• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2018

Kudoa septempunctata, a myxosporean parasite that infects olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus is known to cause Kudoa food poisoning. Entire trunk muscle (ETM) is used for diagnosis of the parasite in fish and this method demands sacrifice of the host, causing a loss of commercial value. We developed a non-destructive method that uses a plastic syringe-style implanter to draw the sample, called the part-point muscle (PPM) sampling technique. We validated the PPM method in fish infected with K. septempunctata at the level detectable by the ETM method. We confirmed that the PPM method is equally sensitive in comparison to the ETM method for diagnosing K. septempunctata spores in olive flounder muscle. Our study also confirmed that the parasite is uniformly distributed in the dorsal muscle of infected fish. Over a period of 1 month, we observed no mortality of the host fish used for sampling by the PPM method. Thus, our studies demonstrate that the PPM sampling technique is an efficient, non-destructive method for diagnosing K. septempunctata in olive flounder.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.227-235
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• 2014

The red seaweed, Gracilaria tikvahiae McLachlan, was cultivated in open water farms in urbanized estuaries of Long Island Sound (26-30 psu of salinity) and New York City (20-25 psu), USA in 2011. Plants were harvested monthly from summer (August, $24^{\circ}C$) to fall (November, $13^{\circ}C$) and analyzed for total nitrogen, protein, and amino acid content. On a dry matter (DM) basis, nitrogen and protein significantly increased over the harvest period until October and then plateaued. Nitrogen increased from $22{\pm}1g\;kg^{-1}$ DM in August to $39{\pm}3g\;kg^{-1}$ DM in October (p < 0.001). Protein increased from $107{\pm}13g\;kg^{-1}$ DM in August to $196{\pm}5g\;kg^{-1}$ DM in November (p < 0.001). With two exceptions, amino acid concentrations expressed on a crude protein (CP) basis were similar over the harvest period. Essential amino acids accounted for $48{\pm}1%$ of all amino acids present with lysine and methionine averaging $56{\pm}2g\;kg^{-1}$ CP and $18{\pm}1g\;kg^{-1}$ CP, respectively. Histidine was underrepresented among essential amino acids and averaged $13{\pm}1g\;kg^{-1}$ CP. Taurine ranged from 2.1 to $3.2g\;kg^{-1}$ DM. With its moderate levels of lysine, methionine and taurine, ocean farmed G. tikvahiae has the potential of overcoming many nutrient deficiencies currently associated with terrestrial plant ingredients in alternative feeds for fish and shrimp.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2020

In recent years, global warming is causing dramatic environmental changes and deterioration, such as hypoxia, leading to reduced survival rate and growth performance of farmed aquatic animals. Hence, understanding systemic immuno-physiological changes in fish under environmental stress might be important to maximize aquaculture production. In this study, we investigated physiological changes in rainbow trout exposed to hypoxic stress by monitoring changes in blood chemistry, leukocyte population, and expression levels of related cytokine genes. Hematological and serological factors were evaluated in blood obtained from rainbow trout sampled at a dissolved level of 4.6 mg O₂ L^-1 and 2.1 mg O₂ L^-1. Blood and head kidney tissue obtained at each sampling time point were used to determine erythrocyte size, leukocyte population, and cytokine gene expression. The level of LDH and GPT in fish under progressive hypoxia were significantly increased in plasma. Likewise, the (Granulocyte + Macrophage)/lymphocyte ratio (%) of fish exposed to hypoxia was significantly lower than that in fish in the control group. Such changes might be due to the rapid movement of lymphocytes in fish exposed to acute hypoxia. In this study, significant up-regulation in expression levels of IL-1β and IL-6 gene appeared to be involved in the redistribution of leukocytes in rainbow trout. This is the first study to demonstrate the involvement of cytokines in leukocyte trafficking in fish exposed to hypoxia. It will help us understand systemic physiological changes and mechanisms involved in teleost under hypoxic stress.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2012

Flavobacterium johnsoniae was isolated from farmed rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in Korea, and its biochemical and molecular characterization was determined. Yellow-pigmented bacterial colonies were isolated from 18 of 64 fish samples (28.1%) on trypticase soy agar plates, and their biochemical profiles were characterized by API 20E and API 20NE test kits. F. johnsoniae was identified by biochemical phenotyping of factors including rapid gliding motility, Gram-negative condition, oxidase- and catalase-positive status, Congo red absorption, nitrate reduction, ${\beta}$-galactosidase production, acid production from glucose, and gelatin and casein hydrolysis. PCR and subsequent sequencing of 16S rRNA confirmed that the yellow-pigmented colonies were most similar to F. johnsoniae. The alignment analysis of 16S rRNA sequences also showed that all 18 rainbow trout isolates had highly similar homologies (97-99% identity). One isolate was selected and named FjRt09. This isolate showed 98% homology with previously reported F. johnsoniae isolates, and in phylogenetic analysis was more closely grouped with F. johnsoniae than with F. psychrophilum, F. columnare, or F. branchiophilum. This is the first report on the occurrence and biochemical characterization of F. johnsoniae isolated from rainbow trout in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.324-329
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• 2008

