Dietary lipid sources for seabream and seabass: growth performance, tissue composition and flesh quality

Due to its traditionally good availability, digestibility and high content of n ? 3 HUFA, fish oil is the main lipid source in fish feeds. However, world demand for this product has grown significantly in recent years, whereas its production, based on fisheries landings, is static. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of partial replacement of fish oil in compound diets for gilthead seabream and seabass, by several vegetable oil sources, on growth, dietary fatty acid utilization and flesh quality. Five iso‐energetic and isoproteic experimental diets were formulated (25% lipid content). Fish oil was the only added lipid source in the control (FO) diet, and it was included in the other experimental diets at a level high enough (40% of FO diet) to keep the n ? 3 HUFA levels well over 3% in order to cover the essential fatty acid requirements of these species. Fish oil was replaced by soyabean oil (SO), rapeseed oil (RO) and linseed oil (LO) or a mixture (Mix) of them. Feed intake in all dietary groups was in the range of results obtained for commercial diets in both species, and growth and feed utilization were very good. The results show that, providing a minimum content of essential fatty acids in the diet, it is possible to replace up to 60% of the fish oil by SO, LO and RO or a mixture of them in diets for seabream and seabass, without compromising fish growth. Fatty acid composition of liver and muscle reflected that of the diet, but utilization of dietary lipids differed between these two tissues and was also different for the different fatty acids. Despite reduction in dietary saturated fatty acids by the inclusion of vegetable oils, their levels in fish liver were as high as in fish fed the fish oil diet, whereas, in muscle, levels were reduced according to that in the diet. Linoleic and linolenic acids were accumulated in the liver proportionally to their levels in the diet, suggesting a lower oxidation of these fatty acids in comparison to other 18C fatty acids. Regarding eicosapentaenoic acid (20 : 5n ? 3; EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (22 : 6n ? 3; DHA) and arachidonic acid (20 : 4n ? 6; ARA), these essential fatty acids were reduced in the liver at a similar rate, whereas DHA was preferentially retained in the muscle in comparison with the other fatty acids, denoting a higher oxidation particularly of EPA, in the muscle. Some other PUFA increased despite their low dietary levels in seabream fed LO diets and in seabass fed SO diet, suggesting the stimulation of delta‐6 and delta‐5 desaturase activity in marine fish. Despite differences in fatty acid composition, fillet of fish fed vegetable oils was very well accepted by trained judges when assessed cooked.     

Visualization analysis of seabream and seabass aquaculture research using CiteSpace

In terms of production, seabream and seabass are the two most important species of marine Mediterranean aquaculture, which is why they have been extensively studied in the literature. This study uses visualization analysis with the CiteSpace software to determine the research status quo and the most important trends of seabream and seabass aquaculture research. The Web of Science (WoS) database was used to select the papers associated with seabream and seabass literature from the period between 1986 and 2020. The results were separated using two indices (Science Citation Index Expand and Social Science Citation Index). The visualization analysis identified the networks for (1) author, institution, country and category co-authorship, in order to find the most prolific authors, institutions, countries and categories respectively; and (2) journal, document and author co-citation, which identifies the most relevant journals, the most important studies and the most cited and influential authors. Finally, a keywords co-occurrence network was built to identify the most important topics and the research frontiers—body of knowledge—of the seabream and seabass aquaculture research—SSAR.     

A bioenergetic and protein flux model to simulate fish growth in commercial farms: Application to the gilthead seabream

