• Advances in environmental research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2016

This study evaluated some markers of oxidative stress in the organs of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele River in Oyo State, Nigeria. Clarias gariepinus (250 g-400 g) were collected from Eleyele River (a suspected polluted River) and Clarias gariepinus from a clean fish farm (Durantee fisheries) were used as the control. Levels of Malondialdehyde (index of lipid peroxidation), Glutathione (GSH) and activities of antioxidant enzymes- Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase and Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) were evaluated in the liver, kidney and gills of the fish. From the results, there were significant (p<0.001) increases in malondialdehyde and GSH levels in the liver, kidney and gills of Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele River compared with control. The activity of GST increased significantly (p<0.05; p<0.001) in the liver and kidney of fish from Eleyele River compared with control. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05; p<0.001) in SOD activity in all the organs of Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele River compared with conrol and also a significant (p<0.001) decrease in catalase activity in the gills and kidney of the fish but catalase activity increased in the liver. Increase in lipid peroxidation and alterations in antioxidant status in Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele River show that the fish were under oxidative stress. These suggest that the River is polluted probably as a result of various wastes frequently discharged into the River. This could pose serious health risks to consumers of water and aquatic organisms from the River.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.15.1-15.8
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• 2019

Corexit 9500 is a dispersant commercially available in Nigeria that is used to change the inherent chemical and physical properties of oil, thereby changing the oil's transport and fate with potential effects on the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the biochemical (enzymes and electrolyte) toxicity of Corexit 9500 dispersant on the gills, liver and kidney of juveniles of Clarias gariepinus after exposure for 21 days. One hundred sixty fish were used without gender consideration. Range-finding tests were conducted over a 96-h period after acclimatisation of the test organisms in the laboratory. The test organisms (10/treatment) were exposed to Corexit 9500 in the following concentrations-0.00, 0.0125, 0.025 and 0.05 ml/l in triplicate. Twenty-one days later, fish was dissected. 0.5 g from each of the following organs-gills, liver and kidney tissues-was removed, homogenised and tested for enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], urea, creatinine and electrolytes (sodium ($Na^+$), potassium ($K^+$), chloride ($Cl^-$), bicarbonate ($HCO_3{^-}$)) following standard methods. In the gills, SOD and ALT to AST ratio were significantly lower than in control while the creatinine was significantly higher in the toxicant. In the kidney, creatinine was significantly higher in fish exposed to the toxicant. In the liver, ALP increased in the toxicant while urea was decreased. The mean electrolyte concentrations ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$ and $HCO_3{^-}$) increased significantly in the concentration of the toxicant (P < 0.05). The alterations observed in the activities of these electrolytes and enzymes indicated that Corexit 9500 interfered with transamination and metabolic functions of the fish.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Catfish is one of the most important freshwater fish farming commodities in Indonesia. Higher catfish production can be achieved by cultivating transgenic catfish carrying the growth hormone (GH) gene of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus GH, CgGH). This research focuses on analysis of the presence of the CgGH gene in transgenic G₁, G₂, and G₃ mutiara catfish broodstock, as an indication of stable CgGH inheritance. CgGH gene was isolated using the RNeasy mini kit and RT-PCR. RT-PCR revealed amplicons measuring approximately 600 bp in transgenic G₀, G₁, G₂, and G₃ mutiara catfish. The CgGH consensus sequence similarities ranged from 93.76% to 97.06%, with four functional domain sites (somatotropin-1, somatotropin-2, four α-helix, N-glycosylation, four cysteine residues) of fish GH proteins. The functional domains of fish GH proteins are conserved in G₁, G₂, and G₃ and indicate stable exogenous GH inheritance to produce transgenic catfish strains in each generation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.6.1-6.10
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• 2018

The intention of this study was to identify the bacterial pathogens infecting Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish), and to establish the antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria in Uganda. A total of 288 fish samples from 40 fish farms (ponds, cages, and tanks) and 8 wild water sites were aseptically collected and bacteria isolated from the head kidney, liver, brain and spleen. The isolates were identified by their morphological characteristics, conventional biochemical tests and Analytical Profile Index test kits. Antibiotic susceptibility of selected bacteria was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The following well-known fish pathogens were identified at a farm prevalence of; Aeromonas hydrophila (43.8%), Aeromonas sobria (20.8%), Edwardsiella tarda (8.3%), Flavobacterium spp. (4.2%) and Streptococcus spp. (6.3%). Other bacteria with varying significance as fish pathogens were also identified including Plesiomonas shigelloides (25.0%), Chryseobacterium indoligenes (12.5%), Pseudomonas fluorescens (10.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.2%), Pseudomonas stutzeri (2.1%), Vibrio cholerae (10.4%), Proteus spp. (6.3%), Citrobacter spp. (4.2%), Klebsiella spp. (4.2%) Serratia marcescens (4.2%), Burkholderia cepacia (2.1%), Comamonas testosteroni (8.3%) and Ralstonia picketti (2.1%). Aeromonas spp., Edwardsiella tarda and Streptococcus spp. were commonly isolated from diseased fish. Aeromonas spp. (n = 82) and Plesiomonas shigelloides (n = 73) were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility. All isolates tested were susceptible to at-least ten (10) of the fourteen antibiotics evaluated. High levels of resistance were however expressed by all isolates to penicillin, oxacillin and ampicillin. This observed resistance is most probably intrinsic to those bacteria, suggesting minimal levels of acquired antibiotic resistance in fish bacteria from the study area. To our knowledge, this is the first study to establish the occurrence of several bacteria species infecting fish; and to determine antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria in Uganda. The current study provides baseline information for future reference and fish disease management in the country.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2017

