First Documented Outbreaks of Lactococcus garvieae in Gilthead sea bream ( Sparus aurata ) in the Gulf of Follonica, Tuscany, Italy

Viral nervous necrosis outbreaks caused by the RGNNV/SJNNV reassortant betanodavirus in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Circadian feeding schedules in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): A comparative approach towards improving dietary fish oil utilization and n-3 LC-PUFA metabolism

Currently available data show that shellfish and finfish production in Italy, derived both from fisheries and aquaculture activities, is on the order of 474,000 tons, each activity representing 50 % of the total amount. In this context, the finfish aquaculture industry contributes on average 31 % to the national aquaculture production and on average 59 % of its value, giving a total amount of 72,000 tons and a value of around 351 million € (2010). According to FEAP statistics, Italy is the fourth largest finfish producer in EU27, after the UK, Greece, and Spain, while it is also one of the six largest finfish producers among the non-EU and EU member countries, together with Norway, UK, Greece, Turkey, and Spain. Presently, fish culture activities are mainly focused on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, 55.5 %), followed by European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, 13.6 %), gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, 12.2 %), gray mullet (Mugil cephalus, 5.3 %), sturgeon (Acipenser spp., 2 %), and European eel (Anguilla anguilla, 1.7 %). Over the last 20 years, freshwater fish production and aquaculture (trout, carp, and eel) have decreased in Italy, with the exception of sturgeon. In contrast, marine fish production has significantly increased during the same period, and the two leading species, European sea bass and gilthead sea bream, presently contribute 25.8 % of the finfish production. From 1,900 tons in 1990, production reached 19,000 tons in 2010, with a 900 % increase, at an average percentage of 4.5 %. In addition, new marine fish species were successfully cultured over the same period. This review outlines the past and present situation of finfish culture in Italy and discusses future developments and priorities, with particular emphasis on new, emerging aquaculture species.

Piscine lactococcosis, caused by Lactococcus garvieae, has traditionally been reported in rainbow trout and marine fish in specific regions. However, its first outbreak in farmed gilthead seabream Sparus aurata in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea marks a significant expansion in the distribution of the disease. In 2024, a total of 212 gilthead seabream from three different aquaculture facilities, including one offshore farm with floating cages and two land-based tank farms, were subjected to diagnostic exams during mortality outbreaks. Bacterial isolation and molecular identification confirmed L. garvieae in market-size gilthead seabream collected during mortality outbreaks in the warm season or at seawater temperatures > 18°C. Our results highlight the importance of environmental monitoring and pathogen management in preventing piscine lactococcosis. The outbreaks align with previous studies on L. garvieae infections in marine fish, particularly regarding water temperature. The expanding geographic range of the pathogen necessitates further investigation into its ecology, particularly in Mediterranean aquaculture. This study highlights the need for improved biosecurity measures, early detection methods, and tailored vaccination strategies to mitigate the impact of piscine lactococcosis in gilthead seabream farming. Future research should focus on understanding the environmental triggers and host-pathogen interactions to develop more effective control strategies.

Successful cryopreservation in biodegradable containers of sperm from aquaculture Mediterranean fishes

Effect of mechanical separation process on lipid oxidation in European aquacultured sea bass, gilthead sea bream, and rainbow trout products

Antibacterial and anti-PAF activity of lipid extracts from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Comparative efficacy of clove oil and 2-phenoxyethanol as anesthetics in the aquaculture of European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream ( Sparus aurata) at different temperatures

Virulence and Molecular Typing of Vibrio harveyi Strains Isolated from Cultured Dentex, Gilthead Sea Bream and European Sea Bass

Contrasting outcomes of Vibrio harveyi pathogenicity in gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata and European seabass, Dicentrachus labrax

In this study, 50 000 European seabass and 50 000 gilthead seabream with an average wet weight of 1.6 g were cultivated during 600 days under low water salinity conditions (7‰) of which getting out from underground at fixed 19°C, being produced in earthen ponds under commercial production conditions. From the beginning to the end of the experiment, the same fish feeds were used for both species throughout the study, and when European seabass reached 328.4±22.98 g, gilthead seabream reached to 369.12±24.11 g. At the end of the experiment, while the feed conversion rate (FCR) was calculated as 1.72±0.06 for European sea bass, it was calculated 1.53±0.03 for gilthead sea bream. Protein efficiency ratios were 1.24±0.17 for European seabass, and 1.40±0.06 for gilthead seabream. Significant differences were found between two species in terms of live weight and FCR (p 0.05). The results showed that gilthead seabream taken into earthen ponds and low salinity brackish water was able to reach 300 g and over live weight with faster and lower FCR values compared to European sea bass in the certain time.

