Small specimens of the Asiatic bivalve Corbicula c.f. fluminea (Müller) secrete long mucous threads through their exhalent siphons that act as draglines to buoy the animal into a water column. These mucous strands, secreted in response to water current stimuli, are produced by dense accumulations of ctenidial mucocytes and may help in the downstream or interstream dispersal of this rapidly spreading exotic clam.
Ultrastructural alterations in the liver and kidney of 3-month-old white sea bass, Latescalcarifer, after cadmium exposure were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). One group of fish was exposed to a cadmium concentration of 10 mg/L (acute) for 96 h in a static system, and another group was exposed to cadmium concentrations of 0.8 and 3 mg/L cadmium (subchronic) for 3 months in a recirculation closed system. Ultrastructural alterations observed in the hepatocytes included mitochondrial condensation, swelling, and lysis. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) showed dilation, fragmentation, and vesiculation. After subchronic exposure there were numerous large lipid droplets and abundant stored glycogen. Ultrastructural alterations observed in the proximal tubules of the kidney included nuclear degeneration, condensation, and massive swelling of the mitochondria; RER fragmentation and vesiculation. Disorganized brush borders and increased numbers of large hydropic vacuoles and lysosomes were also observed.
Shellfish have been farmed in Thailand for over 100 years, and during this time, traditional culture techniques have gradually given way to more sophisticated and capital intensive methods. Farmed shellfish production increased from 73,976 to 138,202 metric tonnes between 1988 and 2000. Major species currently under cultivation include the green mussel Perna viridis, the blood cockle Anadara granosa, and three species of oyster (Saccostrea cucullata, Crassostrea belcheri, and Crassostrea iredalei). The horse mussel Arcuatula arcuatula is also produced in limited amounts for animal feed, and gastropods such as the abalone Haliotis asinina and the spotted babylon Babylonia areolata are in the initial phases of commercialization. With the globalization of fisheries commodity markets, the Thai shellfish sector is slowly implementing more rigorous management and certification processes. These procedures are required to access European, American and Japanese markets, and would also serve to decrease the risk of gastrointestinal disease for local consumers.
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