Background The study evaluated the effects of a butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin mixture on the immune system and stress in olive flounders, Paralichthys olivaceus. Methods The mixture was intramuscularly injected into olive flounders at the current recommended dose. Furthermore, to determine the toxicity of overdose, a histological examination was performed after injection of 1-, 2-, and 4-fold higher than the recommended dose. Results Immunity parameters were altered during the first 2 weeks after a single intramuscular injection of the mixture in olive flounders (average weight 20.5 ± 1.1 g). The levels of all tested items, except glutathione and anti-protease, were higher in the treated group than in the control group in the first week; the levels of all tested items were even higher in the second week in the treated group than in the control group. The level of nitro-blue tetrazolium, myeloperoxidase, and superoxide dismutase between the two groups differed significantly. Changes in the stress response to different seawater temperatures (increase or decrease in seawater temperature by 3–5 °C using 50 L heated or cooled seawater tanks) were studied by determining the changes in cortisol and glucose levels on days 1 and 7. Both cortisol and glucose levels were significantly lower in the treated group than in the control group. Histological analysis did not reveal any abnormalities after intramuscular injection of the mixture at doses that were 1-, 2-, and 4-fold higher than the recommended dose. Conclusions Intramuscular injection of a butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin mixture is safe and effective in reducing stress and improving immunity in olive flounders.

Paralichthys olivaceus (olive flounder) is widely cultivated in Korea. However, data on the antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial pathogens that infect olive flounders in Korea are limited. The susceptibility of 84 strains of 3 pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus spp., Vibrio spp., and Edwardsiella piscicida) to 18 antibiotics was tested using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) panels, and the distribution of the MIC values for each species was confirmed. Among the panel antibiotics, nine commonly used antibiotics were selected, and the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index and antibiotic resistance pattern were indicated using the disk diffusion method. It was confirmed that most of the isolates had a MAR index greater than 0.2, indicating a high-risk source. The distribution patterns of the MIC values and resistance pattern between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria showed slightly different results. Ampicillin, erythromycin, and clindamycin were more effective against gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria. However, the MIC values of flumequine for gram-positive bacteria were higher than those of gram-negative bacteria. Through the distribution patterns of the MIC values and resistance patterns presented in this study, the need for monitoring the multidrug-resistant bacteria in aquaculture is emphasised.

In this study, a fish metabolic accelerator (a combination of butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin [BPC]) was injected into the muscle of the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, to investigate its effect on immunity and stress in fish maintained at low temperatures. A single dose of BPC was injected (100 mg/kg body weight) into the olive flounder, and its immunity and stress were observed after one and two weeks. Immunity tests revealed the presence of lysozyme (LZM), nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), anti-protease (AP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total immunoglobulin (TIg). BPC injection was found to increase immunity activity compared to the control group. In particular, there was significantly high GPx activity. There was similarly high activity for MPO and GPx in the first week following the injection, followed by significant differences between the BPC-injected and control groups in the second week. There was a reduced low water-temperature stress response in the BPC-injected fish, as evidenced by the cortisol and glucose levels of the control and BPC groups. Lower levels were also observed in the BPC group than the control group during the second week. Cortisol levels were significantly lower in the BPC group than the control group. Histological examinations were conducted in the first and second weeks after the intramuscular injection of the recommended BPC dose to confirm the safety of BPC in aquaculture. There were no abnormalities observed in any tissue samples. This study confirms that the injection of BPC is safe even when used in a culture situation. BPC helps relieve stress and improves non-specific immune responses (innate immunity) in the olive flounder.

This study investigated the trend in emaciation infection outbreak in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) of Jeju island, South Korea, during 2014−2015. A total of 900 fish were systematically examined by PCR method using the EM-F/EM-R primer set in April, May, September, November, and December 2014, and the infection rate was recorded. In 2015, the same examination was conducted in March, May, July, and October but with 660 fish. It was found that the infection rate was 18.3~71.6% in 2014, which increased to 16.3~90.3% in 2015. Furthermore, September and December in 2014 and March, July, and October in 2015 showed a relatively higher infection rate. According to the infection trend analysis, which depended on the sample size, the infection occurred in all of fish sizes in this study and 11~30 cm fish group showed the highest infection rate. Histological examination confirmed that the kidney areas of the emaciating infected olive flounder contained several spores of 4~9 μm, and in severe cases, the elimination and destruction of tissue were confirmed by PCR. Thus, an important portion of farmed olive flounders in the Jeju region suffers from emaciation disease. This epidemiological survey serves as a useful reference on the emaciation disease of cultured olive flounders in Jeju.

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