Effect of microbial immunostimulants on WSSV infection percentage and the expression of immune-related genes in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) / Efecto de los inmunoestimulantes microbianos en el porcentaje de infección con WSSV y la expresión de genes relacionados con el sistema inmune del camarón blanco (Litopenaeus vannamei) / Efeito de imunoestimulantes microbianos sobre a porcentagem de infecção por WSSV e a expressão de genes relacionados ao sistema imune em camarões brancos (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Abstract Background: The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) causes high mortalities in aquaculture. The use of immunostimulants increases animal resistance. Objective: To evaluate the WSSV infection percentage and the immunostimulant effect of lactic acid bacteria and yeast (MI= microbial immunostimulants) on WSSV infected Litopenaeus vannamei. Methods: A bioassay was performed for 33 d, with treatments in triplicate. The MI was added to the feed at 8.5 mg/kg feed and offered to shrimp (9.9 ± 3.1 g) daily, every 2 days, or every 3 days. Shrimp were infected with WSSV at 9 and 19 days. The expression of four immune system-related genes was studied using qRT-PCR. Results: No significant differences were observed in growth and survival among treatments. At the end of the bioassay, WSSV infection percentage (low viral load) decreased 8.3 and 25% in treatments III and IV as compared to the control group. Treatments with MI showed significant differences in the relative expression of LvToll, transglutaminase, and prophenoloxidase genes when MI was offered daily as compared to the control group. The MI did not regulate the expression of the superoxide dismutase gene. The WSSV infection percentage decreased when feed with MI was offered every 3 d. Conclusion: The MI decrease WSSV infection percentage in L. vannamei infected with low viral load when it is offered every three days. The MI up-regulates LvToll, Tgase, and proPO genes when it is offered daily. Further research is needed regarding prophylactic treatment with microbial immunostimulants against WSSV in commercial shrimp farms.

Resumen Antecedentes: El virus del síndrome de la mancha blanca (WSSV) ocasiona alta mortalidad en acuacultura. El empleo de inmunoestimulantes incrementa la resistencia de los animales. Objetivo: Evaluar el porcentaje de infección de WSSV y el efecto inmunoestimulante de bacterias ácido lácticas y levadura (MI= inmunoestimulantes microbianos) en Litopenaeus vannamei infectado con WSSV. Métodos: Se realizó un bioensayo durante 33 días con tratamientos por triplicado. Se agregó MI al alimento (8,5 mg/kg de alimento), suministrandolo al camarón (9,9 ± 3,1 g) diariamente, cada 2, o cada 3 días. Los camarones se infectaron con WSSV a los 9 y 19 días. Se estudió la expresión de cuatro genes relacionados con el sistema inmune utilizando qRT-PCR. Resultados: No hubo diferencias significativas en el crecimiento y la sobrevivencia entre los tratamientos. Al final del bioensayo, el porcentaje de infección de WSSV (baja carga viral) disminuyó un 8,3 y un 25% en los tratamientos III y IV en comparación con el grupo control. Los tratamientos con MI mostraron diferencias significativas en la expresión relativa de los genes LvToll, transglutaminasa, y profenoloxidasa cuando se suministró MI diariamente en comparación con el grupo control. Los MI no regularon la expresión del gen de la superóxido dismutasa. El porcentaje de infección de WSSV disminuyó cuando el alimento con MI se aplicó cada 3 d. Conclusiones: Los MI disminuyen el porcentaje de infección de WSSV en L. vannamei infectado con baja carga viral cuando se aplican cada tres días. Además, los MI causan una sobre-expresión de los genes LvToll, Tgase y proPO cuando se administran diariamente. Se necesita más investigación sobre los inmunoestimulantes microbianos como tratamiento profiláctico contra WSSV en granjas comerciales de camarón.

