Health and growth performance of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) from two hanging cultivation sites in the German Bight: a nearshore—offshore comparison

The health of cultivated blue mussels from an offshore and a nearshore sites was compared by assessing lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) and accumulations of lipofuscin and neutral lipids in the digestive glands. In addition, the condition index, parasite infestation rates, growth performance and energy status of the mussels were assessed during 10?months of sampling. Abiotic and biotic site characteristics were investigated by water analysis for each sampling cycle. Further, data of contaminant loads of the softbody and pollutant concentration of the water column, suspended particles and sediments from both sites were analysed. Results show that positive offshore effects due to dilution of contamination were not evident for all parameters analysed. Condition indices were high, and parasites were not present in offshore mussels. In contrast, the integrative health parameter LMS and growth performance were slightly, but not significantly, better in the nearshore cultivated mussels. These findings correspond with the higher contaminant concentrations in the softbodies of mussels and the water column from the offshore testing site. Both sites showed low LMS values and high accumulations of lipofuscin and neutral lipids, indicating that environmental conditions in the German Bight are generating stress for blue mussels even in the offshore areas. Exposure to fluvial transport points to a comparable probability for high contamination loads similar to nearshore areas. We therefore recommend adding a minimum salinity threshold to the definition of offshore aquaculture to exclude areas under fluvial influence.     

Potential for production of ‘mini-mussels’ in Great Belt (Denmark) evaluated on basis of actual and modeled growth of young mussels Mytilus edulis

The present study is a first step towards evaluation of the potential for line-mussel production in the Great Belt region between the Kattegat and Baltic Sea, Denmark. We present experimental results for actual growth rates of juvenile/adult mussels Mytilus edulis in suspended net bags in terms of shell length and dry weight of soft parts during extended periods (27–80 days) in the productive season in the first 6 series of field experiments, including 4 sites in Great Belt and 2 sites in Limfjorden, Denmark. Data were correlated and interpreted in terms of specific growth rate (μ, % day^?1) as a function of dry weight of soft parts (W, g) by a previously developed simple bioenergetic growth model μ = aW ^?0.34. Results were generally in good agreement with the model which assumes the prevailing average chlorophyll a concentration at field sites to essentially account for the nutrition. Our studies have shown that M. edulis can grow from settlement in spring to 30 mm in shell length in November. We therefore suggest line farming of 30 mm ‘mini-mussels’ during one growth season, recovering all equipment at the time of harvest and re-establishing it with a new population of settled mussel larvae at the beginning of the next season, thus protecting the equipment from the damaging weather of the Danish winter season. The growth behavior during the fall–winter season was recorded in an additional 7th series of mussel growth experiments on farm-ropes to show the disadvantage of this period.     

Effect of temperature on α-tocopherol, fatty acid profile, and pigments of Diacronema vlkianum (Haptophyceae)

Diacronema vlkianum was grown in polyethylene bags at two different temperatures (18 and 26°C) in the laboratory. The biochemical composition level decreased when the temperature increased from 18 to 26°C. The maximum cell number at 18°C was 11.9 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, while maximum cell number at 26°C was 1.6 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹. The maximum level of α-tocopherol was 257.7 ± 21.6 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (DW) at 18°C. The highest total carotenoids and chlorophylls were 6.5 mg g⁻¹ DW and 4.3 mg g⁻¹ DW, respectively, and the main pigments were determined as astaxanthin and lutein. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were found to be the predominant group, reaching 39.5% of the total fatty acids at 18°C. This comprised 20:5(n − 3) as the main polyunsaturated fatty acids (20.4%, at 18°C) followed by 22:6(n − 3) (4.8%, at 18°C). The results suggest that D. vlkianum can be successfully used as feed in shellfish hatcheries or aquaculture hatcheries, either as a substitute or in association with other microalgae, when this algae is cultured at 18°C.     

