Description of the unusual digestive tract of Platax orbicularis and the potential impact of Tenacibaculum maritimum infection

PeerJ

article

Maud Alix¹  Eric Gasset¹  Agnes Bardon-Albaret³  Jean Noel⁴  Nelly Pirot⁴  Valérie Perez¹  Denis Coves¹  Denis Saulnier³  Jehan-Hervé Lignot¹  Patricia N. Cucchi¹ 

[1] MARBEC;Institute of Marine Research;Ifremer;BCM, Université de Montpellier;IRCM, Université de Montpellier

关键词: Digestive system;    Tenacibaculosis;    Mucous;    Osmoregulation;    Absorption;    Batfish;    Teleost;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.9966

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundEphippidae fish are characterized by a discoid shape with a very small visceral cavity. Among them Platax orbicularis has a high economic potential due to its flesh quality and flesh to carcass ratio. Nonetheless, the development of its aquaculture is limited by high mortality rates, especially due to Tenacibaculum maritimum infection, occurring one to three weeks after the transfer of fishes from bio-secure land-based aquaculture system to the lagoon cages for growth. Among the lines of defense against this microbial infection, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is less studied. The knowledge about the morphofunctional anatomy of this organ in P. orbicularis is still scarce. Therefore, the aims of this study are to characterize the GIT in non-infected P. orbicularis juveniles to then investigate the impact of T. maritimum on this multifunctional organ.MethodsIn the first place, the morpho-anatomy of the GIT in non-infected individuals was characterized using various histological techniques. Then, infected individuals, experimentally challenged by T. maritimum were analysed and compared to the previously established GIT reference.ResultsThe overlapped shape of the GIT of P. orbicularis is probably due to its constrained compaction in a narrow visceral cavity. Firstly, the GIT was divided into 10 sections, from the esophagus to the rectum. For each section, the structure of the walls was characterized, with a focus on mucus secretions and the presence of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump. An identification key allowing the characterization of the GIT sections using in toto histology is given. Secondly, individuals challenged with T. maritimum exhibited differences in mucus type and proportion and, modifications in the mucosal and muscle layers. These changes could induce an imbalance in the trade-off between the GIT functions which may be in favour of protection and immunity to the disadvantage of nutrition capacities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY