Oxygen permeability of regenerated cellulose films with different water regains.

The effect of water regain on the oxygen permeability coefficient (OP) of regenerated cellulose film was investigated. The OP of the dry film was extremely low, which was classified as a "very high" performance gas barrier; however, the OP increased with increasing water regain, and reached to the OP similar to that of low-density polyethylene film, which was categorized as a "poor" gas barrier. The film thickness increased with increasing water regain, and edge-view small-angle X-ray scattering revealed widening of the space between microcrystals in the thickness direction.

Identification, Growth Profile and Probiotic Properties of Autochthonous Intestinal Bacteria of Sagor catfish (Hexanematichthys sagor).

　The prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in aquaculture has reached alarming proportions and intensified the search for microbe derived antimicrobial compounds. This study isolated bacteria from the intestine of Sagor catfish (Hexanematichthys sagor) and screened it for antagonistic properties. Five out of 334 bacterial isolates inhibited growth of fish pathogens.

First Report of Achlya oblongata Infection in Freshwater-Reared Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer.

In September 2014, a freshwater oomycete was first isolated from Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer fry that were reared in freshwater at a fish hatchery in Sabah, Malaysia. A fungal strain was isolated from infected fry by using glucose yeast extract (GY) agar. From morphological identification, the strain belonged to the genus Achlya based on the mode of zoospore release.

In vitro Inhibitory Effects of Two Bornean Medicinal Wild Gingers against Pathogenic Lagenidium thermophilum Infected Mud Crab Scylla tranquebarica.

　The antifungal activity of two Bornean medicinal wild gingers Plagiostachys megacarpa and Zingiber phillippsiae were examined against Lagenidium thermophilum. The most active extract was P. megacarpa at concentration of 320 µg/mL inhibiting both hyphal growth and zoospore production of L.

Leucoxenols A and B, two new phenolics from Bornean medicinal plant Syzygium leucoxylon.

The medicinal plant, Syzygium leucoxylon or commonly known as Obah found in North Borneo was considered as traditional medicine by local committee. Two new phenolics, leucoxenols A (1) and B (2) were isolated and identified as major secondary metabolites from the leaves of S. leucoxylon.

Complete genome sequence of a giant Vibrio phage ValKK3 infecting Vibrio alginolyticus.

This paper describes the complete sequence of a giant lytic marine myophage, Vibrio phage ValKK3 that is specific to Vibrio alginolyticus ATCC(®) 17749™. Vibrio phage ValKK3 was subjected to whole genome sequencing on MiSeq sequencing platform and annotated using Blast2Go. The complete sequence of ValKK3 genome was deposited in DBBJ/EMBL/GenBank under accession number KP671755.

The in-vitro antibacterial effects of organic salts, chemical disinfectants and antibiotics against pathogens of black disease in fairy shrimp of Thailand.

The antibacterial effects of organic salts, chemical disinfectants and antibiotics were evaluated on cultures of Aeromonas hydrophila C03, Aeromonas sobria C26, A. sobria C29, Aeromonas caviae C24 and Acinetobacter sp. SH-94B, the pathogens that cause black disease found in fairy shrimps (Streptocephalus sirindhornae Sanoamuang et al.

Genotypic characteristics of a Mycobacterium sp. isolated from yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata and striped jack Pseudocaranx dentex in Japan.

In Japan, a Mycobacterium marinum-like mycobacterium was isolated from the yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata. The species was identified as M. marinum by a commercial mycobacterial DNA-DNA hybridization kit.

Diseases of fish and shellfish caused by marine fungi.

Fungal diseases are problematic in cultured fish and shellfish, their seeds, and sometimes wild marine animals. In this chapter fungal diseases found in marine animals, especially in Japan, are described. Pathogens in the fungal diseases are divided into two groups.

Clinical observations of black disease in fairy shrimps, Streptocephalus sirindhornae and Branchinella thailandensis, from Thailand and pathogen verification.

In this study, black disease infecting fairy shrimps, Streptocephalus sirindhornae Sanoamuang, Murugan, Weekers & Dumont, and Branchinella thailandensis Sanoamuang, Saengphan & Murugan, in Thailand, was investigated. The typical signs of the disease are the appearance of black spots on the cuticle, located mainly on the dorsal side and thoracopods. A number of rod-shaped bacteria aggregated in the black spots and were visualized by scanning electron microscopy.

Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii isolated from 24 farmed fishes in western Japan.

Mycobacteria isolated from epizootics of farmed fishes in western Japan were examined for the first time using multigenotypic analysis. By analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes (ITS) region and the partial 16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB genes, M. pseudoshottsii was identified as the causative agent in these infections.

Lymphocytes with T-cell-like properties express the Fas ligand in the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus.

In this study, we aimed to identify the leukocyte population that expresses Fas ligand (FasL) in the Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The transcriptional activity of FasL was examined for the first time in the fish leukocytes. Transcription of the FasL gene in flounder leukocytes was significantly increased by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) treatment.

Exophiala xenobiotica infection in cultured striped jack, Pseudocaranx dentex (Bloch & Schneider), in Japan.