A model for fish growth simulation based on the bioenergetic factorial approach is presented. This work presents a novel approach that extends the traditional bioenergetic model by explicitly including the Energy and Protein fluxes (EP model). This is a valuable feature that allows the dynamic simulation of fish proximate composition. For the aquaculture industry it represents a trade-off between detailed process simulation and feasibility of model implementation, namely regarding data gathering on an operational setting. The EP model is targeted to simulate fish production in commercial farms. Farm data for feed intake, feed composition (energy and protein content), temperature over time and the initial fish body weight are the only required data to run the model. Furthermore, apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) values of the feed used in the farm must be known or else ADC values of feeds with similar composition can be used. The EP model implementation is illustrated for the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) based on published experimental data. The model was validated (r = 0.997, p < 0.05, n = 12) using a published experimental data set for gilthead seabream reared in a range of temperatures that reproduce the conditions in most countries producing this species. For the entire growth period (488 days) the estimated mean absolute error (MAE) is 8.8 g.fish⁻¹ and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is 8.3%. Simulation of fish growth in real operational conditions is evaluated with three datasets from a commercial farm that operates in earthen ponds with temperatures ranging between 12.6 °C and 24.8 °C. Overall the model outputs match well with the production data in the 3 batches. Initial weight ranged between 2.8 g and 3.7 g. The deviation between the data and simulated final weights is below 15 g, for a final weight around 435 g. The maximum absolute error is 21.1 g per fish (MAE) and in percentage 8.3% (MAPE).     

Measuring technical,allocative and cost efficiency of pangas (Pangasius hypophthalmus: Sauvage 1878) fish farmers of Bangladesh

The present study is conducted to measure the technical (TE), allocative (AE) and cost efficiency (CE) of pangas fish‐producing farmers of Bangladesh. Data envelopment analysis is used to measure the efficiency while Tobit regression is applied to identify the factors affecting efficiencies. The estimated mean TE, AE and CEs are 86%, 62% and 54% respectively. Pangas production is characterized by considerable technical inefficiencies and substantial allocative and cost inefficiencies. Pond size, fingerling size, culture length and use of pelleted feed are important determinants of efficiencies. It is nevertheless profitable in terms of benefit–cost ratio, break‐even yield and price criteria. Production of pangas can be made further profitable by eliminating inefficiencies. Proper mixing of inputs given their prices could make pangas producers profit maximizers. Efficiency improvement is expected to help to increase production and provide scopes for exporting the surplus production. More fisheries extension is suggested to expand pangas culture and improve efficiency.     

Estimation of dietary biotin requirement of Japanese seabass,Lateolabrax japonicus C.

A 9‐week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the dietary biotin requirement of Japanese seabass, Lateolabrax japonicus C. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic purified diets (Diets 1–6) containing 0, 0.01, 0.049, 0.247, 1.238 and 6.222 mg biotin kg^?1 diet were fed twice daily to triplicate groups (30 fish per group) of fish (initial average weight 2.26 ± 0.03 g) in 18 fibreglass tanks (300 L) filled with 250 L of water in a flow‐through system. Water flow rate through each tank was 2 L min^?1. Water temperature ranged from 25.0 to 28.0 °C, salinity from 28.0 to 29.5 g L^?1, pH from 8.0 to 8.1 and dissolved oxygen content was approximately 7 mg L^?1 during the experiment. After the feeding experiment, fish fed Diet 1 developed severe biotin deficiency syndromes characterized by anorexia, poor growth, dark skin colour, atrophy and high mortality. Significant lower survival (73.3%) was observed in the treatment of deficient biotin. The final weight and weight gain of fish significantly increased with increasing dietary biotin up to 0.049 mg kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05), and then slightly decreased. Both feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio showed a very similar change pattern to that of weight gain. Dietary treatments did not significantly affect carcass crude protein, crude lipid, moisture and ash content. However, liver biotin concentration (0–6.1 μg g^?1) significantly increased with the supplementation of dietary biotin (P < 0.05), and no tissue saturation was found within the supplementation scope of biotin. Broken‐line regression analysis of weight gain showed that juvenile Japanese seabass require a minimum of 0.046 mg kg^?1 biotin for maximal growth.     