From operculum and body tail movements to different coupling of physical activity and respiratory frequency in farmed gilthead sea bream and European sea bass. Insights on aquaculture biosensing

Rearing temperature enhances hepatic glucokinase but not glucose-6-phosphatase activities in European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream ( Sparus aurata) juveniles fed with the same level of glucose

The aim of the present study was the investigation of the biological cycle of the isopod parasite Ceratothoa oestroides (Risso, 1836), the way of installation in the host and the study of its pathology in young individuals of gilthead sea bream {Sparus aurata) and sea bass {Dicentrarchus labrax) raised in experimental aquariums. During the experiment, initially, 10 sea bass of marketable size (300-400gr) were collected infected with lice from the region of Chios and Epidavros. The lice were mature and gravid. The adults and their hosts were kept in 151t aquariums, with constant water of 32-33%c salinity at temperature of 21-22° C, until they would give both to young parasites. The time that parasites stayed in aquarium was three months. After three months, new hatched larvae appeared. The pulii II stage, which was responsible for the most alterations that were observed in the fish and particular in sea bass, were observed in the first week, after the hatching. In this stage, parasites swam freely in the surface of water column. At this phase, 100 parasites were transported in 2 different aquariums with the same conditions of salinity and temperature as in the first aquarium, where young uninfected individuals (3-5 gr) of gilthead sea bream {Sparus aurata) and sea bass {Dicentrarchus labrax) were placed. The number of the uninfected, healthy fish was 40 individuals per aquarium. During the duration of experiment four weekly samplings of five individuals per sample were performed and these underwent a macroscopical, parasitological and histopathological examination. In addition, the mortalities that existed and the final luck of parasites afterwards the death of their hosts were recorded. From the results, we concluded that pulii II stage caused serious lesions and eventually the death of mainly young fish, gilthead sea bream {Sparus aurata) and sea bass {Dicentrarchus labrax). The process from the moment of "invasion" of young parasites until their final installation in the buccal cavity lasted around 2 hours. In one week, all the isopods were installed in the buccal cavity of young gilthead sea bream {Sparus aurata) and sea bass {Dicentrarchus labrax). During the second week, the first symptoms of fish appeared. The infected fish swam fast and rubbed their body against the aquarium surface in order to remove the parasites. In the sea bass {Dicentrarchus labrax), with the appearance of first symptoms, the biggest rate of mortality (56,25%) followed, while in the gilthead sea bream {Sparus aurata), the biggest rate of mortality (52%) was observed in the third week. With regard to the luck of the young parasites that remained without host it was observed that they swam for 48 hours, then fell in the bottom of aquarium and after 24 hours the first mortalities started. The adult parasites, that gave the young pulii II after 24 hours, were dead in the bottom of aquarium.

Besides being an indispensable amino acid for protein synthesis, arginine (Arg) is also involved in a number of other physiological functions. Available data on the quantitative requirement for Arg in different teleosts appear to show much variability. So far, there are very limited data on the maintenance requirements of indispensable amino acids (IAA) in fish. In the present study, we compared N and Arg requirements for maintenance and growth of four finfish species: rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), turbot (Psetta maxima), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Groups of fish having an initial body weight close to 5-7 g were fed semi-purified diets containing graded levels of N (0 to 8 % DM) and Arg (0 to 3 % DM) over 4 to 6 weeks. For each species, N and Arg requirements for maintenance and for growth were calculated regressing daily N gain against daily N or Arg intakes. N requirement for maintenance was estimated to be 37.8, 127.3, 84.7 and 45.1 mg/kg metabolic body weight per d and 2.3, 2.2, 2.6 and 2.5 g for 1 g N accretion, in rainbow trout, turbot, gilthead seabream and European seabass respectively. The four species studied appear to have very low or no dietary Arg requirements for maintenance. Arg requirement for g N accretion was calculated to be 0.86 g in rainbow trout and between 1.04-1.11 g in the three marine species. Turbot required more N for maintenance than the other three species, possibly explaining its reputedly high overall dietary protein requirement. Data suggest a small but sufficient endogenous Arg synthesis to maintain whole body N balance and differences between freshwater and marine species as regards Arg requirement. It is worth verifying this tendency with other IAA.