The effect of feeding commercial diets on the development of juvenile crucian carp (Carassius carassius,L.). Part 1: Skeletal deformations

The crucian carp (Carassius carassius, L.) is a cyprinid freshwater species, whose wild‐living populations have decreased in recent years due to an increasing competition of invasive species. Several initiatives were launched, attempting to reintroduce this fish back into its native open waters, which requires the use of crucian carp fry grown under controlled conditions. However, the use of popular commercial diets results in severe developmental abnormalities. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of feeding natural feed (Chironomidae sp. larvae) or two popular commercial diets on the skeletal development of crucian carp juveniles. Whole‐mount staining and histological methods were used in the study. Skeletal tissues of fish fed both commercial diets were demineralized and displayed a variety of deformities, such as abnormal vertebral spines and vertebral fusion, as well as a new type of deformation, which involved the action of dorsal fin pterygiophores upon the spine. Finally, a novel analytical method was proposed, which utilizes LA‐ICP‐MS for the estimation of bone mineralization. The study proved that basic commercial diets are inadequate for the rearing of crucian carp juveniles.     

Use of supplemental amino acids on the success of reducing dietary protein levels for Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of essential amino acids (EAA) supplementation on the success of dietary protein reduction for Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). Five diets were formulated including a positive control (Diet 1, 378.4 g/kg protein), a negative control (Diet 5, 289.8 g/kg protein) and three test diets (Diet 2‐Diet 4, 340.4–299.0 g/kg protein supplemented with EAA). No significant decline of growth performance in fish fed decreased dietary protein with EAA supplementation, which were significantly higher than the negative control. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of protein and most EAAs were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments. Dietary treatments did not affect whole‐body composition, but influenced protein and EAAs retentions. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) excretion decreased with the decreasing dietary protein, and the highest plasma ammonia content was observed in fish fed Diet 5. Plasma glucose concentration increased with the decreasing dietary protein reduction, while other plasma parameters were not affected by dietary treatments. These results indicated that low‐protein diets (299.0 g/kg) supplemented with EAA can maintain protein, EAA digestibility and retention in Jian carp, and also has benefit in the reduction of TAN excretion.     

添加芽孢杆菌对草鱼池塘中真核微生物的影响

为了研究添加芽孢杆菌对池塘中真核微生物群落结构和理化因子的影响,采用高通量测序技术分析了实验组(添加芽孢杆菌池塘)与对照组(普通池塘)水体真核微生物群落结构,同时分析了两组池塘的水体理化指标。结果表明:8、9月实验组池塘水体中TN、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。水体中梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana)、红囊藻(Hedriocystis)、蓝隐藻(Chroomonas)、丝孢酵母属(Trichosporon)和小环藻属(Cyclotella)真核微生物丰度显著高于对照组(P0.05)。实验组池塘水体真核微生物Chao1指数和Shannon指数显著高于对照组(P0.05)。实验结果证实:通过向池塘添加芽孢杆菌,可以改变水体中真核微生物群落的结构,从而实现对池塘理化因子的调节。研究结果对于降低水产养殖尾水对水域环境的污染具有一定的意义。     

Two biomass preparation methods provide insights into studying microbial communities of intestinal mucosa in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Animal digestive tract is habitat for a large number of autochthonous microbiota, which play central roles in multiple biological and physiological processes of the host. In this study, two different micro‐biomass preparation methods were employed to evaluate the diversity of intestinal mucosa‐associated microbiota in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Genomic DNAs were isolated either directly from intestinal mucosal samples (group A), or from micro‐biomass after microbial dissociation (group B). Community richness, diversity and evenness indices were all higher in group B, but differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.97, P = 0.33, P = 0.34 respectively). Furthermore, group B samples exhibited an increased ratio of bacterial DNA in comparison with group A samples, but the difference was also not statistically significant (P = 0.74). In addition, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05) at the taxonomic level. Our results support previous findings that there exists a great abundance of the intestinal mucosa‐adherent microbiota in the grass carp; among these, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Spirochaetes and Fusobacteria were the most common phyla. Within these microbiota, Paenibacillus, Bacteroides, Bacillus and Cetobacterium genera comprise the majority of the community, implicating their functional importance (e.g. as probiotics) to their host. Our results contribute towards a better understanding of the intestinal microbial profile of grass carp. Both micro‐biomass preparation techniques proved to be feasible for studying mucosa‐adherent microbiota of grass carp; however, the second method (group B) provides a protocol that is somewhat more effective than the first method (group A).     