This report describes Exophiala infection in cultured striped jack, Pseudocaranx dentex, in Japan in 2005. One hundred out of 35,000 fish died per day and mortalities continued for 1 month. Diseased fish showed swelling of the abdomen and kidney distension.

Transmission of the parasite Ichthyophonus hoferi in cultured rainbow trout and comparison of epidemic models.

The epidemic process of the parasite Ichthyophonus hoferi in cultured rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss was quantitatively estimated by both the cohabitation experiment and two standard models (the Kermarck-McKendrick model and the Reed-Frost model). For analysis of the parasite transmission by cohabitation, fish in two replicate tanks were exposed to 1, 5, or 10 infected fish, and daily mortality was counted for 102 d. Despite simple experiments for artificial exposure to the pathogen, the daily estimate of dead fish in the Kermarck-McKendrick model did not fit the observed number of dead fish in the experiment.

Fungal infection of mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) caused by two anamorphic fungi found in Japan.

Two fungal pathogens of the mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) in Yamaguchi and Aichi Prefectures, Japan are described as the new species Plectosporium oratosquillae and Acremonium sp. (a member of the Emericellopsis marine clade). Both fungi infect the gills of the mantis shrimp, which become brown or black due to melanization.

Antifungal activities of bronopol and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MT) against saprolegnia.

This study compared the antifungal activities of bronopol and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MT) against members of the genus Saprolegnia in the family saprolegniaceae, which have the ability to infect fish. The minimum inhibitory concentration of bronopol was 100-200 mg/l but for MT it was 31 mg/l. Concerning fungicidal effects against the hyphae, treatment with bronopol at 100-200 mg/l for 30 min or treatment with MT at 25-50 mg/l for 30 min was effective in killing the vegetative stage of all fungal strains tested.

In vitro leukocyte-encapsulation model in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

We developed an in vitro model to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of granulomatous inflammation in response to invading pathogens. Ichthyophonus hoferi was used as a target for encapsulation by cultivated leukocytes from the kidney of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The encapsulation process was observed over 1 week.

The use of bronopol to control fungal infection in rainbow trout eggs.

We evaluated bronopol as a practical alternative anti-fungal agent to malachite green for use in hatcheries. Repeated exposure everyday, just after fertilization to the stage of eggs showing eye development to 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L bronopol for 30 min showed an efficacy comparable to 0 mg/L (control) for the inhibition of fungal infection in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs. The 100 mg/L bronopol treatment groups showed a control of fungal infection up to the stage of eye development in eggs.

Lecythophora hoffmannii isolated from a case of canine osteomyelitis in Japan.

A 2-year-old spayed female mongrel dog showed claudication with abnormal ossification containing fungal cells detected by biopsy. The dog was treated with ketoconazole and itraconazole perorally for 5 months; however, the osteomyelitis became aggravated, and an amputation from the scapula was performed. The right superficial cervical lymph node became swollen 5 months after the operation.

Morphological and physiological characteristics of Saprolegnia spp. strains pathogenic to Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Seventeen strains of Saprolegnia spp. were examined for morphological and physiological characteristics, and seven were examined for their pathogenicity to Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Two of the Saprolegnia strains tested caused 89 and 31% cumulative mortality in challenged salmonids and were significantly more pathogenic than the other strains tested.

Fusarium incarnatum isolated from black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, with black gill disease cultured in Vietnam.

Fusarium incarnatum was isolated from gill lesions of cultured black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, in every crop during 2000-2002 in Nghe An province, Vietnam. Infected shrimps showed typical signs of black gill disease and mortalities about a month prior to harvest. Detailed morphological examinations, as well as molecular phylogenic analyses based on partial nucleotide sequences of ribosomal DNA, were made on the isolates.

Activation of carp leukocytes by a galactose-binding protein from Aphanomyces piscicida.

This study demonstrated that a galactose-binding protein (GBP) produced by a fish pathogenic water mold, Aphanomyces piscicida, activates carp leukocytes. Leukocytes were separated from the head kidney and peripheral blood using Percoll density centrifugation. A flow cytometric analysis revealed that GBP binds with many cells and a variety of cell types including lymphocytes, granulocytes and thrombocytes.

Saprolegniosis in salmonids and their eggs in Japan.

An epizootic of the fungal infection saprolegniosis that occurred in freshwater-cultured salmons and their eggs at some hatcheries in Hokkaido (Japan) was investigated. In almost all cases, the initial clinical sign was characterized by the growth of cotton-like mycelia on the fishs' body surface, especially the head, adipose fin, and caudal fin, but the mycelia were not visible to the naked eye in the internal organs. Thirty-three strains isolated from lesions were classified in the genus Saprolegnia according to their morphological and biological characteristics on hemp seed cultures at various temperatures.

Cladosporiosis in a tomato clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus).

Infection with Cladosporium sp., a deuteromycete, caused a deep dermal ulcer that extended to bone in a cultured tomato clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus). The infection may have been secondary to immunosuppression resulting from transport or confinement-induced stress or may have resulted from chronic exposure to copper.