Spontaneous melanotic lesions in axillary seabream,Pagellus acarne (Risso)

In this article, we describe spontaneous melanotic lesions in the skin of axillary seabream, Pagellus acarne (Risso), from a defined area of the Portuguese Coast, located in Cabo da Roca and Foz do Arelho. The lesions corresponded to the black pigmentation spots on the skin of the head, fins, lips and conjunctiva and, additionally, black nodules on the skin of the head and lips. In some specimens, the nodular formations in the head changed their anatomical conformation. Histologically, there were melanophores scattered along the basement membrane or forming aggregates in the dermis, infiltrating the subcutaneous tissue but not invading the adjacent muscle tissue. The aim of this study was to characterize the macroscopic and microscopic features of the pigmented lesions. These fish show sessile hyperpigmented lesions (spots) that correspond to proliferative lesions of melanophores in the dermis and nodular lesions that correspond to neoplastic lesions, melanophoromas. The melanophores in such lesions showed high concentration of melanin in the cytoplasm, moderate pleomorphism and compact distribution throughout all of the dermis.     

Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) interaction with fish farms in the Gulf of Ambracia,western Greece

1. Marine aquaculture, and its fast-growing development, has the potential for wider environmental, ecosystem, and biodiversity impacts. This study assesses the impact of fish farming on a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population within the Gulf of Ambracia (western Greece) between 2007 and 2018. Two different study areas were defined in order to investigate differences on occurrence, abundance, behaviour, and seasonal fluctuations between them: a ‘control area’, in the north-western side of the Gulf; and a ‘fish farm area’, in the south west, where the highest density of fish farm cages is found.
2. A total of 169 daily surveys were dedicated to the control area and 74 days were dedicated to the fish farm area, yielding 104 and 37 sightings, respectively. Both the probability of detecting dolphins (U = 6,763.000, P = 0.002) and the group sizes (U = 578.000, P < 0.001) were smaller around fish farms.
3. Seasonality analyses were restricted to 2007–2008, as this was the period with year-round effort. Results revealed that dolphins were more frequently seen around fish farms in the winter (Kruskal–Wallis test, P = 0.036).
4. From the 40 identified individuals that were re-sighted at least 10 times during the study period, 21 used the fish farm area less than expected according to sampling effort, and 10 of them were never observed in that area (binomial test, P < 0.05).
5. The results revealed an impact of fish farms on the distribution of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Ambracia. This information should be taken into consideration when defining ecosystem-based management measures within the management plan, which is currently in preparation for this Natura 2000 site.

     

Effect of dietary mannan oligosaccharide on growth,body composition,haematology and biochemical parameters of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) supplementation on growth, body composition, haematology, biochemical parameters and histology of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) fingerlings (8.13 ± 0.06 g average weight). Mannan oligosaccharide was supplemented at five different concentrations viz., 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% levels in the diet (40% protein and 9% lipid) of L. calcarifer. The results of the 60 days feeding trial showed that there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the final body weight, weight gain (WG), WG%, average daily gain, survival, specific growth rate, daily growth coefficient, hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index in the fish fed diet containing 1% MOS. Whole body composition of post‐fed animals showed non‐significant differences (P > 0.05) among the various treatment groups. The analysis of haematological parameters showed that there was no significant (P > 0.05) differences among different treatments but for the haemoglobin content which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the fish fed 1% MOS. Biochemical parameters revealed that glucose, urea, cholesterol and triglyceride content showed significant (P < 0.05) difference between control and MOS‐supplemented group. Histological observations of post‐fed animals revealed that MOS supplementation resulted in increased absorptive surface area of the intestine and increased glycogen deposition in liver. The result of this experiment infers that MOS supplementation has got a beneficial effect in the diet of seabass and supplementation at 1% level is optimal for improving the growth.     

