The external phenotype-skeleton link in post-hatch farmed Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Skeletal deformities in farmed fish are a recurrent problem. External malformations are easily recognized, but there is little information on how external malformations relate to malformations of the axial skeleton: the external phenotype–skeleton link. Here, this link is studied in post-hatch to fi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Fish Diseases
Main Authors: De Clercq, Adelbert, Perrott, MR, Davie, PS, Preece, MA, Huysseune, Ann, Witten, Paul Eckhard
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Biology and Life Sciences
Atlantic salmon
early diagnosis
skeleton
temperature
zebrafish
BASS DICENTRARCHUS-LABRAX
EUROPEAN FISH LARVAE
EARLY-LIFE STAGES
SPARUS-AURATA L
VERTEBRAL COLUMN
CAUDAL SKELETON
EGG SIZE
SALAR L
EMBRYONIC-DEVELOPMENT
Online Access:https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8594223
http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8594223
https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12753
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8594223/file/8594228
Description
Summary:Skeletal deformities in farmed fish are a recurrent problem. External malformations are easily recognized, but there is little information on how external malformations relate to malformations of the axial skeleton: the external phenotype–skeleton link. Here, this link is studied in post-hatch to first-feed life stages of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) raised at 4, 8 and 12°C. Specimens were whole-mount- stained for cartilage and bone, and analysed by histology. In all temperature groups, externally normal specimens can have internal malformations, predominantly fused vertebral centra. Conversely, externally malformed fish usually display internal mal- formations. Externally curled animals typically have malformed haemal and neural arches. External malformations affecting a single region (tail malformation and bent neck) relate to malformed notochords and early fusion of fused vertebral centra. The frequencies of internal malformations in both externally normal and malformed specimens show a U-shaped response, with lowest frequency in 8°C specimens. The fused vertebral centra that occur in externally normal specimens represent a malfor- mation that can be contained and could be carried through into harvest size animals. This study highlights the relationship between external phenotype and axial skeleton and may help to set the framework for the early identification of skeletal malfor- mations on fish farms.

Similar Items