• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.505-513
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• 2022

In this study, 143 strains of Enterococcus spp. were isolated from inland pollution sources near shellfish farms on the west coast of South Korea. Not all isolated Enterococcus spp. strains possessed vancomycin resistance genes (VanA and VanB). However, since vancomycin-resistance Enterococcus (VRE) have been detected not only in the clinical field but also out in the world, it is possible that the VRE gene may be transferred to other bacterial strains commonly found in coastal waters where seafood is produced. It is important to monitor trends in the appearance of VRE. In addition, antimicrobial resistance patterns of isolates were examined in this study. Overall antimicrobial resistance rates were high: ciprofloxacin (32.2% of isolates resistant), chloramphenicol (30.8%), quinupristin/dalfopristin (19.6%), and tylosin (15.4%). Eight E. faecium strains (6.2%), out of the 129 strains assessed, showed multidrug resistance. All multidrug-resistant E. faecium showed resistance to erythromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, tetracycline, and tylosin, in all 14 strains. All multidrug-resistant E. faecalis showed resistance to erythromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, tetracycline, and tylosin. Both multidrug-resistant E. faecium and multidrug-resistant E. faecalis showed common resistance to erythromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, tetracycline, and tylosin.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.654-658
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• 2012

Vibrio alginolyticus, a marine fish and shellfish pathogen, has been found at a high frequency around the coastal areas of Korea. Vibrio alginolyticus was purified from various diseased fish, and a V. alginolyticus-specific bacteriophage was isolated from seawater obtained from fish farms located on the west coast of Korea. In a bacterial lysis experiment using the phage and antibiotics, tetracycline, $10^3$ cfu/ml of V. alginolyticus were completely lysed by both the phage and the antibiotic, suggesting that the purified phage in the study could be utilized as an alternative to antibiotics in the control of fish and shellfish diseases caused by V. alginolyticus.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

VHSV is a major viral agent that affects freshwater and marine fish, causing serious economic losses in aquaculture in the world. Due to their filter-feeding activity, bivalve mollusks may act as viral transmitters after accumulation of the fish viruses released into seawater from infected fish. Amplification by RT-PCR was carried out to investigate the presence of VHSV in pacific oysters (Crassotrea gigas) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), inhabiting regions around aquatic farms in Korea. Primers designed from conserved regions of VHSVs allowed us to detect four different types of VHSV in a single PCR. Twenty two of the eighty four samples showed positive results of VHSV in a 2-step RT-PCR. Using six positive samples from three different regions in Korea, we cloned and sequenced the glycoprotein (G) gene (467-bp long) of VHSVs. Genetic analysis of the VHSVs detected in shellfish in various geographical areas of Korea showed highly restricted results to VHSV type Iva. This was in agreement with the reports showing only a single genotype of VHSV (Iva genotype) in outbreaks in cultured or wild fish in Korea. Consequently, we investigated VHSVs carried by bivalve mollusks inhabiting the vicinity of aquatic farms, and revealed correlationship between the type of viral accumulated in shellfish by filter-feeding, and those detected in disease outbreaks in fish.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.20-31
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• 2024

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in the structure of benthic communities resulting from aquaculture activities and to assess the benthic health status of surface sediment in Gangjin Bay, a region known for concentrated shellfish aquaculture on the southern coast of Korea. Survey stations were divided into longline culture, bottom culture, and non-cultivation areas. The spatiotemporal distribution of physiochemical factors such as the grain size, water temperature, salinity, and total organic carbon in Gangjin Bay showed no significant differences between sampling stations. However, the species number, density, and diversity were relatively lower at the sampling stations in the bottom culture areas than at the other stations throughout the entire survey period. Cluster analysis and principal coordinates analysis also clearly distinguished the benthic communities in the bottom culture areas from those in the other sampling areas. At the sampling stations in the longline culture and non-cultivation areas, Scolectoma longifolia and Sigambra tentaculata, which are indicator species of organically enriched areas, appeared as dominant species. However, excluding some stations influenced by physical factors such as the water depth and current speed, the occupancy rate was not high. The health assessment results, conducted using the fisheries environment assessment method, revealed good conditions with Grades 1 and 2 across the entire area. However, an examination of the spatiotemporal changes in benthic communities and the benthic health index indicated that the benthic environment in the bottom culture areas was affected by physical disturbances.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2016

A total of 423 shellfish (Oysters, Crassostrea gigas; short-necked clams, Ruditapes philippinarum and corb shells, Cyclina sinensis) were collected from the west coast of Korea, from which 277 Escherichia coli strains were isolated. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated strains were analyzed for 22 antimicrobial agents used in Korea for clinical or veterinary therapy. The resistance of E. coli isolates to ampicillin (37.2%) was highest, followed by cephalothin (21.7%), cefazolin (19.9%), trimethoprim (15.2%). Antimicrobial resistance was present in 56.7% of E. coli isolates against at least one antimicrobial agent. Of 277 isolates, 44 (15.9%) were resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.528-533
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• 2013

