The first mitogenome of the Nile pufferfish Tetraodon lineatus from Lake Turkana in East Africa:new insights into the genus

A complete mitogenome of T.lineatus from Lake Turkana in the Kenyan part was determined.It had a length of 16470 bp,including 37 genes as found in teleosts with the typical gene order in these fishes.Mitogenomic comparison and phylogenetic analysis supported not only the morphology-based recognition of the puf ferfish specimen from Lake Turkana as the Nile puf ferfish,but also the identification of the Chinese specimen recently recorded as T.lineatus and its African source.The mitochondrial genome here amplified for the sample of T.lineatus from Lake Turkana also provides conclusive molecular evidence for the monophyletic nature of Tetraodon s.s.,as it serves as a reference genome of this species used to clarify ambiguity in its identification in previous molecular studies.

Analysis of the Liver of Fish Species <i>Prochilodus lineatus</i>Altered Environments, Analyzed with ImageJ

The fish Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae), in addition to being a good bioindicator, is also of economic and ecological importance with a broad distribution in the neotropics. Ecotoxicology examines the interaction between environmental chemistry and biota;and in this study we assess alterations of bile and glycogen levels in the fish liver, organ responsible for detoxification, biotransformation and storing nutrients, such as glycogen, and for secreting bile. Fish were separated in three groups to examine the damage caused by the exposure to waters from Lago Azul-Rio Claro-SP and containing diluted biodegradable detergents in comparison to a control group (chlorinated water from an artesian well of UNESP-Campus Rio Claro). A histological analysis was performed on HE and PAS stained sections. The identification of structural changes and the assessment of the area occupied by bile and glycogen were carried out with the software ImageJ, showing that the liver was affected morphologically (cell vacuolization, peripherals nuclei, for example) and problems in bile release and production and storage of glycogen.

Effects of Ingested Baccharis dracunculifolia D.C.(Asteraceae)Extract in the Liver of Prochilodus lineatus Fish

Baccharis dracunculifolia, popularly known in Brazil as “alecrim-do-campo”, is widely recognized for its therapeutic potential. The extract of its leaves is used for liver problems, stomach disorders and others. The objective of the present study was to perform a histochemical analysis of curimbata fish livers to evaluate the potential effects and risks of the ingestion of B. dracunculifolia. Thirty-two animals were divided into two experimental groups in duplicate: Control group (regular food) and B. dracunculifolia Treated group (food added with B. dracunculifolia). The fishes were collected on the 14th and 21st days after the treatment period of 21 days. The histological alterations were evaluated using the semiquantitative methods Mean Value of Alterations (MVA), Histopathological Alteration Index (HAI) and Image J&reg;. HAI and MAV showed that the extract caused slight but statistically significant damages, widely distributed throughout the organ. The results showed significant hepatic alterations caused by the ingestion of B. dracunculifolia extract.

Sexual Dimorphism, Length-Weight Relationships, Fecundity, and Diet of the Striped Eel Catfish Plotosus lineatus (Plotosidae) on Taiwan’s Southwest Coast

This study of feeding guild fish from the same coast of subtropics helps to suggest conservation of fishery resources. A total of 2,537 specimens of Plotosus lineatus (Plotosidae) were collected from July 2013 to March 2019 on the coast of Taiwan. The average total body length (TL) was 23.7 cm ± 4.7 cm and 20.3 cm ± 2.9 cm, and the average body weight (W) was 94.1 g ± 59.6 g and 56.6 g ± 30.8 g among 174 males and 630 females, respectively. The LWRs of male and female were ln(W)M = 3.2914 × ln (TL) −6.0395, and ln(W)F = 3.0917 × ln(TL) −5.3629. The male specimens were large than female in TL and W. The average OSW/TL ratios were 0.722 ± 0.044 and 0.649 ± 0.029 among 41 male and 49 female specimens, respectively. The OSW of the male head was wider than that of the female head (F = 91.5;p < 0.001), and the head widths of the male fish were significantly more than those of their female counterparts, causing the OSs to form granular protrusions. The average CFW/TL ratios were 0.198 ± 0.034 and 0.252 ± 0.032 among the male and female specimens, respectively. The CFW of the male specimens was narrower than that of the female specimens (F = 58.9;p < 0.001), and the CF gap of the male fish was narrower than that of the female fish. The P. lineatus exhibits significant sexual dimorphism. The average eggs number of each female was 2375.6 eggs/individual ± 1140.9 eggs/individual (N = 161). The major prey of P. lineatus were shrimps, crabs, and fishes;the total relative frequencies of occurrence of the prey were 57.1%, 32.6%, and 37.2%, respectively (N = 282), and their total relative abundance levels were 40.2%, 26.3%, and 25.8%, respectively (N = 445). Proper scientific knowledge management will improve the development of fisheries.