗进行白斑综合病杆状病毒 ( WSSV)检测。在仔虾 2日龄最早检测到病毒 ,有 2 5%的虾苗带有 WSSV病毒。带病毒虾苗和不带病毒虾苗分别在不同养殖模式的养殖过程中跟踪。前者在湛江湖光镇普通虾塘跟踪养殖 ,它们在变化的环境中容易发病 ,p H、盐度和温度是重要的诱发因子 ,在养殖 50～ 60 d时发病死亡 ;后者在高位池和普通池养殖跟踪 ,它们对变化的环境有较大的适应性 ,养殖时间为 80～ 1 1 0 d,在相对优良的养殖技术条件下大部分可望养殖成功。环境中有 WSSV病原传入 ,不带病毒虾苗在养殖后期可以带有 WSSV病毒 ,出现白斑虾。跟踪的普通池有爆发病害 ,但是时间延后 ,跟踪的高位池没有爆发病害。     

Heat-shock protein 70 expression in shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis during thermal and immune-challenged stress

Using western immunoblotting we obtained heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) induction data and distribution in different tissues from shrimpFenneropenaeus chinensis during thermal and immune-challenged stresses. This is probably the first report of the effects of various stressors on the expression of HSP70 in shrimp. HSP70 was prominently induced in hepatopancreas and gills, but not in muscle, eyestalk and hemolymph, when the shrimp were exposed to heat shock andVibrio anguillavium-challenged stresses. Cold shock and WSSV treatment had no significant effects on the levels of HSP70 expression in all tissues examined. HSP70 induction was greatest after 2 h exposure to heat shock stress, which was elevated after acute heat shock exposure of 10°C above ambient temperature. Supported by the National Key Fundamental Research Program “Study of the Major Diseases and Resistance Mechanism of Mariculture Organisms”, NSFC, No. 30140017, and the international cooperative program “Immunaqua” by the European Commission, No. ICA4-CT-2001-10023.     

Optimal salinity for dominant copepods in the East China Sea, determined using a yield density model

From 1997 to 2000, four field surveys were conducted in the East China Sea (ECS) (23°30′–33°00′N, 118°30′–128°00′E). A field data yield density model was used to determine the optimal salinities for 19 dominant copepod species to establish the relationship between surface salinities and abundance of those species. In addition, ecological groups of the copepods were classified based on optimal salinity and geographical distribution. The results indicate that the yield density model is suitable for determining the relationship between salinity and abundance. Cosmocalanus darwini, Euchaeta rimana, Pleuromamma gracilis, Rhincalanus cornutus, Scolecithrix danae and Pareucalanus attenuatus were determined as oceanic species, with optimal salinities of >34.0. They were stenohaline and mainly distributed in waters influenced by the Kuroshio or Taiwan warm current. Temora discaudata, T. stylifera and Canthocalanus pauper were nearshore species with optimal salinities of <33.0 and most abundant in coastal waters. The remaining 10 species, including Undinula vulgaris and Subeucalanus subcrassus, were offshore species, with optimal salinity ranging from 33.0–34.0. They were widely distributed in nearshore, offshore and oceanic waters but mainly in the mixed water of the ECS.