Rock bream iridovirus (RBIV) is a member of the Megalocytivirus genus that causes severe mortality to rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) with characteristic clinical signs of spleen enlargement. In this study, we assessed spleen size and RBIV copy number patterns in RBIV-infected rock bream to determine lethal and safe levels of virus copy number/spleen index that may define disease progress. We found that rock bream infected with RBIV ($1.1{\times}10^7virus\;copy\;number/100{\mu}l$) and held at 29, 26, 23 or $20^{\circ}C$ exhibited significantly higher levels of spleen size compared to $17^{\circ}C$. In dead condition (100% mortality at $20{\sim}29^{\circ}C$), the spleen index ($spleen\;weight/fish\;weight{\times}100$) and virus copy number were 3.00~5.38 and $10^6{\sim}10^8/{\mu}l$, respectively. Conversely, in survived condition (0% mortality at $17^{\circ}C$), spleen index and virus copy number was as low as not-infected control ($0.34{\sim}1.22/10^0{\sim}10^1/{\mu}l$, respectively). These findings suggest that spleen index can be an indicator of disease severity of RBIV disease.

The study investigated the dietary effects of medicinal herbs extract and multiple probiotics mixture on the growth performance, innate immune response and antibacterial activity of nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Tilapia were divided in four groups. The first is a fish group fed a basal diet added with 40% medicinal herbs extract (MHE). The second is a fish group fed a basal diet supplied with $2{\times}10^8CFU/g$ of 2 Bacillus sp, 2 Lactobacillus sp and 2 Yeast sp, respectively (PB). The third group was fed with a mixture of probiotics (2 Bacillus sp, 2 Lactobacillus sp and 2 Yeast sp) with the medicinal herbs extract added in basal diet (MHE+PB). The fourth group was fed only a basal diet (C). In a non-specific immune parameters analysis, respiratory burst activity, lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity (PA), alternative complement pathway activity ($ACH_{50}$) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the group MHE+PB compared to other groups. Both PB and MHE groups showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in respiratory burst activity, lysozyme activity compared to the control C group, whereas no significant differences were observed in PA, $ACH_{50}$ and SOD activity compared to the control group. In challenging test, fish were administered with Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) on 30 days after feeding with each experimental diet and viable E. tarda cell reduction was checked over 21 days post injection. MHE+PB group showed a significantly (p<0.05) reduced E. tarda cells compared to other groups. No significant antibacterial difference (p>0.05) was observed between PB and MHE only treated group. Compared to the control, a significant antibacterial difference (p<0.05) appeared in PB but not in MHE (p>0.05). The results suggest that the probiotics and MHE mixture could be utilized as an alternative to antibiotics in the control of fish diseases caused by E. tarda.

It has been reported that various anti-oxidant substances stimulate non-specific immune responses in fishes. In this study it was examined whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precusor for anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH) synthesis, can modulate non-specific immune function in Far Eastern catfish Silurus asotus. Immune functions were assessed using the respiratory burst activity monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) responses in isolated leucocyte. NAC stimulated CL responses with doses of 10 or 100 mg/kg, but not with 1 mg/kg after 48 hr injection. It was observed with 10 mg/kg NAC that CL activity continued to elevate from 24 hr through 96 hr post-dosing, and returned to the near preinjection level by 10 days. To understand whether NAC can also activate CL activity in vitro, NAC was directly added to isolated catfish leucocytes. It was observed, however, that NAC can not stimulate CL at reasonable concentration ranges in vitro. As NAC is a precursor for the strong anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH), a putative immune stimulator, it was assessed whether GSH can also stimulate CL responses. Observed results show that GSH activated CL both in vivo and in vitro. The data obtained collectively support the proposition that NAC indirectly stimulates non-specific immune functions in catfish by enhancing GSH biosynthesis, but not by direct action of NAC. Such effects may have beneficial significance in aquaculture for practical utilization.

2015년부터 2017년까지 우리나라 넙치 양식장에서 발생하는 폐사피해를 표본조사를 통해 모니터링 하였다. 표본어가는 전국의 수산질병관리원과 지속적으로 거래하고 있으며 현장방문을 통해 설문이 가능한 양식어가 중 층화구조분석을 통해 선정 하였다. 수산질병관리사 조사요원의 직접적인 현장방문을 통한 설문 조사를 수행하여 객관적으로 양식현황 및 폐사 현황을 파악하였다. 조사기간 중 24.78%/2015년, 30.19%/2016년 그리고 21.59%/2017년의 누적 폐사율을 나타내었고, 감염성 질병에 의한 폐사는 스쿠티카증(2015-2017년 평균 누적 폐사율: 56.7%)과 바이러스성출혈성 패혈증 감염(추정)(2015-2017년 평균 누적 폐사율: 8.9%)에 의한 피해가 높은 것으로 나타났으며, 제주에서는 여윔증(2016-2017년 평균 누적 폐사율: 10.3%)에 의한 피해가 높게 나타났다.

전 세계적으로 양식 산업의 급속한 성장으로 인해 수산생물의 생산량 증가와 함께 질병발생이 증가함에 따라 수산용의약품의 사용량이 매년 증가하고 있다. 수산용의약품은 수산생물질병의 예방 및 치료에 필수적인 반면, 의약품의 오 남용으로 인해 항생제 내성균 증가 및 수산식품의 위생학적 안전성에 심각한 문제를 야기할 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 국내에 위치한 모든 수산질병관리원을 조사하고, 여기서 판매되는 수산용의약품을 지역별로 2012년과 2015년에 비교 조사하였다. 더불어 수산용의약품의 판매경로를 조사함으로서 수산식품안전성 강화를 위한 기초자료로서 활용이 가능하다. 나아가 향후 연구에서는 수산양식장에서 직접 사용하는 의약품의 양을 집계하여 본 연구 결과와 비교분석 후 효과적인 수산용의약품 관리체계를 마련해야할 것이다.

We developed and subsequently characterized mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against recombinant VP28 structural protein (rVP28) of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). We established six hybridoma clones secreting MAbs against rVP28: 15A11, 20G6, 31H2, 34H6, 38D1 and 43A1. All six MAbs recognized the 25 kDa of protein in gill homogenates of WSSV-infected shrimp by western blot analysis, while no reactivity was observed in gill homogenates of normal shrimp. Moreover, high enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) optical density (OD) values (0.8-2.68) were observed in the hemolymphs from WSSV-infected shrimp, while low OD values (less than 0.24) were recorded in the hemolymphs from normal shrimp, by using these six MAbs produced in this study. These results suggest that these six MAbs are useful for the detection of WSSV.