The effects of density and artificial substrate on intensive shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei nursery production

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can be installed indoors, allowing year-round production of tropical animals in nearly any climate. A nursery phase is commonly used in Litopenaeus vannamei production since it allows for enhanced biosecurity and better quantification of animals while reducing space requirements. However, it is unclear whether animal density and inclusion of artificial substrate may improve shrimp performance during the nursery phase. In this experiment, we compared shrimp production parameters in two stocking densities with or without the use of an artificial substrate by creating four treatments: low-density LD; 1500 PL/m⁻³, low-density with substrate LDS, high-density HD; 3000 PL/m⁻³), and high-density with substrate (HDS). The LDS and HDS treatments included 0.46-m² of high-density polyethylene 2.5-cm mesh as a substrate, which increased the tank surface area by 21 %. Each treatment was randomly assigned to four 160-l culture tanks, each with a biofilter. The shrimp had an initial weight of 4 mg and were grown for 50 days. The low-density treatments had significantly higher dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH than the high-density treatments (P ≤ 0.001). Specifically, LDS had the highest DO and pH followed by the LD, HD, and HDS treatments, respectively. High-density treatments had significantly higher NO₂-N levels than low-density treatments during week 2 of the experiment when an unusually high concentration of nitrite was observed. FCR was significantly lower in both low-density treatments than in high-density treatments. At harvest, the total biomass (kg m⁻³) was significantly higher in high-density treatments than in low-density treatments (P ≤ 0.001), and the HDS treatment had a significantly greater biomass output than HD. Producers should consider artificial substrate and higher densities during nursery production to maximize shrimp production; however, the effects on water quality should also be taken into account.     

新疆卡提拉玛工艺配方的研究

熟牛油、生奶皮、白砂糖是制作新疆塔吉克族特色面制品的主要原料。通过正交试验确定三者在卡提拉玛中的添加量，研制具有新疆独特风味的卡提拉玛。在基本配方（高筋小麦粉500 g，酵母3 g，食盐2 g，鸡蛋清30 g，牛奶185 mL，饮用水100 mL，清油4 mL）的基础上，确定三者最佳添加量（以高筋粉为基重）。结果表明：加入熟牛油6 mL、生奶皮15 g、白砂糖3 g，可制作出色泽金黄、口感醇香、质地酥脆、具有生奶皮特有香气的新疆卡提拉玛。     

A Lymphoid Organ Specific Anti-Lipopolysaccharide Factor from Litopenaeus vannamei Exhibits Strong Antimicrobial Activities

Different shrimp species are known to possess apparent distinct resistance to different pathogens in aquaculture. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this finding still remains unknown. One kind of important antimicrobial peptides, anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALF), exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. Here, we reported a newly identified ALF from the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and compared the immune function with its counterpart in the shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis. The ALF, designated as LvALF8, was specifically expressed in the lymphoid organ of L. vannamei. The expression level of LvALF8 was apparently changed after white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) or Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenges. The synthetic LBD peptide of LvALF8 (LvALF8-LBD) showed strong antibacterial activities against most tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. LvALF8-LBD could also inhibit the in vivo propagation of WSSV similar as FcALF8-LBD, the LBD of LvALF8 counterpart in F. chinensis. However, LvALF8-LBD and FcALF8-LBD exhibited apparently different antibacterial activity against V. parahaemolyticus, the main pathogen causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) of affected shrimp. A structural analysis showed that the positive net charge and amphipathicity characteristics of LvALF8-LBD peptide were speculated as two important components for its enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to those of FcALF8-LBD. These new findings may not only provide some evidence to explain the distinct disease resistance among different shrimp species, but also lay out new research ground for the testing and development of LBD-originated antimicrobial peptides to control of shrimp diseases.     

