First evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from Sardinian lagoons (central–western Mediterranean, Italy)
The term intersex describes alterations in gonadal development with the simultaneous presence of male and female reproductive stages in the same gonad of a gonochoristic species. In coastal and estuarine environments, euryhaline fish living in polluted waters such as Mugilidae can frequently show th...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2017-04-01
|
Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2016.1264260 |
id |
doaj-02db0c15ab974715abcc50d1fe80e630 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-02db0c15ab974715abcc50d1fe80e6302020-11-25T01:54:26ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1828-051X2017-04-0116228329110.1080/1828051X.2016.12642601264260First evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from Sardinian lagoons (central–western Mediterranean, Italy)Elisabetta Antuofermo0Roberta Ariu1Giovanni Pietro Burrai2Marta Polinas3Marina Antonella Sanna4Giuseppe Esposito5Marino Prearo6Antonio Pais7University of SassariUniversity of SassariUniversity of SassariUniversity of SassariUniversity of SassariUniversity of SassariLiguria and Aosta ValleyUniversity of SassariThe term intersex describes alterations in gonadal development with the simultaneous presence of male and female reproductive stages in the same gonad of a gonochoristic species. In coastal and estuarine environments, euryhaline fish living in polluted waters such as Mugilidae can frequently show these sexual anomalies. In this work, we analysed adult specimens of three species of euryhaline mullets (Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata and Mugil cephalus) from two Sardinian lagoons (Marceddì and San Teodoro) devoted to extensive aquacultural practices, in order to identify putative alterations in gonads and in gamete development. Overall, 13 of the 158 mullets examined (8.2%) were affected by gonadal disorders: four subjects (one C. labrosus, two L. aurata and one M. cephalus) exhibiting an intersex condition were found in the Marceddì lagoon and the other nine (five C. labrosus, two L. aurata and two M. cephalus) in the San Teodoro lagoon. Twelve of these gonads were classified as testis-ova (TOs) and one, belonging to a C. labrosus specimen, was a mixed gonadal tissue (MGT). Intersex condition was evaluated using an intersex index and all the recorded values showed a mild Ovotestis Severity Index (OSI). However, our findings suggest that fish gonadal disorders may be underestimated in extensive reared fish species, particularly in coastal brackish environments polluted by intensive agriculture and animal husbandry activities.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2016.1264260Brackish water aquaculturefishgonadal disordershistopathologyMugilidae |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Elisabetta Antuofermo Roberta Ariu Giovanni Pietro Burrai Marta Polinas Marina Antonella Sanna Giuseppe Esposito Marino Prearo Antonio Pais |
spellingShingle |
Elisabetta Antuofermo Roberta Ariu Giovanni Pietro Burrai Marta Polinas Marina Antonella Sanna Giuseppe Esposito Marino Prearo Antonio Pais First evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from Sardinian lagoons (central–western Mediterranean, Italy) Italian Journal of Animal Science Brackish water aquaculture fish gonadal disorders histopathology Mugilidae |
author_facet |
Elisabetta Antuofermo Roberta Ariu Giovanni Pietro Burrai Marta Polinas Marina Antonella Sanna Giuseppe Esposito Marino Prearo Antonio Pais |
author_sort |
Elisabetta Antuofermo |
title |
First evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from Sardinian lagoons (central–western Mediterranean, Italy) |
title_short |
First evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from Sardinian lagoons (central–western Mediterranean, Italy) |
title_full |
First evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from Sardinian lagoons (central–western Mediterranean, Italy) |
title_fullStr |
First evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from Sardinian lagoons (central–western Mediterranean, Italy) |
title_full_unstemmed |
First evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from Sardinian lagoons (central–western Mediterranean, Italy) |
title_sort |
first evidence of intersex condition in extensively reared mullets from sardinian lagoons (central–western mediterranean, italy) |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
series |
Italian Journal of Animal Science |
issn |
1828-051X |
publishDate |
2017-04-01 |
description |
The term intersex describes alterations in gonadal development with the simultaneous presence of male and female reproductive stages in the same gonad of a gonochoristic species. In coastal and estuarine environments, euryhaline fish living in polluted waters such as Mugilidae can frequently show these sexual anomalies. In this work, we analysed adult specimens of three species of euryhaline mullets (Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata and Mugil cephalus) from two Sardinian lagoons (Marceddì and San Teodoro) devoted to extensive aquacultural practices, in order to identify putative alterations in gonads and in gamete development. Overall, 13 of the 158 mullets examined (8.2%) were affected by gonadal disorders: four subjects (one C. labrosus, two L. aurata and one M. cephalus) exhibiting an intersex condition were found in the Marceddì lagoon and the other nine (five C. labrosus, two L. aurata and two M. cephalus) in the San Teodoro lagoon. Twelve of these gonads were classified as testis-ova (TOs) and one, belonging to a C. labrosus specimen, was a mixed gonadal tissue (MGT). Intersex condition was evaluated using an intersex index and all the recorded values showed a mild Ovotestis Severity Index (OSI). However, our findings suggest that fish gonadal disorders may be underestimated in extensive reared fish species, particularly in coastal brackish environments polluted by intensive agriculture and animal husbandry activities. |
topic |
Brackish water aquaculture fish gonadal disorders histopathology Mugilidae |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2016.1264260 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT elisabettaantuofermo firstevidenceofintersexconditioninextensivelyrearedmulletsfromsardinianlagoonscentralwesternmediterraneanitaly AT robertaariu firstevidenceofintersexconditioninextensivelyrearedmulletsfromsardinianlagoonscentralwesternmediterraneanitaly AT giovannipietroburrai firstevidenceofintersexconditioninextensivelyrearedmulletsfromsardinianlagoonscentralwesternmediterraneanitaly AT martapolinas firstevidenceofintersexconditioninextensivelyrearedmulletsfromsardinianlagoonscentralwesternmediterraneanitaly AT marinaantonellasanna firstevidenceofintersexconditioninextensivelyrearedmulletsfromsardinianlagoonscentralwesternmediterraneanitaly AT giuseppeesposito firstevidenceofintersexconditioninextensivelyrearedmulletsfromsardinianlagoonscentralwesternmediterraneanitaly AT marinoprearo firstevidenceofintersexconditioninextensivelyrearedmulletsfromsardinianlagoonscentralwesternmediterraneanitaly AT antoniopais firstevidenceofintersexconditioninextensivelyrearedmulletsfromsardinianlagoonscentralwesternmediterraneanitaly |
_version_ |
1724987458933751808 |