Journal of Fish Diseases

Ô nhiễm nước gây ra các thay đổi bệnh lý ở cá. Mô bệnh học, với vai trò là một chỉ báo việc tiếp xúc với các chất gây ô nhiễm, thể hiện một công cụ hữu ích để đánh giá mức độ ô nhiễm, đặc biệt là đối với các ảnh hưởng dưới mức chết và mãn tính. Tuy nhiên, một phương pháp tiêu chuẩn hóa cho việc mô tả và đánh giá các thay đổi mô học, chủ yếu sử dụng trong cá nước ngọt, vẫn còn thiếu. Trong bài báo này, các tác giả hiện tại đề xuất một công cụ tiêu chuẩn để đánh giá các phát hiện mô học có thể áp dụng cho các cơ quan khác nhau. Phương pháp dựa trên hai yếu tố: (1) sự mở rộng của một thay đổi bệnh lý được đánh giá bằng 'giá trị điểm'; và (2) tầm quan trọng bệnh lý của sự thay đổi này được xác định là một 'hệ số quan trọng'. Tổng của các giá trị điểm và các hệ số quan trọng nhân với nhau của tất cả các thay đổi được chẩn đoán dẫn đến các chỉ số khác nhau. Với những chỉ số này, phân tích thống kê có thể được thực hiện. Các phương pháp đánh giá dành cho mang, gan, thận và da được mô tả.

In the last decade betanodavirus infections have emerged as major constraints on the culture of marine fish in all parts of the world with the exception of the African continent. The occurrence of these infections appears to be a function of the number of species cultured and the intensity of culture. This has been further complicated by the promiscuous translocation of stock within and between countries. Great strides have been made in defining these agents and producing diagnostic techniques but much more remains to be done. Lack of knowledge of the epidemiology of the diseases caused by nodaviruses, except for vertical transmission of the pathogen in some species, has impeded the development of control measures but, even so, the measures identified to date have not been adequately implemented by producers with the result that catastrophic losses still occur on a regular basis.

An efficient clearance and degradation system may be needed during microbial invasion which otherwise would lead to severe inflammation and eventually death. Non‐specific defence mechanisms in fish play an important role at all stages in infection. The non‐specific humoral defence including proteases, lysins and agglutinins, for example, in mucosal secretion is the first line of defence, whereas mucosal lining cells function as the second barrier against invasion. Blood cells, especially granulocytes and monocytes, may destroy microbes present in the circulation and may function as the third line of defence. Finally, endocytically active cells such as endothelial cells, macrophages and granulocytes in organs and tissues may take up and degrade microbes or microbial products. The endocytic and degradation processes strongly depend on the effectiveness of the reticuloendothelial system which consists of endothelial cells and macrophages that line small blood vessels (e.g. sinusoids and ellipsoids). Potentiation of non‐specific defence mechanisms may occur during microbial invasion, leading to more efficient clearance and destruction of pathogens or other harmful substances. In microbial invasion, an inflammatory response such as elevated production of antimicrobial substances is often encountered. Central cells in the production of antimicrobial substances are macrophages and granulocytes, and microbial products in inflammation may alter the cells function to a more activated state in vivo. Activated cells may enhance their antimicrobial capacity and efficiency by producing higher amounts and more active antimicrobial agents. This review concerns the non‐specific defence system and gives an introduction to some of the known non‐specific humoral substances and their induction/suppression, and provides a more extensive introduction to cytokine research and immunomodulation. Cellular aspects of non‐specific defence, including macrophages and their products, are discussed in the light of their function in the reticuloendothelial system in fish.

Vibrio anguillarum, also known as Listonella anguillarum, is the causative agent of vibriosis, a deadly haemorrhagic septicaemic disease affecting various marine and fresh/brackish water fish, bivalves and crustaceans. In both aquaculture and larviculture, this disease is responsible for severe economic losses worldwide. Because of its high morbidity and mortality rates, substantial research has been carried out to elucidate the virulence mechanisms of this pathogen and to develop rapid detection techniques and effective disease‐prevention strategies. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge pertaining to V. anguillarum, focusing on pathogenesis, known virulence factors, diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the causative agent of bacterial cold water disease and rainbow trout fry syndrome, disease entities responsible for substantial economic losses in salmonid aquaculture. Problems associated with epizootics include high mortality rate, increased susceptibility to other diseases, high labour costs of treatment and the enormous expenditure on chemotherapy. Despite the increasing significance of the disease, the pathogenesis of F. psychrophilum infections has only been partially elucidated, hampering the development of preventive measures to efficiently combat this disease condition. This literature review discusses the agent and the disease it causes, with emphasis on the bacterium–host interactions.

Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) has, in recent decades, been isolated from an increasing number of free‐living marine fish species. So far, it has been isolated from at least 48 fish species from the northern hemisphere, including North America, Asia and Europe, and fifteen different species including herring, sprat, cod, Norway pout and flatfish from northern European waters. The high number of VHSV isolations from the Baltic Sea, Kattegat, Skagerrak, the North Sea and waters around Scotland indicate that the virus is endemic in these waters. The VHSV isolates originating from wild marine fish show no to low pathogenicity to rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon, although several are pathogenic for turbot. Marine VHSV isolates are so far serologically indistinguishable from freshwater isolates. Genotyping based on VHSV G‐ and N‐genes reveals four groups indicating the geographical origin of the isolates, with one group representing traditional European freshwater isolates and isolates of north European marine origin, a second group of marine isolates from the Baltic Sea, a third group of isolates from the North Sea, and a group representing North American isolates. Examples of possible transfer of virus from free‐living marine fish to farmed fish are discussed, as are measures to prevent introduction of VHSV from the marine environment to aquaculture.

Garlic, Allium sativum, which was fed at 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g per 100 g of feed for 14 days to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), led to control of experimental infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. At doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g garlic per 100 g of feed, there was a reduction in mortalities to 4% compared with the controls (88%). Moreover, there was a significant increase in growth, feed conversion and protein efficiency. There was stimulation of the number of erythrocytes and leucocytes, a significantly higher haematocrit, enhancement of phagocytic activity, respiratory burst, lysozyme, anti‐protease and bactericidal activities following feeding with garlic.

The first alphavirus to be isolated from fish was recorded in 1995 with the isolation of salmon pancreas disease virus from Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Ireland. Subsequently, the closely related sleeping disease virus was isolated from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in France. More recently Norwegian salmonid alphavirus (SAV) has been isolated from marine phase production of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout in Norway. These three viruses are closely related and are now considered to represent three subtypes of SAV, a new member of the genus Alphavirus within the family Togaviridae. SAVs are recognized as serious pathogens of farmed Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout in Europe. This paper aims to draw together both historical and current knowledge of the diseases caused by SAVs, the viruses, their diagnosis and control, and to discuss the differential diagnosis of similar pathologies seen in cardiomyopathy syndrome and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation of Atlantic salmon.

Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of yersiniosis or enteric redmouth disease leading to significant economic losses in salmonid aquaculture worldwide. Infection may result in a septicaemic condition with haemorrhages on the body surface and in the internal organs. Despite the significance of the disease, very little information is available on the pathogenesis, hampering the development of preventive measures to efficiently combat this bacterial agent. This review discusses the agent and the disease it causes. The possibility of the presence of similar virulence markers and/or pathogenic mechanisms between the Yersinia species which elicit disease in humans and Y. ruckeri is also examined.