Distinct expression of GnRH genes in the red seabream brain

This paper reports the molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding the precursor of seabream gonadotropin-releasing hormone (prepro-sbGnRH) and the localization of salmon GnRH (sGnRH) and seabream GnRH (sbGnRH) expressing neurons in the brain of the red seabream (Pagrus major). The cloned prepro-sbGnRH cDNA has a 285 bps open reading frame encoding a 23 amino acid signal peptide, a 10 amino acid sbGnRH, the cleavage site (Gly-Lys-Arg), and a 59 amino acid GnRH-associated peptide. The expression of sGnRH and sbGnRH peptides, and prepro-sGnRH and prepro-sbGnRH mRNA were studied using immunocytochemistry and non-radioactive in situ hybridization, respectively. We found cell bodies that reacted positively with both the sGnRH cRNA probe and anti-sGnRH serum, but not with the sbGnRH cRNA probe or anti-sbGnRH serum in the ganglion of the terminal nerve. Cell bodies that reacted positively with the sbGnRH cRNA probe, anti-sbGnRH serum, and anti-sGnRH serum, but negatively with the sGnRH cRNA probe were found in the preoptic area (POA). Immunocytochemistry showed that a distinct bundle of axons arises in the POA which projected to the pituitary gland. These results suggest that sbGnRH is the most relevant hypophysiotropic form of GnRH.     

Influence of temperature on muscle fibre hyperplasia and hypertrophy in larvae of blackspot seabream,Pagellus bogaraveo

The effects of temperature on Pagellus bogaraveo muscle cellularity were investigated, by morphometry, throughout the endogenous feeding stage, testing two rearing temperatures: 14 and 18 °C. The following parameters were estimated in transversal body sections at post‐opercular and post‐anal body levels: the total cross‐sectional muscle area, the total number of fibres and the mean cross‐sectional fibre area. At hatching, no significant influence of the temperature was observed on the morphometric parameters measured in the white muscle. At mouth opening, an increase in the number of post‐opercular white fibres was promoted by the highest temperature. During embryonic development, the red muscle fibre number in the post‐anal part of the larvae increased with higher temperature, but it appears that the difference was no longer present at mouth opening. An increase in the fibre area and in the total cross‐sectional area of red muscle at the post‐anal level was promoted by a 4 °C increase in the temperature during the vitelline phase. In conclusion, the axial musculature of blackspot seabream embryos/larvae reacted differently to temperature influence according to the body location, strongly supporting the need to look at and account for different body locations when evaluating muscle cellularity in fish, namely in growth/aquaculture‐related studies.     

Vibrio alginolyticus infection in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer,Bloch) reared in open sea floating cages in India

Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) has been designated as a candidate species for open sea cage culture in India. A case of vibriosis in Asian seabass reared in open sea floating cages is reported. Haemorrhage and ulcer were observed grossly in the diseased fish. The pathogen, identified as Vibrio alginolyticus based on biochemical and molecular characterization, was isolated from liver, gill, kidney, brain and blood. Histological examination of the diseased fish showed congestion, haemorrhage and necrosis in vital organs. The LD₅₀ studies showed that the organism was virulent to Asian seabass, and the LD₅₀ value was 10^3.2 CFU g^?1 fish.     

饲料中碳水化合物水平对鲈鱼生长、生理状态参数及体组成的影响

以初始体重(34.26±0.37)g的鲈鱼Lateolabrax japonicus为研究对象,进行为期70d的生长实验,探讨饲料中不同的碳水化合物(CHO)水平对其生长、饲料利用、血糖水平和糖酵解酶活力的影响。实验配制6种不同CHO水平(0、6%、12%、18%、24%和30%)的等氮等脂饲料。结果表明,随着饲料中CHO水平的升高,特定生长率(SGR)和饲料效率(FE)均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,都在12%组达到最大值,并显著高于24%和30%组(P0.05),而肝体比(HSI)和脏体比(VSI)呈显著升高的趋势(P0.05),且在30%组达到最大值。饲料中不同CHO水平对鲈鱼成活率、肥满度、肌糖原和己糖激酶(HK)活力均无显著影响(P0.05)。饲料中不同CHO水平显著提高了鲈鱼粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量(P0.05),降低了灰分含量(P0.05)。饲料干物质的表观消化率(ADC)在各组之间差异显著(P0.05),18%组显著高于其余5组(P0.05),12%组饲料蛋白质的ADC显著高于对照组(P0.05)。血清中葡萄糖、甘油三酯、胆固醇含量随着饲料中CHO水平的增加而逐渐上升(P0.05),肝糖原含量先显著升高后趋于平稳(P0.05)。以SGR为评价指标,用二次曲线模型分析得出鲈鱼饲料中CHO的适宜添加量为17.75%。     

