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Evaluation of visible implant elastomer tags for pathogenesis research in Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus )
Author(s) -
Featherstone Zoe L,
Turnbull James F,
Auchinachie Niall A,
Crumlish Margaret
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.12688
Subject(s) - nile tilapia , oreochromis , biology , streptococcus agalactiae , tilapia , streptococcus iniae , fish <actinopterygii> , operculum (bryozoa) , fishery , zoology , streptococcus , bacteria , genetics , genus
Two different colours (red and green) of visible implant elastomer ( VIE ) were used in Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ). The visibility, location and retention of the VIE tags was investigated and any adverse effects on fish survival and growth determined. The use of VIE tags for monitoring individual fish during a bacterial challenge with either Streptococcus agalactiae or S. iniae was also studied. The results showed that VIE treated fish were lighter but not shorter than the non‐tagged control fish and that tagging caused no mortality. The retention of tags was better at the base of pectoral fin followed by the nasal area, lower abdomen, upper abdomen and branchiostegal rays inside the operculum. During the bacterial challenge experiment individual animals could be easily identified using the VIE tags. In this preliminary study, VIE tagging appears suitable for Nile tilapia research, as with other fish species, and could be a novel method to identify individual animals during microbial pathogenesis studies.