Vibrio parahaemolyticus species, which cause acute gastroenteritis in humans, were isolated from farmed fish and seawater and their antimicrobial-resistance pattern and factor were investigated. They exhibited the highest resistance to ampicillin (88.9%), followed by trimethoprim (51.9%) and rifampin (22.2%). The relatively high resistance to trimethoprim was unexpected because trimethoprim was not commonly used in fish farming in Korea. R plasmid related resistance was identified by the treatment of novobiocin (7 ug/mL) and it was named as pVPBW1. A putative trimethoprim resistance gene in 2.0 kb fragment of pVPBW1 was also confirmed.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2003

On September in 1998, a microsporidian infection was recognized in ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, farmed on Kyongnam province of South Korea. Cumulative mortality was around 10% in 10 days. Infected fish which were piping for air near the surface of the water or in the asphyxic, lethargic condition revealed darkening of body and abdominal distention. Numerous whitish nodules up to 3mm in size were observed throughout most of body organs and tissues including gill, operculum, peritoneal wall and organs. Xenomas were also histologically confirmed in multiple internal organs with the evidences suggesting circulatory disturbance. Based on the morphology of spore and xenoma, and the distribution of xenomas in organs and tissues, this disease was diagnosed to be a microsporidiosis caused by Glugea plecoglossi. The mortality might be deeply related to the local circulatory disturbance by xemonas rather than the mechano-chemical effect of xenomas on adjacent tissues.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2010

In May 2007, mass mortality of Israeli carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was occured on a pond farm located in Jeollabukdo Province, Korea. The mortality rates reached up to 2% of the total fish in the farm per day. Typical clinical signs were abdominal distension, reddish foci on the skin, enteritis, liver congestion and enlarged spleen and kidney. On the basis of biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence, the causative bacteria isolated from affected carp were identified as Aeromonas veronii. Histologically, degeneration of hepatocytes and congestion in sinusoids were observed in the liver. Spleen showed hemorrhage and the destruction of the sheathed tissues. In kidney, necrotized renal tubules and glomerular destructions were observed. Intestinal tissues revealed necrotized and severe hemorrhage. Mass hemorrhage was observed in muscles. This is the first report that A. veronii caused mortality in cultured Israeli carp in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.496-501
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• 2010

Fish pathogenic bacteria are a considerable danger of farmed fish and a source of economic loss in the fish farming industry. In this study, $Nanoxil^{(R)}$ was compared to hydrogen peroxide and a silver colloid in terms of disinfection efficacy against E. tarda, V. anguillarum and S. iniae. A bactericidal efficacy test conducted by a broth dilution method was used to determine the lowest effective dilution of the disinfectant following exposure to test bacteria for 30 min at $4^{\circ}C$. $Nanoxil^{(R)}$ and test bacteria were diluted with distilled water (DW), hard water (HW) or an organic matter suspension (OM) according to the treatment condition. Under the OM condition, the bactericidal activity of $Nanoxil^{(R)}$ against E. tarda exhibited a lowered efficacy compared to that under the DW and HW conditions. $Nanoxil^{(R)}$ at 500 fold (dilutions on) under all of the conditions demonstrated a high bactericidal efficacy against S. iniae. As $Nanoxil^{(R)}$ possess bactericidal efficacy against fish pathogenic bacteria such as E. tarda, V. anguillarum and S. iniae, this disinfectant solution can be used to limit the spread of fish bacterial diseases.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2005

A new disease causing mass mortality of farmed snakehead (Channa arga) has emerged in Korea over the summer of 2005. The affected fish showed no specific external signs with the exception of a distended abdomen and hemorrhaging around the anus. After opening the abdomen, the visceral organs, liver, spleen and kidney, present numerous white nodular structures. Histopathological examination revealed these nodules to be evidence of granulomas in the visceral organs. A Gram-positive, filamentous bacterium was isolated from all of the affected fish. Development of primers for a genus-specific peR assay for Nocardia, following analysis of the sequences of the complete 16S rRNA genes from Nocardia spp. and non-Nocardia bacterial genes, allowed identification of the causative organism as Nocardia. This is the first report of a nocardial infection of fish in Korea.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.225-230
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• 2022

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is one of the most serious viral diseases affecting farmed olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in Asian countries. VHS, caused by viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), occurs in over 80 different cultured and wild fish species worldwide. Our previous study demonstrated that VHSV infection can be restricted by adjusting the water temperature to over 17℃ from the host optima. We confirmed that the effective VHSV immersion vaccine treatment was a tissue culture infection dose (TCID) of 10^5.5 TCID₅₀/mL at 17℃. However, the safety of live VHSV immersion vaccines remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to 1) demonstrate the safety of the live VHSV immersion vaccine under co-habitant conditions and 2) estimate the pathogenicity of VHSV in live VHSV-vaccinated flounder at 10℃. No mortality was observed in olive flounder treated with the live VHSV immersion vaccine, and the vaccinated flounder challenged with VHSV did not transfer VHSV to naïve fish at 10℃ through cohabitation. VHSV titration was below the detection limit (< 1.3 log TCID₅₀/mL) in live VHSV immersion vaccine-treated flounder challenged with VHSV at 10℃. This study demonstrated that flounder treated with the live VHSV immersion vaccine were resistant to VHSV infection, and the live vaccine was also safe for naïve fish even at a water temperature known to be VHS infectious.