Vibrio Species Isolated from Farmed Fish in Basra City in Iraq

The world fish production has grown recently- as a consequence of the decline production in capture fishery- with food fish supply increasing at an average annual rate of 3.2 percent, above the growth of the world population to 1.6 percent. World per capita apparent fish consumption increased from an average of 9.9 kg in the 1960s to 19.2 kg in 2012. According to the latest available statistics collected globally by FAO, world aquaculture production attained another all-time high of 90.4 million tons in 2012, including 66.6 million tons of food fish and 23.8 million tons of aquatic algae.

But this worldwide growth of aquaculture is overwhelmed by catastrophic fish diseases and spoilage caused by pathogenic bacteria, which are introduced to the fish farm through natural or artificial food sources, treated inlet water or through vertical transmission from brood stock. The most diseases are caused by Vibrio spp., which are considered the well-known cause of a significant problem for the development of a sector with strong economic losses worldwide because of its high morbidity and mortality rates (mortality ≥ 50%).

The Acute Toxicity of Copper to Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings and its Effects on Gill and Liver Histology

Copper is an essential trace metal which plays an important role in several fish metabolic functions. It represents a crucial role in several enzymatic processes (e.g. enzymes involved in cellular respiration, free radical defense, neurotransmitter function, connective tissue biosynthesis and other functions), as well as, into some structural proteins.

In latest years, environmental pollution from heavy metals has been intensively examined in freshwater ecosystems due to the bioaccumulation and toxicity of these metals. Regardless of its important role in cellular metabolism, copper (Cu) is of particular interest because it is extremely toxic for aquatic animals if elevated concentrations are introduced into the water. High copper levels can cause fast generation of reactive oxygen species. It also binds histidine, cystein- and methionine-containing proteins, resulting in dysfunction.

Formulated Feed for Strombus pugilis (Mollusca, Gastropoda) Allowed Effective Gonad Maturity

Fighting conch Strombus pugilis is one of six conch species distributed throughout the Caribbean Sea on sandy bottoms in inshore waters. Along with the conches S. gigas and S. costatus, S. pugilis is a marine resource of ecological and economical importance. Until recently, S. gigas meat was a popular staple food among human populations in the Caribbean region but is now used mostly as an ingredient in tourist restaurants. S. pugilis is stillwidely consumed by people in the Caribbean, and its shell is used in jewelrymaking. This conch species is also now sought after for use in aquariology, with prices ranging from $6 to $30 USD per animal in markets as varied as Southeast Florida, Brazil and the West Indies. Finally, conch species are grazers, and provide the important environmental service of keeping sea grass and algae in balance.

Extraction of wild conch has compromised some populations to the point that protective measures have been implemented. For example, queenconch S. gigas is considered to be commercially threatened in some Caribbeancountries and is consequently protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); indeed, in many countries a total ban is in place protecting organisms and egg masses.

Pathological Investigations on Galilee Tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus) Following Chronic Exposure to Cadmium Chloride

Freshwater acquires contaminated with a large number of pollutants and it has become a matter of major concern allover the world. Among pollutants and metals are of particular interest because of their varied effects and the range of concentrations which may cause toxic effects to fish. Many studies are available that demonstrate heavy metal toxicity in fish. Cadmium has no biological function in living organisms. It widely used in fertilizer, automotive, dye, plastics and synthetic fiber industries and battery production. 

Even small amounts of this metal entered into aquatic systems, results in accumulation in various tissues, changes in metabolic, physiologic and biochemical parameters and death in sensitive species. Cadmiumexposure may lead to the results of some pathophysiological damages in varioustissues including liver, brain and kidney.One of the common and commercially important cultured tilapia species is Sarotherodon galilaeus (S. galilaeus) but Limited information is available about the morphopathological alterations of chronic cadmium toxicity in this fish.