Effect of water velocity on growth and retention of cultured Greenshell™ mussel spat, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perna canaliculus</Emphasis> (Gmelin, 1791)

The Greenshell^TM mussel, Perna canaliculus, is a commercially important species forming New Zealand’s largest aquaculture export product. Losses of P. canaliculus spat from culture ropes between larval settlement and the time mussels reach initial reseeding size (c. 10 mm) are common. To test whether water velocity affects growth and retention of post-settlement P. canaliculus spat, and whether there is a threshold effect of increasing velocities on spat migration, a laboratory-based experiment was conducted. Spat were grown for 8 weeks in experimental tanks on culture ropes at four velocities typical of velocities within mussel farms (40, 10, 4, and 1 cm s⁻¹). Spat migration was observed at all the velocities tested, but the number of spat migrating decreased as water velocity increased. Spat retention was highest at the 40 cm s⁻¹ velocity. Mean spat size increased significantly with increasing water velocity. At the highest velocity tested (40 cm s⁻¹), migration increased as the spat grew suggesting that migration was density-driven. The results of this experiment indicate the potential for mussel farmers to reduce seeded spat loss and to increase the growth rate of spat by modification of the water flow within their farms, or placement of seeded ropes in locations of certain existing water velocities, and indicate that velocities in the range 15–40 cm s⁻¹ promote higher spat growth and spat retention for P. canaliculus.     

Effect of Thermal Microbial Inactivation and Washing on Quality Properties of Fish Sausage During Cold Storage (4°C)

The effect of microbial inactivation and washing process on physicochemical and sensory quality of pasteurized fish sausage during cold storage (4°C) was evaluated. Mince was obtained after the grinding; washed mince (WM) was obtained by single washing of mince; and surimi was obtained after three washing and dewatering cycles. Texture profile analysis results demonstrated that textural characteristics of pasteurized fish sausages remain stable during storage period (p > 0.05). Color analysis showed that Hunter L* had an increasing trend, and a* and b* had a decreasing trend over time (p < 0.05). Thus, it is possible to inactivate all microorganisms in pasteurized fish sausage without any undesirable effect on physicochemical and sensory quality.     

Effect of geographic origin, temperature and timing of broodstock collection on conditioning, spawning success and larval viability of Ruditapes decussatus (Linné, 1758)

Culture of Ruditapes decussatus is clearly limited by the availability of seed, as this production proceeds almost exclusively from natural recruitment. Artificial spawning and larval rearing programs could provide an alternative source of spat. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of different conditioning temperatures on the broodstock maturation, spawning success and larval viability of two geographically (north and south of the Iberian Peninsula) distinct populations of European clam (R. decussatus) collected at different periods of the year in order to create “optimal” artificial spawning and larval rearing programs. Two batches of clams from each population were collected in October and February, and conditioned at 18 ± 1°C, 20 ± 1°C and 22 ± 1°C. Of the three variables analysed the timing of broodstock collection was the most determining factor for gametogenic development, spawning and larval rearing. Geographic origin and conditioning temperature also greatly affected the spawning. The results also showed that the February conditioning was more effective than October and that the best conditioning temperatures were 20 ± 1°C and 22 ± 1°C for the northern and southern populations, respectively. These results suggest that the efficient conditioning temperature for each population of the same species is related to the seasonal temperature regime from their geographic origin. Larval viability and growth performance seemed to be independent of the broodstock conditioning.     

Effect of temperature on pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forssk?l), following oral administration

The study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin following a single oral gavage (10 mg kg(-1)) in mud crab, Scylla serrata, at water temperatures of 19 and 26 degrees C. Enrofloxacin concentration in haemolymph was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A multiple and repeated haemolymph sampling from the articular cavity of crab periopods was developed. The haemolymph of an individual crab was successfully sampled up to 11 times from the articular cavity. The profile of haemolymph enrofloxacin concentration of an individual crab versus time was thus achieved. The mean haemolymph enrofloxacin concentration versus time was described by a two-compartment model with first-order absorption at two water temperatures. The peak concentrations of haemolymph enrofloxacin at 19 and 26 degrees C were 7.26 and 11.03 mug mL(-1), at 6 and 2 h, respectively. The absorption and distribution half-life time ( and t(1/2alpha)) at 19 degrees C were 3.7 and 4.5 h, respectively, which were markedly larger than the corresponding values (1.1 and 1.5 h) at 26 degrees C; the elimination half-life time (t(1/2beta)) was 79.1 and 56.5 h at 19 and 26 degrees C, respectively. The area under curve (AUC), total body clearance (Cl) and mean residence time (MRT(0-infinity)) at 19 degrees C were 636.0 mg L(-1) h, 0.016 L h(-1) kg(-1) and 102.5 h, respectively; the corresponding values at 26 degrees C were 583.4 mg L(-1) h, 0.018 L h(-1) kg(-1)and 63.7 h. These results indicate that enrofloxacin is absorbed and eliminated more rapidly in mud crab at 26 degrees C than at 19 degrees C.     

