Evaluation of surgical implantation of electronic tags in European eel and effects of different suture materials
Eva B. Thorstad A E , Finn Økland A , Håkan Westerberg B , Kim Aarestrup C and Julian D. Metcalfe D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway.
B Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Freshwater Research, 17893 Drottningholm, Sweden.
C Technical University of Denmark, Section for Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, Vejlsøvej 39, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
D Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK.
E Corresponding author. Email: eva.thorstad@nina.no
Marine and Freshwater Research 64(4) 324-331 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12217
Submitted: 14 August 2012 Accepted: 29 January 2013 Published: 10 April 2013
Abstract
Effects of implanting data-storage tags in European eel, Anguilla anguilla, and the suitability of different suture materials (braided permanent silk, permanent monofilament, absorbable and absorbable antibacterial) were examined. The tags consisted of an electronic unit and three floats on a wire, making them flexible and able to follow the swimming movements of the eel. No mortality occurred, and tagged fish did not differ from the control fish in growth. Sutures were shed or dissolved slowly. After 4 weeks, there was no difference among the groups in the proportion of sutures left. After 6 months, fish with braided silk had largely shed their sutures, fish with monofilament sutures had the majority of sutures left, whereas the fish with absorbable sutures were intermediate in between. Fish with monofilament sutures showed the least-extensive inflammation reactions and fastest wound healing. Antibacterial treatment had no effect on inflammation or healing rates. After 6 months, the tag started to become expelled through the incision in five fish (12%). The internal reaction appeared stronger around the floats, suggesting that the coating material of the floats created a tissue reaction, which should be further investigated. Intraperitoneal implantation appears to be a suitable tagging method for European silver eel, and it is recommended to close incisions using permanent monofilament sutures.
Additional keywords: Anguilla anguilla, archival tag, body implant, DST, tagging effect, telemetry.
References
Aarestrup, K., Thorstad, E. B., Koed, A., Jepsen, N., Svendsen, J. C., Pedersen, M. I., Skov, C., and Økland, F. (2008). Survival and behaviour of European silver eel in late freshwater and early marine phase during spring migration. Fisheries Management and Ecology 15, 435–440.| Survival and behaviour of European silver eel in late freshwater and early marine phase during spring migration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Aarestrup, K., Økland, F., Hansen, M. M., Righton, D., Gargan, P., Castonguay, M., Bernatchez, L., Howey, P., Sparholt, H., Pedersen, M. I., and McKinley, R. S. (2009). Oceanic spawning migration of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Science 325, 1660.
| Oceanic spawning migration of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtFGqt77O&md5=95d10e65231c74c4874b466d74f6f04eCAS | 19779192PubMed |
Baras, E., and Jeandrain, D. (1998). Evaluation of surgery procedures for tagging eel Anguilla anguilla (L.) with biotelemetry transmitters. Hydrobiologia 371/372, 107–111.
| Evaluation of surgery procedures for tagging eel Anguilla anguilla (L.) with biotelemetry transmitters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baras, E., Jeandrain, D., Serouge, B., and Philippart, J. C. (1998). Seasonal variations in time and space utilization by radio-tagged yellow eels Anguilla anguilla (L.) in a small stream. Hydrobiologia 371/372, 187–198.
| Seasonal variations in time and space utilization by radio-tagged yellow eels Anguilla anguilla (L.) in a small stream.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bridger, C. J., and Booth, R. J. (2003). The effects of biotelemetry transmitter presence and attachment procedures on fish physiology and behaviour. Reviews in Fisheries Science 11, 13–34.
| The effects of biotelemetry transmitter presence and attachment procedures on fish physiology and behaviour.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cooke, S. J., Woodley, C. M., Eppard, M. B., Brown, R. S., and Nielsen, J. L. (2011). Advancing the surgical implantation of electronic tags in fish: a gap analysis and research agenda based on a review of trends in intracoelomic tagging effect studies. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 21, 127–151.
| Advancing the surgical implantation of electronic tags in fish: a gap analysis and research agenda based on a review of trends in intracoelomic tagging effect studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cottrill, A., Økland, F., Aarestrup, K., Jepsen, N., Koed, A., Hunter, K. J., Butterworth, K. G., and McKinley, R. S. (2006). Evaluation of three telemetry transmitter attachment methods for female silver-phase American eels (Anguilla rostrata Leseur). Journal of Great Lakes Research 32, 502–511.
