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Title: MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FISH SIZE, NUTRITION, HEMATOCRIT VALUES, IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS, BACTERIAL FLORA AND LESIONS IN ATLANTIC MENHADEN(B T)FROM ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENTS IN DELAWARE

Author
item Klesius, Phillip
item Evans, Joyce
item HUMPHRIES, E - DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NA
item Shelby, Richard
item Shoemaker, Craig
item DICKY, E - DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NA
item Garcia, Julio
item COLE, T - DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2000
Publication Date: 10/12/2000
Citation: KLESIUS, P.H., EVANS, J.J., HUMPHRIES, E., SHELBY, R.A., SHOEMAKER, C.A., DICKY, E., GARCIA, J.C., COLE, T. MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FISH SIZE, NUTRITION, HEMATOCRIT VALUES, IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS, BACTERIAL FLORA AND LESIONS IN ATLANTIC MENHADEN(BREVOORTIA TYRANNUS)FROM ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENTS IN DELAWARE. DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT CONTROL, DELAWARE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE / FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP. 2000.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The 'cause and effect' of menhaden exhibiting ulcerative lesions is the subject of much subjection among investigators. Feral fish can exhibit similar skin ulcerations that result from mixed etiologies and thus cause problems of a singular 'cause and effect'designation. A multi-disciplinary approach is more likely to explain the complex relationships between feral fish health, environment and pollution. The study was undertaken using histopathological, hematological, serological, bacteriological, and nutritional methodologies to determine relationships between health variables of Atlantic menhaden with and without ulcerative lesions. Menhaden were collected live, measured and examined for external lesions and parasites. Blood was collected from the caudal vein into heparinized capillary tubes for hematocrit and immunoglobulin determinations. A goat antiserum against the heavy chain of menhaden immunoglobulin was produced and an enzyme-linked immunoassay using this anti-immunoglobulin was developed to determine the level of immunoglobulin in the menhaden serum. Microbiological swabs were collected from the brain, head kidney and external lesion or normal skin and then inoculated onto sheep blood agar for the isolation and identification of the genus and species of bacterial flora within 24 hours. Random samples of menhaden were fixed for histological evaluations. Whole menhaden were collected for total body composition analyses. This data, preliminary analyses and conclusions will be presented.