Two filamentous microalgae as feed ingredients improved flesh quality and enhanced antioxidant capacity and immunity of the gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

A 40‐day experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two filamentous microalgae as feed ingredients on growth performance, tissue fatty acid profiles, pigmentation and immunity of gibel carp (204.83 ± 2.17 g, mean ± SD). Three diets (control, Oedocladium sp. and Tribonema sp.) were formulated. In the control diet, no microalgal meal was added and into the Oedocladium and Tribonema diets were added 40 g/kg Oedocladium sp. meal and 50 g/kg Tribonema sp. meal, respectively. Compared to the control, the addition of Oedocladium sp. and Tribonema sp. had significant effects on tissue fatty acid profiles, antioxidant capacity and immunity without compromising growth, body composition and pigmentation. The addition of Tribonema sp. and Oedocladium sp. significantly increased the EPA, DHA profiles and the ratio of n‐3/n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and simultaneously decreased the n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids profile in fish muscles. Moreover, addition of Tribonema sp. to the diet significantly increased muscle palmitoleic profile and EPA + DHA contents. Furthermore, the addition of either microalga significantly increased the total superoxide dismutase activity level and the complement 3 and immunoglobulin M contents in the plasma. These results demonstrate that Oedocladium sp. and Tribonema sp. can be used as feed ingredients to improve flesh quality and increase the immunity of fish.     

Effect of Fermented Chinese Medicine Preparation by Bacillus subtilis on Growth Performance,Biochemical Indices,Antioxidant Parameters and Ability of Anti-infection of Common Carp

The objective of this study was to evaluate of the growth performance, serum biochemical indices, liver antioxidant parameters and ability of anti-infection with Aeromonas hydrophila by adding the fermented Chinese medicine by Bacillus Subtilis to the carp fish feed, and to find out the appropriate supplemental level of fermented Chinese medicine in diets. Carp fingerling with an initial body weight of (35±0.5) g were set up to 6 experimental diets supplemented with 0 (control group), 0.1‰, 0.5‰, 1‰, 2‰ and 3‰ fermented Chinese medicine for 56 days, respectively. Each group had 30 fish and set up 3 repetitions. After the feeding trail,the fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila to calculate the relative percentage survival (RPS).The results showed as follows:Supplementing fermented traditional Chinese medicine by Bacillus subtilis, the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor (CF), the activities of lysozyme (LSZ), complement 3 (C3),total protein (TP),total anti-oxidation capacity (T-AOC),total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum of common carp were enhanced at different degrees, while the feed coefficient (FCR)and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum were declined at different degrees.When the fermented Chinese medicine supplemental levels were 2‰ and 3‰,the effects were significant (P<0.05)(except for C3, ALP and Cr).The experimental results of the virulence of common carp infected with pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila showed that,the fermented herbal could obviously improve the ability of anti-infection, the immune protective rate of the group with 2‰, 3‰ doses of the fermented Chinese medicine could reach 77.23% and 74.63%, respectively. From what had been discussed above, the group with 2‰ and 3‰ doses of the fermented Chinese medicine had significant effect on the growth performance, serum biochemical indices, liver antioxidant parameters and Aeromonas hydrophila anti-infection ability. Considering the cost of adding fermented Chinese medicine, the recommendations for the best additive quantity was 2‰.     

Effect of dietary thiamin supplement on immune responses and intestinal microflora in juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

This study was to investigate the effect of dietary thiamin on the immune response and intestinal microflora in juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). Seven diets (0.25, 0.48, 0.79, 1.06, 1.37, 1.63 and 2.65 mg thiamin kg^?1) were fed to Jian carp (8.20 ± 0.02 g). At the end of feeding trial, red blood cell counts and white blood cell counts increased with increasing dietary thiamin levels up to 0.79 and 1.06 mg kg^?1 diet, respectively (P < 0.05); Lactobacillus counts in intestine increased gradually, and maximum values obtained when the thiamin level was at 0.79 mg kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). After the feeding trial, fish were injected with Aeromonas hydrophila only one time on the first day of the challenge trial and fed the same diets as the growth trial for 17 days. The survival rate, leucocyte phagocytic activity, lectin potency, acid phosphatase activity, lysozyme activity, total iron‐binding capacity and immunoglobulin M content of fish after being injected with A. hydrophila were all improved with increasing dietary thiamin levels up to a point, respectively (P < 0.05). These results suggested that thiamin could improve immune response and the balance of intestinal microflora of juvenile Jian carp.     