This study evaluated the impact of antimicrobial resistant bacteria produced by inland pollution sources on coastal areas, and investigates antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from marine filter feeders. A total of 107 shellfish (short-necked clams Ruditapes philippinarum, ark shells Scapharca broughtonii, and oysters Crassostrea gigas) were collected from the southern coast of Korea, from which 204 Escherichia coli strains were isolated. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated strains were analyzed for 15 antimicrobial agents used in Korea for clinical or veterinary therapy. Antimicrobial resistance was present in 44.6% of E. coli isolates against at least one antimicrobial agent. The rate of antimicrobial resistance in the Narodo area was higher than isolates from the Gangjinman area and Kamak Bay. E. coli isolates had a higher rate of resistance against: tetracycline (29.9%), streptomycin (25.5%), and trimethoprim (14.2%). Of 204 isolates, 29 (14.2%) were resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.28.1-28.7
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• 2016

Background: Significant increases in the bacterial resistance to various antibiotics have been found in fish farms. Non-antibiotic therapies for infectious diseases in aquaculture are needed. In recent years, light-emitting diode technology has been applied to the inactivation of pathogens, especially those affecting humans. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of blue light (wavelengths 405 and 465 nm) on seven major bacterial pathogens that affect fish and shellfish important in aquaculture. Results: We successfully demonstrate inactivation activity of a 405/465-nm LED on selected bacterial pathogens. Although some bacteria were not fully inactivated by the 465-nm light, the 405-nm light had a bactericidal effect against all seven pathogens, indicating that blue light can be effective without the addition of a photosensitizer. Photobacterium damselae, Vibrio anguillarum, and Edwardsiella tarda were the most susceptible to the 405-nm light (36.1, 41.2, and $68.4J\;cm^{-2}$, respectively, produced one log reduction in the bacterial populations), whereas Streptococcus parauberis was the least susceptible ($153.8J\;cm^{-2}$ per one log reduction). In general, optical density (OD) values indicated that higher bacterial densities were associated with lower inactivating efficacy, with the exception of P. damselae and Vibrio harveyi. In conclusion, growth of the bacterial fish and shellfish pathogens evaluated in this study was inactivated by exposure to either the 405- or 465-nm light. In addition, inactivation was dependent on exposure time. Conclusions: This study presents that blue LED has potentially alternative therapy for treating fish and shellfish bacterial pathogens. It has great advantages in aspect of eco-friendly treating methods differed from antimicrobial methods.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 1993

Various scales of red tides have frequently occurred in the southern coastal waters of the Korean Penninsula since the late 1970's. Because most shellfish and finfish farms in Korea are located in the southern coastal waters, the impacts of red tides on the aquaculture have been increasing significantly. The Puksin Bay is one of the places where red tides have occurred almost every year since the early 1980's. During $1990\~1991$, mass mortalities of aquacultural species by the red tides were recorded. The causative organisms in this period were Leplocylindrus danicu(November '90 and June '91), Skeletonema costatum(December '90 and August '91), Nitzschia seriata(August '91), and Gymnodinium splendens(July '91). The maximum chlorophyll-a content was $265.7{\mu}g/l$ in the tides. Frequent red tides are associated with the eutropication of the bay. Some relationships between red tides' occurrence and europhication are herein discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.217-227
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the initial growth, burrowing depth, and relative growth of mud shrimps (Upogebia major and Austinogebia wuhsienweni), living in damaged high density tidal flat shellfish farms form 2008 in the Western coast of Korea. By August, young mud shrimps (Upogebia major), which had settled down on the tidal flats in early May, grew to more than 10 mm in carapace length (CL). At the end of the first year, their CL and total length (TL) increased to 14.21 mm and 42.28 mm, respectively. The inhabiting depth of the young mud shrimps (Upogebia major) increased rapidly up to about 6 months after stocking (5 cm in July, 12.5 cm in September, and 28 cm in November, respectively). The inhabiting depth of adult mud shrimps in their burrows was about 10-93 cm during the year. As results, the analysis of the relative growth between the carapace length (CL) - the total length (TL) and the CL - total wet weight (TWW), the total wet weight of mud shrimps at Boryeong Saho (inner part of the Cheonsu-bay) was estimated to be 1.2-4 g heavier than those of Boryeong Jugyo (Outer part of the Cheonsu-bay) tidal flat. The young mud shrimps primarily grew from April to October. It is therefore crucial to observe whether the settlement of young mud shrimps on tidal shellfish farms from May to June to minimize the damage of shellfish farms by newly stocked young mud shrimps. In addition, it is recommended that young mud shrimps grown in fisheries be harvested before they dig deep into the sediment until early December.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2010

We examined physiological responses related to the survival, oxygen consumption and filtration rate of the blood cockle, Tegillaarca granosa as a result of salinity changes. The 44-day $LS_{50}$ (median lethal salinity) at $10^{\circ}C$ for adult and juvenile was 15.8 (confidence limits 13.5-18.2 psu) and 16.2 (confidence limits 14.1-18.4 psu) psu respectively, whereas the 11-day $LS_{50}$ at $25^{\circ}C$ for adult and juvenile was 16.8 psu (confidence limits 12.9-21.2 psu) and 22.4 (confidence limits 20.5-24.7 psu) psu respictively. In conditions of decreasing salinity, Oxygen consumption and filtration rates decreased or varied irregularly as salinity decreased. The results of this study could prove important in investigating causes of mass mortality and managing shellfish aquaculture farms.