| Evaluation of three telemetry transmitter attachment methods for female silver-phase American eels (Anguilla rostrata Leseur).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davidsen, J. G., Finstad, B., Økland, F., Thorstad, E. B., Mo, T. A., and Rikardsen, A. H. (2011). Early marine migration of European silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) in northern Norway. Journal of Fish Biology 78, 1390–1404.
| Early marine migration of European silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) in northern Norway.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3Mvot1WltA%3D%3D&md5=a8b851734db11769ea28f7f315e4959fCAS | 21539549PubMed |
Deelder, C. L. (1984). ‘Synopsis of Biological Data on the Eel Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758). FAO Fisheries Synopsis 80.’ Revision 1. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome.)
Deters, K. A., Brown, R. S., Carter, K. M., Boyd, J. W., Eppard, M. B., and Seaburg, A. G. (2010). Performance assessment of suture type, water temperature, and surgeon skill in juvenile Chinook salmon surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 139, 888–899.
| Performance assessment of suture type, water temperature, and surgeon skill in juvenile Chinook salmon surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Durif, C., Dufour, S., and Elie, P. (2005). The silvering process of Anguilla anguilla: a new classification from the yellow resident to the silver migrating stage. Journal of Fish Biology 66, 1025–1043.
| The silvering process of Anguilla anguilla: a new classification from the yellow resident to the silver migrating stage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Durif, C., Guibert, A., and Elie, P. (2009). Morphological discrimination of the silvering stages of the European eel. In ‘Eels at the Edge: Science, Status, and Conservation Concerns, Bethesda, Maryland’. (Eds J. M. Casselman and D. K. Cairns.) American Fisheries Society Symposium 58, 103–111.
Helm, W. T., and Tyus, H. M. (1992). Influence of coating type on retention of dummy transmitters implanted in rainbow trout. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 12, 257–259.
| Influence of coating type on retention of dummy transmitters implanted in rainbow trout.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holm, S. (1979). A simple sequentially rejective multiple test procedure. Scandinavian Journal of Statistics 6, 65–70.
Hurty, C. A., Brazik, D. C., McHugh Law, J., Sakamoto, K., and Lewbart, G. A. (2002). Evaluation of the tissue reactions in the skin and body wall of koi (Cyprinus carpio) to five suture materials. The Veterinary Record 151, 324–328.
| Evaluation of the tissue reactions in the skin and body wall of koi (Cyprinus carpio) to five suture materials.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38vpsVKqsQ%3D%3D&md5=a56cb36ab233fb642838bf825cc80ac9CAS | 12356236PubMed |
Iversen, M. H., Økland, F., Thorstad, E. B., and Finstad, B. (2012). The efficacy of Aqui-S vet. (iso-eugenol) and metomidate as anaesthetics in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.), and their effects on animal welfare and primary and secondary stress responses. Aquaculture and Research , .
| The efficacy of Aqui-S vet. (iso-eugenol) and metomidate as anaesthetics in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.), and their effects on animal welfare and primary and secondary stress responses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jepsen, N., Thorstad, E. B., Baras, E., and Koed, A. (2002). Surgical implantation of telemetry transmitters in fish: how much have we learned? Hydrobiologia 483, 239–248.
| Surgical implantation of telemetry transmitters in fish: how much have we learned?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jepsen, N., Mikkelsen, J. S., and Koed, A. (2008). Effects of tag and suture type on survival and growth of brown trout with surgically implanted telemetry tags in the wild. Journal of Fish Biology 72, 594–602.
| Effects of tag and suture type on survival and growth of brown trout with surgically implanted telemetry tags in the wild.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Knights, B. C., and Lasee, B. A. (1996). Effects of implanted transmitters on adult bluegills at two temperatures. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 125, 440–449.
| Effects of implanted transmitters on adult bluegills at two temperatures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martin, S. W., Long, J. A., and Pearsons, T. N. (1995). Comparison of survival, gonad development, and growth between rainbow trout with and without surgically implanted dummy radio transmitters. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 15, 494–498.
| Comparison of survival, gonad development, and growth between rainbow trout with and without surgically implanted dummy radio transmitters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Metcalfe, J. D., Righton, D. A., and Hunter, E. (2011). Fish and chips: the development of electronic tags for fish and their application in fisheries research at Cefas. Defra report, Fisheries 2027. CEFAS, Lowestoft, UK.
