Condition Factor and Length-Weight Relationship of Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Anzali Lagoon.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Studies on fish biology are essential for the sustainable management and conservation of fish biodiversity. This study observed the length-weight relationships and condition factors of common rudd fish, which give us some information about the ecological and nutritional conditions of fish. This information is crucial to fishery management. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The length-weight relationship (LWR) and condition factors (K) of 270 <i>Scardinius erythrophthalmus</i> caught in Anzali Lagoon from April to August, 2015. <b>Results:</b> The total length and body weight of <i>S. erythrophthalmus</i> ranged from 94-179 mm and 11.98-98.5 g, respectively. A strong positive relationship was observed between length and weight (r = 0.96). There were no significant differences in the condition factors of males and females (p>0.05). The lowest K value was observed in April (K = 1.5±0.04) and the highest in July (K = 2.25±0.34). The sex ratio of 1.0 male: 1.15 female was observed, with no significant difference between males and females (p>0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> In this study, the regression coefficient (b) in males and females was 3.35 and 3.29, respectively, more than 3.0, which means they have positive allometry growth in both sexes.

Use of biomarkers in monitoring pollution status of urban rivers, Limpopo, South Africa.

This study investigated the use of enzymes and histology as potential biomarkers in Sand and Blood Rivers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Physico-chemical parameters were analyzed at sites S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 of the Sand River and sites B1 and B2 of the Blood River. Sites S1 and B1 were selected as the reference sites and located upstream of the Polokwane and Seshego wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluent discharge points, respectively. Water quality parameters assessed were water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, ammonia, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH. Sites downstream the WWTPs recorded elevated levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and ammonia. DO, ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus were above the targeted water quality range (TWQR) for aquatic ecosystems. The Canadian council of ministers of the environment water quality index (CCME WQI) showed that the reference sites had good water condition while sites downstream (S2, B2, S3, and S4) had poor water condition. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activity in the brain of Clarias gariepinus from sites downstream was lower than those from sites upstream of the effluent discharge points. The liver of Clarias gariepinus from sites downstream showed higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activity compared to fish caught at the reference sites. Furthermore, Clarias gariepinus from sites downstream showed a number of histological alterations in gills and liver than fish from upstream. Histological alterations observed in gills included fusion of the secondary lamellae, hyperplasia of the interlamellar, epithelial lifting of secondary lamellae, and hyperplasia of the secondary lamellae. In the liver, histological alterations observed included melanomacrophage centers (MMCs), macrovesicular steatosis, sinusoid congested with kupffer cells, nuclei pleomorphism, and vacuolation. The gill and liver indices were significantly lower at the reference sites compared to sites downstream. Evidently, AChE, LDH, and gill and liver histology can be used as early warning signs of aquatic degradation in rivers that are recipients of poorly treated sewage effluent.

Enzyme activity and histological analysis of Clarias gariepinus fed on Imbrasia belina meal used for partial replacement of fishmeal.

An experiment was carried out to assess the effect of replacing fishmeal with mopane worm meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus. Juvenile C. gariepinus weighing 67.04 ± 3 g were stocked in 15 rectangular concrete tanks connected to a recirculating system. Five diets denoted D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5 were formulated to replace fishmeal with mopane worm meal at 0, 10, 20, 40 and 60%. Triplicate groups of C. gariepinus were randomly assigned to each diet at a stocking density of 100 fish per tank. The fish were fed to apparent satiation twice daily for 51 days. All growth performance indices declined with higher mopane worm inclusion levels. Specific growth rate (SGR) declined from 1.85%/day in the control diet to 1.43%/day in diet 5. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) also declined from 25.27% in the control diet to 19.30% in diet 5. Apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) followed a similar pattern declining from 92.2% in the control diet to 87.1% in diet 5. Both amylase and protease activity in the stomach increased with higher mopane worm inclusion levels. Despite the increased enzyme activity in the stomach, SGR declined. The decline in SGR was attributed to high acid detergent fibre (ADF 58.4 g/kg) and chitin in the mopane worm diets. Lipase and chitinase did not show any discernible pattern with high mopane worm inclusion levels in the stomach. In the intestines, protease, lipase and chitinase did not show any discernible pattern with high mopane worm inclusion levels. Consequently, the relationship between SGR and all these enzymes was weak. However, amylase activity declined with higher mopane worm inclusion levels in the intestines, and this resulted in decreased SGR (r2 = 0.6722). The negative effects of mopane worm meal were further confirmed by the increase in liver degradation scores at high mopane worm inclusion levels. The liver degradation score increased from 1.12 in the control to 2.46 in diet 5.

Trace Metal Contamination and Risk Assessment of an Urban River in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Ecological and human health risk assessments were undertaken in an urban river, Sand River. Suitability of river water for irrigation was also determined. Samples were taken on a monthly basis from four sites. Site 1 was upstream of a sewage treatment plant, sites 2, 3 and 4 were downstream. The mean concentrations of trace metals in Sand River water after sewage effluent discharge followed the order Fe > Mn > Pb > Cu > Zn ≥ Cd. Trace metal concentrations in the sediment, grass and fish after discharge followed the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. The geo-accumulation index showed that the sediment was not contaminated with trace metals. The health risk assessment index showed that consumption of fish from the Sand River was risky because of the high lead levels. Sodium adsorption ratio and soluble sodium percentage were 2.54% and 49.7% respectively. Both these values indicate that Sand River water is suitable for irrigation after effluent discharge.

Alterations of haemato-biochemical parameters pre and post-challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila and survival of Oreochromis mossambicus fed Moringa oleifera-based diets.

This study investigated the extent of changes in haemato-biochemical and immunological parameters of O. mossambicus fed with M. oleifera-based diets pre and post-challenge with different concentrations of A. hydrophila. Moringa oleifera powdered leaves were added to five experimental diets at 0%, 3%, 6%, 9% and 12%, designated D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5, respectively. Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of 45 fish (33.46 ±â€¯1.57 g) for 45 days. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in WG, FCR and SGR between treatments. There was an increase in WBC, RBC, HGB and HCT with increasing M. oleifera levels. No significant changes (P > 0.05) were observed in AST, ALT, ALP and LDH levels between treatments. After 45 days, fish from each treatment were injected with varying concentrations (0, 1 × 106 cfu, 1.5 × 106 cfu, 3 × 106 cfu and 4 × 106 cfu ml-1) of Aeromonas hydrophila. There was a significant decline in RBC, HGB and HCT of fish in the D1-D3 compared to the D4 and D5 groups. There was an increase in AST, ALT, ALP and LDH in the D1-D3 groups while no significant changes (P > 0.05) were observed in the D4 and D5 groups between bacterial concentrations. Survival rate was lower in the D1-D3 compared to the D4 and D5 groups, indicating that immunity was enhanced in fish fed with the highest M. oleifera inclusion levels. NBT and lysozyme activities were also lower in the D1-D3 groups compared to the D4 and D5 groups. The enhancement of immunity is attributed to the presence of biologically active compounds with immunostimulatory properties. The phytochemistry of the M. oleifera revealed high levels of total polyphenol, total phenols, total flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins C and E.