Resumo Antecedentes: O vírus da mancha branca (WSSV) causa alta mortalidade na aqüicultura e o uso de imunoestimulantes aumenta a resistência em animais. Objetivo: Este trabalho avaliou a prevalência do WSSV e o efeito imunoestimulante de bactérias ácido lácticas e levadura (MI= inmunoestimulantes microbianos) em Litopenaeus vannamei infectado con WSSV. Métodos: Se realizou um bioensayo durante 33 dias com tratamientos por triplicado. Se agregou MI al alimento (8,5 mg/kg feed) e se o fornecimento de camarão (9,9 ± 3,1 g) diariamente, cada 2 e cada 3 d. Los camarones foram infectados com WSSV a los 9 y 19 d. Se estudió a expressão de quatro genes relacionados com o sistema imune, use qRT-PCR. Resultados: No hubo diferencias significativas no crescimento e na supervisão entre os tratamientos. Al final del bioensayo, a prevalência do WSSV diminuiu um 8.3 e não 25% nos tratamentos III e IV em comparação com o grupo de controle. Os tratamentos com MI mostraram diferenças significativas na expressão relativa dos genes. LvToll, transglutaminasa e prophenoloxidase quando se administraron em diários de MI em comparação com o controle de grupo. Los MI não regularam a expressão do genótipo da superóxido dismutasa. A prevalência do WSSV diminuiu quando o alimento com MI se aplicó cada 3 d. Conclusões: Los IM diminuir a prevalência de WSSV em L. vannamei infectado com baixa carga viral quando aplicável a cada três dias. Além disso, os IM causaram uma sobre-expressão dos genes LvToll, Tgase e proPO quando se administran diariamente. Há mais informações sobre imunoestimulantes microbianos como tratamento profiláctico contra WSSV en granjas comerciales de camarón.

Organochlorine Pesticides in Gonad, Brain, and Blood of Mice in Two Agricultural Areas of Sinaloa.

The adverse effect of pesticides on non-target wildlife and human health is a primary concern in the world, but in Mexico, we do not know which wildlife species are at the greatest risk. The aim of this study was to determine organochlorine pesticides in mice of two agricultural fields in Sinaloa, Culiacan and Guasave. Procedures of extraction, analysis, and quantification were followed according to the modified EPA 8081b method. In three mouse tissues (gonad, brain, and blood), γBHC and decachlorobiphenyl with a frequency higher than 50% and endosulfan sulfate with 43% were observed. The wildlife fauna living in agricultural areas are at great risk due to: (1) diversity of the chemicals used for pest control, like mice, and (2) variety of organochlorine pesticides in direct or indirect contact with non-target organisms, affecting the health of animals and humans (toxic effects and accumulation).

Perceptions of fishers to sea turtle bycatch, illegal capture and consumption in the San Ignacio-Navachiste-Macapule lagoon complex, Gulf of California, Mexico.

In this study, 10% of all registered fishermen in the coastal towns of Navachiste in Sinaloa, in northwestern Mexico, answered a survey designed to collect data on their perceptions of the following topics: the impact of turtle meat consumption; human health; bycatch; illegal turtle fishing; the illegal sea turtle market; the local economy; pollution; environmental education; the success of protective legislation; and sea turtle-based ecotourism. Perceptions were analyzed using the fuzzy logic method through classification into 5 fuzzy membership sets: VL, very low; L, low; M, moderate; H, high; VH, very high. The 9 topics generated decision areas upon applying fuzzy inference that revealed the membership level of the answers in each fuzzy set. The economic potential of sea turtle-based ecotourism and the economic profitability of the illegal turtle meat market were perceived as VL. Conservation legislation was perceived as H, although inefficiently applied due to corruption. Ecotourism and impacts on sea turtles were perceived as VL, because they were deemed unprofitable activities at the individual and community levels. Environmental education was perceived as L, because it centers on nesting, hatching and releasing turtles and is directed at elementary and middle-school students. While fishers perceive a serious negative impact of fishing activities on sea turtles in the San Ignacio-Navachiste-Macapule area, they do not see themselves individually as part of the problem. Achieving sea turtle conservation in this region requires: suitable ecotourism infrastructure, government investments in promotion, and studies to estimate the minimum number of tourists needed to assure profitability.

Isolation and characterization of infectious Vibrio sinaloensis strainsfrom the Pacific shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Decapoda: Penaeidae)

