Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a flatfish of increasingly interest in aquaculture in recent years. The establishment of the production requires the determination of the optimal conditions for development, growth and welfare of the sole in tanks. One important problem in cultured Senegalese sole is the presence of skeletal malformations that alter the morphology of the fish and cause the consumer's rejection. In contrast to the external study of the fish, the radiographic imaging allows to observe the existing types of deformities. The objective of this study was to define a straightforward evaluation method of skeletal alterations in Senegalese sole by means of computed radiography (CR). Fish between 255 and 352 days after hatching were randomly sampled, categorized according to their external appearance by the farm staff, and CR evaluated. Based on our previous research on skeletal malformations in Senegalese sole, we assessed the changes in the vertebrae and vertebral arches, processes and spines. Deformities varied from slight loss of structure of a single vertebra, to multiple vertebral deformities, fusions and alterations in intervertebral spaces that may result in lordosis/kyphosis or scoliosis. Anomalies in the abdominal region, caudal region and caudal complex were given a score: zero, absence of deformities; one, minor malformations; two, major malformations without altering body shape; and three, severe skeletal changes modifying gross morphology of the fish. An overall score for each fish was assumed as the highest number obtained in the three regions. The results showed that the caudal complex was the region with higher rate of deformities, usually minor; more severe malformations appeared in the caudal region. A high number of anomalies without effect on the external morphology were observed, and some gross changes in body shape did not correspond to bone alterations. CR allows the characterization of externally undetectable deformities in juvenile sole in a direct way, and is useful to discern the evolution and influence of the malformations on the gross morphology.

Reared Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis Kaup show a high incidence of vertebral anomalies; however, little is known about its skeletal anomaly profile in the later farming phases. The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed description and quantification of the most common skeletal anomalies in reared Senegalese sole in the juvenile stage by means of computed radiography. A total of 374 Senegalese sole were classified according to the external morphology of the fish as normal or altered and then radiographed in latero-lateral and in dorso-ventral projections. Radiographic evaluation of anomalies focused especially on vertebral body anomalies (VBA) and vertebral column deviations (VCD). The 2 orthogonal projections provided a more complete visualization of the skeleton. Approximately 75% of the individuals showed at least 1 anomaly, while VBA and/or VCD were detected in 48.9% of the specimens. Regarding external morphology, 88% of the fish were categorized as normal, although about 72% of these normal fish displayed abnormalities in radiographies. The most frequent anomalies consisted of deformations of the caudal complex plates (hypurals, parhypural and epural), preurals and caudal vertebrae. Scoliosis was the most prevalent among VCD, affecting the caudal area in almost 15% of the individuals. The anomaly profile at the juvenile stages showed some differences compared to what has been reported previously in earlier stages of development. In light of these results, further investigation into the progression of skeletal anomalies over time and the causative factors at later stages is required.

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