Comparing biofloc,clear-water,and hybrid nursery systems (Part I): Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production,water quality,and stable isotope dynamics

Indoor, intensive, nursery-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can provide high-quality juvenile shrimp for indoor or pond-based production systems in a biosecure manner. However, it is unclear what type of RAS is most appropriate for indoor shrimp nurseries. This study compared three types of RAS nurseries: biofloc (BF), clear-water (CW), and hybrid (HY). Each treatment included four, randomly assigned 160 L (0.35-m²) tanks that were stocked with 3000 post-larvae shrimp m⁻³. The post-larvae (PL10) shrimp had an initial average weight of 7 ± 0.0 mg and were grown for 48 days. The BF tanks included external settling chambers as the only filtration mechanism. The CW tanks had settling chambers, foam fractionators, and external biofilters to fully clarify the water and process nitrogenous waste. Hybrid tanks included settling chambers, and external biofilters to maintain some suspended solids along with external biofiltration. Overall, the CW treatment had significantly higher dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH levels than the BF and HY systems. The HY treatment had significantly higher DO than the BF treatment. Nitrite concentration was significantly higher in the HY treatment than the CW treatment. Turbidity in the BF treatment was significantly higher than the other treatments. On the final sample date, the BF treatment had significantly higher nitrite and nitrate concentrations than the other treatments. Differences between treatments in terms of shrimp survival, mean harvest weight, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio were not significant. The final weight of the shrimp at 48 days for the BF, CW, and HY were 670 mg, 640 mg, and 590 mg respectively. A stable isotope mixing model indicated that, in the BF treatment, 13% of the C and 34% of the N in harvested shrimp tissue may have originated from biofloc material, signifying some nutrient recycling. The nitrification process was more effective with the inclusion of an external biofilter. All three system types appear suitable for RAS shrimp nursery production although consideration should be given to water quality consistency and filtration costs.     

白茶寿眉预防小鼠肥胖作用研究及安全性评价

取1、3、7年寿眉(白茶)制备白茶提取物(White tea extracts,WTEs)。在对雄性C57BL/6J小鼠喂饲高脂饲料的同时给予WTEs干预,诱导建立预肥胖模型。观察小鼠体质量增量、摄食量、脂肪和肝脏组织病理学变化,统计脂肪湿重,测定血脂及血转氨酶水平。q PCR测定小鼠肝脏中脂代谢相关基因表达。综合评价WTEs预防小鼠肥胖功效及其安全性,并对其机制进行探究。结果显示,WTEs在无肝毒性和生长抑制作用条件下,能抑制脂肪细胞分化和脂肪的过度积累,还能下调SREBP-1c、FAS和ACC1的转录水平,抑制肝脏脂肪酸合成和脂肪过度积累,有效预防肥胖和脂肪肝的发生。高剂量下,WTEs预防肥胖功效随白茶年份的增加而显著降低。     

WSSV envelope protein VP51B links structural protein complexes and may mediate virus infection

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), an enveloped double‐stranded DNA virus, is the causative agent of a disease that has led to severe mortalities of cultured shrimps in Taiwan and many other countries. In the previous study, Penaeus monodon chitin‐binding protein (CBP) and glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), two cell membrane proteins, were found to at least interact with other 10 WSSV envelope proteins including VP51B. These envelope proteins might form a protein complex. According to the known information, VP51B was used to identify its role in the protein complex. Western blotting of the intact viral particles and fractionation of the viral components confirmed that VP51B is one of WSSV envelope proteins. In this study, the protein–protein interaction between VP51B and other WSSV envelope proteins was identified by far‐western blot experiment and VP51B was found to interact with VP24, VP31, VP32, VP39B and VP41A. Furthermore, the in vivo neutralization experiment using recombinant VP51B plus with VP39B showed the best inhibition. These data indicate that VP51B participates in the WSSV protein complex and plays an important role in WSSV infection.     

Effect of dietary GroBiotic®‐A supplementation as a prebiotic on the intestinal microflora,growth performance,haemato‐serological parameters,survival rate and body composition in juvenile beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1754)

The objectives of the present study were to investigate of GroBiotic^®‐A (GBA) on growth, autochthonous intestinal microbiota and haemato‐serological parameters of beluga juvenile. A total of 180 fish (40.82 ± 5.81 g) were fed diets containing graded levels of GBA (0, 5, 10 and 20 g kg^?1 diet) for 8 weeks. No significantly differences in body composition, total viable aerobic bacteria, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, albumin, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were detected between treatment groups. The fish fed on 10 and 20 g kg^?1 GBA significantly showed higher lactic acid bacteria, final weight, body weight increases, weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio compared with the control and 5 g kg^?1 groups. The group fed 20 g kg^?1 GBA showed a highly significant difference in condition factor, survival rate, final length, total red and white blood cells, lymphocytes, haematocrit, haemoglobin, total protein, total immunoglobulin and lysozyme activity. The specific growth rate of the treatment groups was significantly elevated compared with the control groups. These results indicated that GBA at level 20 g kg^?1 improved growth, welfare and survival of beluga juvenile.     