Virulence factors and pathogenicity of Hafnia alvei for gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata L

Virulence factors (eae gene, haemolytic capacity, fimbriae, resistance to the bactericidal effect of serum, siderophore production) and pathogenicity for gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata L., were analysed for 23 Hafnia alvei strains. None of the strains used in LD50 studies were lethal for seabream at doses as high as >10(8) cfu mL(-1). In chronic challenge studies differences in severity of the inflammatory response were observed between strains. On the basis of correlation of the inflammatory response to different strains of H. alvei in seabream with those virulence factors studied, it was only possible to establish a positive correlation between pathogenicity and resistance to the bactericidal effect of fish serum. Gilthead seabream is thus a species with considerable resistance to experimental infection with H. alvei. The bacterium does, however, have the capacity to remain viable in seabream for up to 3 months, without any clinical signs. Hafnia alvei is a well-recognized human and animal pathogen. Thus, as the pathogen can coexist with aquaculture operations, cultured gilthead seabream could represent a risk to human health as a carrier in some circumstances.     

Effects of dietary inclusion of peas,chickpeas and faba beans on growth,feed utilization and health of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Three legumes [field peas (P), chickpeas (CP) and faba beans (B)] at two inclusion levels [170 g kg^?1 (L) and 350 g kg^?1 (H)] were evaluated in a 13‐week experiment with triplicate groups of 92.6 ± 5.0 g gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.). A control diet included wheat meal, fishmeal (FM) and a mixture of plant ingredients as protein sources. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and processed in a twin‐screw extruder. Restricted feeding was applied (15 g kg^?1 of body weight) and growth, haematology and histology parameters were evaluated. Decreased, but not significant, growth values were observed for all diets including legumes compared to the control. Poorer feed conversion ratio values were observed for both P diets and for high level B diet. Liver glycogen increased with increasing starch level, but hepatosomatic index did not differ significantly for any of the diet treatments. Histological examination of internal organs showed no pathological abnormalities that could be related to nutritional treatment. The study indicated that the tested legumes are ingredients that could be used in farmed seabream diets up to 350 g kg^?1 without negative effects replacing other carbohydrate sources and part of FM.     

真鲷仔稚鱼对实验微粒饲料中卵磷脂适宜需要量的研究

制备了4种n-3HUFA含量基本相等、卵磷脂含量分别为0、2．5％、5．0％、7．5％的实验微粒饲料，探讨了卵磷脂的含量对真鲷仔稚鱼生长、存活、体内相关成分以及对外部压力的耐受性的影响。25d的养殖试验结果表明，当真鲷仔稚鱼的实验微粒饲料中卵磷脂含量不超过5．0％时，随着实验微粒饲料中卵磷脂含量的增加，真鲷仔稚鱼的生长速度和成活率也相应增加。养殖试验结束后，对仔稚鱼体内相关成分的分析结果表明，仔稚鱼体内n-3HUFA和DHA的含量随着实验微粒饲料中卵磷脂含量的增加而增加。但当卵磷脂含量从5．0%增加到7．5％时，真鲷仔稚鱼的生长速度、成活率以及体内n-3HUFA和DHA的含量却没有相应增加，因此，真鲷仔稚鱼对实验微粒饲料中卵磷腊的适宜需要量应为5．0％左右。活力测试结果表明，当真鲷仔稚鱼的实验微粒饲料中卵磷脂的含量不超过5．0％时，随着实验微粒饲料中卵磷脂含量的增加，真鲷仔稚鱼对外部压力的耐受性增强，但是当实验微粒饲料中卵磷脂的含量从5．0％增加到7．5％时，真鲷仔稚鱼对外部压力的耐受性并没有继续增强，从而进一步说明真鲷仔稚鱼对实验微粒饲料中卵磷脂的适宜需要量应为5．0％左右。