投喂蚕豆和普通配合饲料草鱼肌肉营养成分比较分析及营养评价

对投喂蚕豆和普通配合饲料的2组草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idellus）肌肉中的胶原蛋白、钙离子（Ca2＋）、氨基酸和脂肪酸含量进行了比较分析，并对其营养价值与食用价值进行了评价。结果显示，投喂蚕豆草鱼肌肉中胶原蛋白和Ca2＋的质量分数分别为（0．149±0．011）％和（0．036±0．011）％，比投喂普通配合饲料的草鱼分别提高了36．7％和154％。投喂蚕豆草鱼肌肉中氨基酸总量为（16．802±1．823）％，投喂普通配合饲料草鱼氨旗酸总量为（18．444±0．850）％；投喂蚕豆草鱼肌肉中4种鲜味氨基酸[天冬氨酸（Asp）、谷氮酸（Glu）、甘氯酸（Gyl）和丙氨酸（Ala）]总质量分数为（6．613±0．771）％，低于投喂普通配合饲料草鱼。投喂蚕豆荦：鱼和投喂普通配合饲料草鱼肌肉中不饱和脂肪酸（UFA）总量分别占脂肪酸总量的73．857％和76．334％，其中单不饱和脂肪酸（MUFA）分别占脂肪总量的（55．598±2．403）％和（33．832±2．755）％。结果表明，投喂蚕豆荦：鱼叽肉中胶原蛋白和Ca2＋含量比投喂普通配合饲料的草鱼有显著提高，但其鲜味程度、氨基酸以及小饱和脂肪酸含鞋比投喂普通配合饲料草鱼低。     

Effect of dietary graded levels of cottonseed meal and gossypol on growth performance,body composition and health aspects of allogynogenetic silver crucian carp,Carassius auratus gibelio♀ × Cyprinus carpio♂

A 6‐month trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary cottonseed meal (CSM) and free gossypol (FG) on allogynogenetic silver crucian carp, Carassius auratus gibelio♀ × Cyprinus carpio♂ with 4 replicates of each treatment. Isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated with the 0 g kg^?1 (control), 200 g kg^?1, 400 g kg^?1, and 560 g kg^?1 CSM. Diets with FG were made by supplementing batches of control diet with 214 mg kg^?1, 428 mg kg^?1, and 642 mg kg^?1. Weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio increased significantly up to an inclusion level of CSM of 400 g kg^?1 in the diet, with a significant decrease in food conversion ratio. Further increase in CSM to 560 g kg^?1 did not cause further changes in fish performance. Free gossypol did not affect fish performance significantly at any inclusion level. Neither CSM nor FG caused significant effects in any of the other evaluated parameters such as whole body composition, haemoglobin concentration, activities of serum lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and histology of hepatic tissues and midgut. Our results suggested that crucian carp can tolerate at least 642 mg kg^?1 FG and that it is safe to including 400 g kg^?1 CSM in crucian carp feed.     

三种免疫添加剂对草鱼非特异性免疫功能的影响

在饲料中添加不同剂量的Vc、酵母多糖和壳聚糖,连续投喂42d,并在试验的第14、28、35和42天取样检测,研究其对草鱼血清溶菌酶活性、血清超氧化物歧化酶活性（SOD）活性、血清碱性磷酸酶（AKP）活性、补体C3、含量丙二醛（MDA）含量和血液白细胞吞噬活性共6种指标的影响。结果显示：实验组与对照组相比,饲料中添加Vc可以提高血清溶菌酶活性、SOD活性、AKP活性、补体C3含量和血液白细胞吞噬活性高,并降低MDA含量。添加酵母多糖可以提高血清溶菌酶活性、AKP活性、补体C3含量和血液白细胞吞噬活性,并降低MDA含量,但不能提高SOD活性。添加壳聚糖可以提高血清溶菌酶活性、SOD活性、AKP活性、补体C3含量和血液白细胞吞噬活性,但不能降低MDA含量。饲料中添加Vc、酵母多糖和壳聚糖均对草鱼的非特异性免疫功能具有一定的促进作用。