Hexavalent chromium is a bio accumulative toxic metal in water and fish. It enters aquaculture ponds mainly through anthropogenic sources. Hexavalent chromium concentrations and its effects on the morphology and behavior of Clarias gariepinus were investigated from four aquaculture ponds for 12 weeks. Chromium was measured using diphenyl carbohdrazide method; alkalinity and hardness were measured using colometric method and analyzed with Bench Photometer. Temperature and pH were measured using pH/EC/TDS/Temp combined tester. Temporal and spatial replications of samples were done with triplicates morphological and behavioural effects of the metal on fish were observed visually. Chromium ranged from no detection to 0.05 mg/L, alkalinity 105 to 245 mg/L, hardness 80 to 165 mg/L, pH 6.35 to 8.03 and temperature 29.1 to $35.9^{\circ}C$. Trend in the chromium concentrations in the ponds is natural > earthen > concrete > collapsible. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in chromium, alkalinity, water hardness, pH and temperature among the four ponds. Significant positive correlation also existed between alkalinity, water hardness, pH, with chromium. Morphological and behavioural changes observed in the fish include irregular swimming, frequent coming to the surface, dark body colouration, mucous secretion on the body, erosion of gill epithelium, fin disintegration, abdominal distension and lethargy. High chromium concentration in natural pond was due to anthropogenic run-off of materials in to the pond. Acidic pH, low alkalinity, low water hardness also contributed to the high chromium concentration. Morphological and behavioural changes observed were attributed to the high concentrations, toxicity and bio accumulative effect of the metal. Toxicity of chromium to fish in aquaculture could threaten food security. Watershed best management practices and remediation could be adopted to reduce the effects of toxicity of chromium on pond water quality, fish flesh quality and fish welfare.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.318-335
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• 2023

It is important to understand the biological aspects of fish for fishing management. This study was conducted from February through October 2021. A total of 1,629 fishes were collected using different fishing gears. The length-weight relationship is a power curve for all fishes and showed a significant (r² > 0.8). All fishes revealed a negative allometric growth pattern except Labeobarbus intermedius. Oreochromis niloticus (1.714 ± 0.009) was found in better condition than other fish species (analysis of variance [ANOVA], p < 0.05). The length at maturity was 24.0 cm and 25.4 cm total length (TL), 28.9 cm and 28.2 cm fork length, and 53.2 cm and 57.5 cm TL for females and males of O. niloticus, L. intermedius and Clarias gariepinus, respectively. Fecundity was ranged between 100-947 eggs/g with absolute fecundity (AF) of 468-3,832 eggs, 200-1,000 eggs/g with AF of 2,752-136,420 eggs, and 505-900 eggs/g with AF of 2,000-6,404 eggs for O. niloticus, C. gariepinus, and L. intermedius, respectively. Their respective mean fecundity was 1,490 ± 91, 23,330 ± 5,070, and 3,096 ± 273 eggs, respectively. Mean fecundity revealed a significant variation between size classes and species (ANOVA, p < 0.05). The fecundity length and fecundity-body weight relationships except (O. niloticus) of fishes were curvilinear while the gonad weight (GW)-fecundity relationship was linear for all fish species. The fecundity was moderately associated with increasing length than body weight, and GW for all fishes (r² > 0.6). In conclusion, a tangible management setup is required to sustain the use of fish in the reservoir.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.5.1-5.9
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• 2010

Flavobacterium columnare (F. columnare), the dermotropic Gram negative yellow pigmented bacteria was isolated from different sites of skin ulcerations in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Nile catfish (Clarias gariepinus) collected from an earthen pond located at an aquaculture station in Sharkiya Province, Lower Egypt during an acute episode of mass kills during the early summer of 2009. An acute infection with F. columnare was behind the emergent event of mass mortalities among both populations. Many of the Nile tilapias exhibited typical signs of hole - in- the head like lesions from which F. columnare together with the myxosporean spore, Myxobolus tilapiae (M. tilapiae) were retrieved. Most of the cohabitating infected Nile catfishes exhibited severe form of saddle back like ulcer. The identities of the retrieved isolates were confirmed using morphological, biochemical and molecular tools. The research lead us to conclude that the two diverse etiological agents (F. columnare and M. tilapiae) under the triggering effect of the abrupt change in the water quality measures (abrupt rise in the water temperature, ammonia, pH, sharp decrease in dissolved oxygen) have synergized together to induce the above mentioned pathology with the consequent reemergence of fish mass mortalities.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2014