热风干燥温度对脱水白萝卜品质的影响

以"长春大根"白萝卜品种为试材,采用50、60、70、80、90、100℃的热风干燥处理1 cm×1 cm×10 cm的白萝卜条,研究热风干燥温度对脱水白萝卜品质的影响。结果表明,干燥温度为70℃时,脱水速率较快,脱水白萝卜色泽较白,感官品质、食用品质和复水性均较好,VC保留率较高。其次,干燥温度60℃时,脱水速率较慢,形态轻微变形、皱缩,食用品质略差。干燥温度低至50℃时,VC的保留率有所提高,但干燥时间延长,感官及食用品质均有所下降。干燥温度超过80℃后,干燥时间未显著缩短,脱水白萝卜褐变加重,感官品质、食用品质和复水性均变差,VC损失增加。     

Dietary Photoprotective Compounds Ameliorate UV Tolerance in Shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) through Induction of Antioxidant Activity

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on bioaccumulation of UV‐absorbing compounds acquired through the diet, in larvae and postlarvae of Pleoticus muelleri, and to assess tissue antioxidant activity, survival, and development. Mysis stage I were exposed to two artificial radiation treatments: M‐PAR (photosynthetically active radiation, range = 400–700 nm) and M‐PAR + UVR (280–700 nm). The experimental larvae received a mixed dietary treatment of Artemia persimilis and the microalga Pavlova lutheri, reared under two radiation regimes: PAR (D‐PAR) and PAR + UVR (D‐PAR + UVR). Shrimp from all treatments reached 8 d postlarval stage (PL8), except those under M‐PAR + UVR treatment fed the D‐PAR‐cultured algae, which had 0% survival. Larvae in M‐PAR + UVR and M‐PAR treatments fed with D‐PAR + UVR diet presented the highest survival rates (70 and 75%, respectively), with 37 and 41% increase in PL size. UV‐absorbing compounds were detected in microalgae and PL subject to PAR + UVR treatments. Antioxidant activity, quantified by measuring the free‐radical 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl in homogenates of PL8, decayed drastically under radiation treatment M‐PAR + UVR fed with algae of the D‐PAR + UVR treatment. It is concluded that the bioaccumulation of UV‐absorbing compounds and the highest antioxidant activity in PL could improve the biochemical and photophysiological responses of shrimp under UVR stress.     

Nutritional Contribution of Biofloc within the Diet of Growout and Broodstock of Litopenaeus vannamei,Determined by Stable Isotopes and Fatty Acids

The relative contributions of feed sources were determined through the isotopic signal (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and fatty acid profile of feed items, shrimp muscle, and eggs of Litopenaeus vannamei reared in a biofloc system. In the growout phase, the isotope analysis showed the biofloc particle size class ≥250 μm contributed 55–100%; size ≥50 < 250 μm contributed 0–22%; and artificial feed contributed 0–45%. Principal component analysis applied to fatty acid profiles showed that biofloc ≥250 μm and artificial feed were the most important items in shrimp growout. For the egg production, isotope analysis suggested that the most important feed sources according to their relative contributions were polychaetes (0–100%), followed by artemia biomass (0–86%) and semi‐moist feed (0–66%), with lower contributions from squid, mussel, and the muscle of L. vannamei broodstock that had been cultured in biofloc. In terms of fatty acids, the most important items were artemia, polychaetes, and semi‐moist feeds. This work clarified the importance of feed sources for shrimp during culture in biofloc systems and during reproduction. Analysis of stable isotopes and fatty acids can be successfully used to trace the assimilation of nutrients during the nutrition of shrimp.