Differential virulence of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) isolated from salmonid fish in Gangwon Province, Korea.

The present study investigated the virulence and expression of innate immunity genes in isolates of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in Gangwon province, South Korea, by challenging rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, and coho salmon. Eight IHNV isolates were used to infect RTG-2 cells for viral replication using plaque assays. Three isolates with the highest replication rates, the RtPc0314g and RtPc0314c isolates of the JRt-Shizuoka type and the RtPc0816g isolate of the JRt-Nagano type, were experimentally infected into the fish.

Morphological Analysis of Blind-Side Hypermelanosis of the Starry Flounder, Platichthys stellatus during Early Development.

In Pleuronectiformes, blind-side malpigmentation (hypermelanosis) is common in cultured flatfishes, and is economically important. To understand the mechanism of blind-side hypermelanosis in flatfishes, we examined when the malpigmentation initially occurred, and studied how the symptoms proceeded during early development of the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus. To assess quantitative pattern changes of blind-side skin, we observed morphological development of the whole body from 22 (total length [TL] 10.

Blood physiological responses and growth of juvenile starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus exposed to different salinities.

Blood physiological responses, growth and survial rates were examined in juvenile starry flounder, Plotichthys stellatus exposed to different salinities (5, 10, 20, 33 ppt) for 90 days. At the end of the experiment, the plasma levels of Na+and osmolality were similar at 10, 20, 33 ppt, however, the values were significantly lower at 5 ppt compared to those at other salinities. Stress responses such as plasma levels of cortisol, glucose, hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in all groups showed no significant difference.

Wild and hatchery populations of Korean starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) compared using microsatellite DNA markers.

Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) is an important sport and food fish found around the margins of the North Pacific. Aquaculture production of this species in Korea has increased because of its commercial value. Microsatellite DNA markers are a useful DNA-based tool for monitoring the genetic variation of starry flounder populations.