The Kenyan aquaculture sector is broadly categorized into freshwater aquaculture and mariculture. Whereas freshwater aquaculture has recorded significant progress over the last decade, the mariculture sector has yet to be fully exploited. The Kenyan aquaculture industry has seen slow growth for decades until recently, when the government-funded Economic Stimulus Program increased fish farming nationwide. Thus far, the program has facilitated the alleviation of poverty, spurred regional development, and led to increased commercial thinking among Kenyan fish farmers. Indeed, national aquaculture production grew from 1,000 MT/y in 2000 (equivalent to 1% of national fish production) to 12,000 MT/y, representing 7% of the national harvest, in 2010. The production is projected to hit 20,000 MT/y, representing 10% of total production and valued at USD 22.5 million over the next 5 years. The dominant aquaculture systems in Kenya include earthen and lined ponds, dams, and tanks distributed across the country. The most commonly farmed fish species are Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, which accounts for about 75% of production, followed by African catfish Clarias gariepinus, which contributes about 21% of aquaculture production. Other species include common carp Cyprinus carpio, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, koi carp Cyprinus carpio carpio, and goldfish Carassius auratus. Recently, Kenyan researchers have begun culturing native fish species such as Labeo victorianus and Labeo cylindricus at the National Aquaculture Research Development and Training Centre in Sagana. Apart from limited knowledge of modern aquaculture technology, the Kenyan aquaculture sector still suffers from an inadequate supply of certified quality seed fish and feed, incomprehensive aquaculture policy, and low funding for research. Glaring opportunities in the Kenyan aquaculture industry include the production of live fish food, e.g., Artemia, daphnia and rotifers, marine fish and shellfish larviculture; seaweed farming; cage culture; integrated fish farming; culture of indigenous fish species; and investment in the fish feed industry.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Angola has a coastline of about 1,650 km long. Two diverging current namely, the Angola current with its warm water from the north and the cold Benguella Current in the south create a strong up-welling with a high productive ecosystem for marine resources. The area from Lobito to the mouth of the Cunene River, also known as the Southern fishing zone is by far the most productive of Angola's fishing zones. In 1977, the total potential of its marine fisheries sector was estimated at more than 700,000 tonnes per annum. In 2003, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) established for demersal species was 57,600 tonnes and 160,000 tonnes for pelagic species. The most important resources are various marine demersal and pelagic fish including pilchard and the Cape and Cunene horse Mackerel (Tranchurus capensis and T. trecae). Sardinellas (Sardinella aurita and S. maderensis) are fished in parallel with horse mackerel. The rest of the catches are mainly demersal spp. and some deep water crustaceans. The demersal sppecies consist of Hake (Merluccius polli and M. capensis) and the large eye dentex spp. Tunas are caught at certain times of the year whilst some marine shrimp are also harvested from the Angolan waters. Angola also has several high value freshwater fish species, exploited by about 255 fishers. Tilapia sp. is among the most important and abundant fresh water fish found in Angola. Other species include the catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and fresh water prawns (Macrobrachuin rosenbergii). Some aquaculture ponds have been established in the country side, but due to lack of investment, proper training and the impact of civil war have seriously limited developments in the sub sector.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2019

Cadmium is a strong toxic heavy metal which presents in paints and liquid wastes and causes oxidative stress in fish. On the other hand, lead is widely used for different purposes, e.g. lead pipes, it targets vital organs such as liver and kidney causing biochemical alterations. The present study evaluates the effects of 60 days exposure to Cd and Pb either single or combined together in African catfish. Sixty-four fishes were divided into 3 groups and exposed to $CdCl_2$ (7.02 mg/L) or $PbCl_2$ (69.3 mg/L) or a combination of them along with control group. Activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) were estimated. Moreover, gill, liver and kidney were assayed for activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Individual exposure showed that both Cd and Pb significantly decreased LDH activity and SOD activity in the kidney. Pb significantly increased G-6-PDH activity and decreased GSH level in the gill. CAT activity in liver and kidney elevated significantly on Cd exposure while lead caused a significant depletion in the liver and significant elevation in the kidney. Both Cd and Pb significantly increased MDA levels in liver and kidney while Pb increased its level in gills. The combined exposure resulted in normalization of LDH, G-6-PDH activity, and CAT activity in liver and kidney as well as GSH level in both tissues and MDA in gill and kidney. The combination increased SOD activity and MDA level in liver and decreased SOD activity in kidney and GSH level in gills. In conclusion, the antioxidant system of African catfish was adversely affected by prolonged exposure to Cd and Pb. The combined exposure caused less damage than individual exposure and returned most parameters to those of controls.