Abstract

Surgical methods used for transmitter implantation should be carefully evaluated to determine their effect on fish.^1,2 In this study, 120 Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups. Each group was assigned a different suture material for coeliotomy closure: antibacterial poliglecaprone 25, poliglecaprone 25, polyglactin 910, and polypropylene. Fifteen fish in each treatment group also received an intracoelomic sonic transmitter. Thirty fish were subjected to the same handling procedures, but did not undergo surgery. To evaluate healing, five fish from each group were euthanatized and subjected to necropsy and histologic examination of the incision site at 1, 2, and 8 wk post surgery. Preliminary results indicate that significant healing occurred by 8 wk at 12.5°C. Inversion of the incision was evident at 2 wk, and may be a result of the simple interrupted suture pattern or healing in this species. Varying degrees of erythema occurred during the initial 12 wk in all groups. Polypropylene exhibited expected retention, but both polyglactin 910 and polypropylene groups also exhibited suture retention up to 12 wk. The polyglactin 910 group suffered from higher rates of suture loss and dehiscence throughout the initial 8 wk, and signs of abnormal healing were still evident at 12 wk. Twenty-five percent of the transmitters were expelled predominately through the vent up to 12 wk after surgery. Our data indicates that either antibacterial poliglecaprone 25 or poliglecaprone 25 appears more appropriate for skin closure in the Siberian sturgeon, and intracoelomic transmitter expulsion appears more frequent than previously reported.^3-9

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for making this research project possible.

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