Moser, M. L., Ogden, D. A., and Sandford, B. P. (2007). Effects of surgically implanted transmitters on anguilliform fishes: lessons from lamprey. Journal of Fish Biology 71, 1847–1852.
| Effects of surgically implanted transmitters on anguilliform fishes: lessons from lamprey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pankhurst, N. W., and Sorensen, P. W. (1984). Degeneration of the alimentary tract in sexually maturing European Anguilla anguilla (L.) and American eels Anguilla rostrata (LeSeur). Canadian Journal of Zoology 62, 1143–1149.
| Degeneration of the alimentary tract in sexually maturing European Anguilla anguilla (L.) and American eels Anguilla rostrata (LeSeur).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ream, R. A., Theriot, J. A., and Somero, G. N. (2003). Influences of thermal acclimation and acute temperature change on the motility of epithelial wound-healing cells (keratocytes) of tropical, temperature and Antarctic fish. The Journal of Experimental Biology 206, 4539–4551.
| Influences of thermal acclimation and acute temperature change on the motility of epithelial wound-healing cells (keratocytes) of tropical, temperature and Antarctic fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14610038PubMed |
Tesch, F. W. (2003). ‘The Eel.’ (Blackwell Science: Oxford, UK.)
Thoreau, X., and Baras, E. (1997). Evaluation of surgery procedures for implanting telemetry transmitters into the body cavity of tilapia Oreochromis auretus. Aquatic Living Resources 10, 207–211.
| Evaluation of surgery procedures for implanting telemetry transmitters into the body cavity of tilapia Oreochromis auretus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thorstad, E. B., Kerwath, S. E., Attwood, C., Økland, F., Wilke, C. G., Cowley, P. D., and Næsje, T. F. (2009). Long-term effects of two sizes of surgically implanted acoustic transmitters on a predatory marine fish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 183–186.
| Long-term effects of two sizes of surgically implanted acoustic transmitters on a predatory marine fish (Pomatomus saltatrix).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wagner, G. N., and Stevens, E. D. (2000). Effects of different surgical techniques: suture material and location of incision site on the behaviour of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology 33, 103–114.
| Effects of different surgical techniques: suture material and location of incision site on the behaviour of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wagner, G. N., Stevens, E. D., and Harvey-Clark, C. (1999). Wound healing in rainbow trout following surgical site preparation with a poviodine–iodine antiseptic. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 11, 373–382.
| Wound healing in rainbow trout following surgical site preparation with a poviodine–iodine antiseptic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wagner, G. N., Stevens, E. D., and Byrne, P. (2000). Effects of suture type and patterns on surgical wound healing in rainbow trout. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 129, 1196–1205.
| Effects of suture type and patterns on surgical wound healing in rainbow trout.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wagner, G. N., Cooke, S. J., Brown, R. S., and Deters, K. (2011). Surgical implantation techniques for electronic tags in fish. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 21, 71–81.
| Surgical implantation techniques for electronic tags in fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Winter, H. V., Jansen, H. M., Adam, B., and Schwevers, U. (2005). Behavioural effects of surgically implanting transponders in European eel, Anguilla anguilla. In ‘Aquatic Telemetry: Advances and Applications. Proceedings of the Fifth Conference on Fish Telemetry held in Europe’. (Eds M. T. Spedicato, G. Lembo and G. Marmulla.) pp. 287–295. (FAO/COISPA: Rome.)
Winter, H. V., Jansen, H. M., and Bruijs, M. C. M. (2006). Assessing the impact of hydropower and fisheries on downstream migrating silver eel, Anguilla anguilla, by telemetry in the River Meuse. Ecology Freshwater Fish 15, 221–228.
| Assessing the impact of hydropower and fisheries on downstream migrating silver eel, Anguilla anguilla, by telemetry in the River Meuse.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wootton, R. J. (1990). ‘Ecology of Teleost Fishes.’ (Chapman & Hall: London.)
