Cross-fertilization as a reproductive strategy in a tissue flukes Didymosulcus katsuwonicola (Platyhelmintes: Didymozoidae) inferred by genetic analysis.

Mitochondrial DNA locus cytochrome oxidase I was used to asses intraspecific genetic diversity of a didymozoid species Didymosulcus katsuwonicola. Adult forms of this species live encapsulated in pairs in the gills of the reared Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). The life cycle of this food-borne parasites and its migration in the host tissues after releasing from the digestive tract to the definitive site in the gills are unknown. Our goal was to assess whether two encysted didymozoids share the same haplotype, indicative of a common maternal origin, as well as the extent of cross- in respect to self-fertilization strategy. Intraspecific comparison showed high haplotype diversity, while the presence of two matching haplotypes within a single cyst encompassed only 17% of sampled individuals. This infers that cross-fertilization between paired individuals within the cyst is more common mechanism than self-fertilization. Such hermaphroditic parasite's trait suggests the existence of intricate infection and reproduction mechanisms, presumably as an adaptation for successful fulfillment of their indirect life cycle through dissemination of genetically more diverse and consequently more fit offspring.

Morphological plasticity and phylogeny in a monogenean parasite transferring between wild and reared fish populations.

It is widely accepted that disease interactions between cultured and wild fish occur repeatedly, although reported cases have mainly relied just on the observation of similar symptoms in affected populations. Whether there is an explicit pathogen transfer between fish stocks, or each develops its own pathogen population, has been insufficiently studied and rarely supported by molecular tools. In this study, we used population dynamics and genetic structure of the monogenean Furnestinia echeneis in reared and neighbouring wild sea bream to indicate pathogen transfer, characterized by the phenotypic plasticity of the parasite attachment apparatus and the lack of phylogenetic differentiation. The observed pattern of genetic variation inferred by nuclear DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) and mtDNA cytochrome C oxidase 1 (COI), between parasite populations is most likely caused by a recent shared demographic history like a reduced species area in the last glacial period. In spite of such recent expansion that populations underwent, F. echeneis shows differentiation in haptor morphometry as an adaptive trait in closely related populations at the aquaculture site. This suggests that differentiation in morphology may occur relatively rapidly in this species and that adaptive forces, not the speciation process, drives this monogenean parasitation. On the other hand, the observed phylogenetic inertia suggests a low to moderate gene flow (based on F ST ) between parasites in cultured and wild fish, evidencing for the first time the transfer of pathogens at the aquaculture site inferred by a molecular tool.

The effect of artificial feed on blood biochemistry profile and liver histology of wild saddled bream, Oblada melanura (Sparidae).

Floating fish farms attract a great number of wild fish species, changing their behaviour and physiology. The saddled bream, Oblada melanura, sampled from populations aggregated around the Adriatic fish farm and from natural/control populations, were analysed for differences in eleven blood biochemistry parameters and liver histomorphology. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and urea (URE) in cage-associated saddled bream (428.00±SD 321.56 U/L, 86.13±SD 39.87 U/L and 0.05±SD 0.16 mmol/L, respectively) were significantly lower than those observed in the control specimens (1047.06±SD 505.56 U/L, 125.75±SD 34.70 U/L and 1.99±SD 0.73 mmol/L, respectively). In contrast to that, concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in cage-associated fish (87.63±SD 132.34 U/L) were higher than values noted for the control population (6.55±SD 5.90 U/L). URE and AST presented the main variables contributing to the discrimination between two analysed populations. One-way ANOSIM based on the blood parameters showed significant difference between saddled bream that fed around cages and those from the remote waters (R=0.697; P < 0.01). Hepatocytes of cage-associated fish contained large cytoplasmatic clear spaces indicating excessive accumulation of fat in the hepatocyte cytoplasm. All observed differences can be attributed to contrasting feeding behaviour of sampled populations but basic nutritional differences between them should be quantified in the future. Moreover, further research is necessary to detect their impact on the health status of the fish.