Infectious diseases especially those caused by bacterial and viral pathogens are serious loss factors in shrimp farming. In this study, bacteria were isolated from the gut and hepatopancreas of stressed shrimps obtained from a commercial farm. The isolates were screened on Thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar plates for the selection of Vibrio species. Presumptive vibrios were characterized through tests for hemolytic and enzymatic activity, hydrophobicity, growth and molecular identification. Three experimental infections were conducted in order to confirm the pathogenicity of selected bacterial strains VHPC18, VHPC23, VHPC24 and VIC30. In the third experimental challenge the LD50 was obtained, it lasted 10 days with 10 shrimp, weighing 6.9±1.1g, per tank. The treatments in triplicate were: (1) saline solution (control group); (2) 2×10(5)CFU/shrimp; (3) 4×10(5)CFU/shrimp; (4) 2×10(6)CFU/shrimp; (5) 4×10(6)CFU/shrimp, and (6) 8×10(6)CFU/shrimp. In all challenges, water parameters measured during the experimental period remained within optimum ranges. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that the mixture of four vibrio isolates, identified as Vibrio sinaloensis, was virulent for L. vannamei. The LD50 value was 1.178×10(5)CFU/g body weight. V. sinaloensis may act as opportunistic pathogens for cultured L. vannamei. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 567-576. Epub 2012 June 01.

Las enfermedades de etiología infecciosa, especialmente las causadas por patógenos bacterianos y virales ocasionan graves pérdidas en el cultivo de camarón blanco Litopenaeus vannamei. En este estudio se caracterizo: la actividad enzimática y hemolítica; hidrofobicidad; crecimiento e identificación molecular de vibrios aislados del intestino y hepatopancreas de camarones estresados, obtenidos de una granja comercial, en medio Agar Tiosulfato Citrato Bilis Sacarosa. Además, se realizaron tres infecciones experimentales para confirmar la patogenicidad de las cepas bacterianas seleccionadas VHPC18, VHPC23, VHPC24 y VIC30. En la tercera infección experimental se obtuvo la LD50, el reto duro 10 días, con 10 camarones por tanque con un peso de 6.9±1.1g. Los tratamientos se realizaron por triplicado: (1) solución salina (grupo control); (2) 2×10(5)UFC/camarón; (3) 4×10(5)UFC/camarón; (4) 2×10(6)UFC/camarón; (5) 4×10(6)UFC/camarón y (6) 8×10(6)UFC/camarón. En todos los retos, los parámetros del agua permanecieron dentro de los intervalos óptimos. Las pruebas de patogenicidad confirmaron que la mezcla de cuatro aislados de Vibrio, identificados como Vibrio sinaloensis, fue virulenta para L. vannamei. El valor de la LD50 fue de 1.178×10(5)UFC/g de peso corporal. Los resultados permiten establecer que las cepas de V. sinaloensis pueden actuar como patógenos oportunistas en L. vannamei cultivado.

Applying fuzzy logic to assess human perception in relation to conservation plan efficiency measures within a biosphere reserve.

The objective of this study is to present an efficiency-perception impact assessment based upon the integration of fuzzy logic (FL) of the "Productive Reconversion" conservation program (PRP) instituted by the Mexican government, in the upper Gulf of California and the Colorado Delta Biosphere Reserve. This approach enables environmental analysts to deal with the intrinsic imprecision and ambiguity associated with people's judgments and conclusions. The application of FL to the assessment of program efficiency is illustrated in this work, demonstrating how subjective perceptions can be converted into quantitative values easy to evaluate during the decision-making process.

Isolation and characterization of infectious Vibrio sinaloensis strains from the Pacific shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Decapoda: Penaeidae).

Infectious diseases especially those caused by bacterial and viral pathogens are serious loss factors in shrimp farming. In this study, bacteria were isolated from the gut and hepatopancreas of stressed shrimps obtained from a commercial farm. The isolates were screened on Thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar plates for the selection of Vibrio species. Presumptive vibrios were characterized through tests for hemolytic and enzymatic activity, hydrophobicity, growth and molecular identification. Three experimental infections were conducted in order to confirm the pathogenicity of selected bacterial strains VHPC18, VHPC23, VHPC24 and VIC30. In the third experimental challenge the LD50 was obtained, it lasted 10 days with 10 shrimp, weighing 6.9+1. Ig, per tank. The treatments in triplicate were: (1) saline solution (control group); (2) 2xl0(5)CFU/shrimp; (3) 4xl05CFU/shrimp; (4) 2x10(6)CFU/shrimp; (5) 4x10(6)CFU/shrimp, and (6) 8x10(6)CFU/shrimp. In all challenges, water parameters measured during the experimental period remained within optimum ranges. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that the mixture of four vibrio isolates, identified as Vibrio sinaloensis, was virulent for L. vannamei. The LD50 value was 1.178x10(5)CFU/g body weight. V sinaloensis may act as opportunistic pathogens for cultured L. vannamei.