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Brewer's Yeast and GroBiotic®-A on Growth,Immune Responses,and Low-Salinity Tolerance of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Cultured in Recirculating Systems

Two separate trials were conducted in clean recirculating systems at salinities of 32.9 (optimal) and 2 ppt (low-salinity challenge) to evaluate brewer's yeast and GroBiotic®-A, a commercial prebiotic, as dietary supplements for growth and health management of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. The growth-promoting influences of brewer's yeast or GroBiotic®-A previously observed with fish were not demonstrated in these trials with shrimp, when each component was supplemented at 2% or 5% of the diet. No significant dietary effects on hematological and immunological responses—including total hemocyte count, hemolymph protein, phenoloxidase, hemocyte respiratory burst, and clearance efficiency of Vibrio harveyi—were observed in shrimp cultured at full strength salinity (30 ppt) in feeding trial 1 after a 10 week period. In a second feeding trial, dietary supplementation of GroBiotic®-A improved survival of shrimp cultured at low-salinity (2 ppt). Although the mechanism(s) for enhanced survival under low-salinity conditions by dietary immunostimulants or prebiotics have not been identified, these observations indicate potential use of prebiotics such as GroBiotic®-A for shrimp cultured in less than optimal environments.     

The Effect of Prior Frozen Storage (−20°C) on the Quality of Oven-Baked Sardines (Sardina pilchardus)

ABSTRACT

The effect of frozen storage for 3, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days on the quality of sardines baked for 15, 30, and 45 min was studied. The combination of frozen storage with the baking time in linear reduction of yield and moisture led to less juicy products, as well as significant changes in proteins and lipids. A linear increase of C16:0 followed by a linear reduction of C22:6ω-3 was detected due to frozen storage, indicating lipid oxidation. This was also confirmed by the C22:6ω-3/C16:0 and C20:5ω-3/ C16:0 ratios, which were reduced by 36.8 and 32.7%, respectively. The fatty acid profiles of sardine samples were not significantly altered due to oven-baking. A gradual reduction of eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA) of the baked products was observed mainly due to frozen storage. Cholesterol and squalene content increased with increasing the time of baking. A gradual decrease of cholesterol and squalene was observed due to frozen storage.     

Effect of long-term administration of dietary β-1,3-glucan on growth, physiological, and immune responses in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

β-1,3-Glucan at different dietary doses was administered to enhance the growth, immunity, and survival against nitrite stress in Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Four different diets supplemented with 0, 250, 500, or 1,000 mg of β-1,3-glucan kg⁻¹ diets were fed to L. vannamei. Growth performance (weight gain and survival rate), physiological conditions (blood total protein, glucose, lactate, triacylglycerols, cholesterol levels) and immunological responses (superoxide dismutase, catalase, lysozyme, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities) of shrimp were recorded after 84-day feeding and 120 h after exposed to nitrite-N. After 84-day feeding, 250 mg kg⁻¹ β-1,3-glucan diet resulted in better weight gain (P < 0.05). Before the nitrite stress, blood lactate, triacylglycerols, and cholesterol level in shrimp fed with 250 mg kg⁻¹ β-1,3-glucan diet were significantly higher than those observed in shrimp fed with other diets (P < 0.05). Higher activities of catalase, lysozyme, and alkaline phosphatase were observed in shrimp fed with 500 or 1,000 mg kg⁻¹ β-1,3-glucan diet as compared to those obtained in shrimp fed with other diets (P < 0.05). After 120-h nitrite stress, blood protein, lactate, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in shrimp fed with 500 or 1,000 mg kg⁻¹ β-1,3-glucan were significantly higher than those observed in shrimp fed with other diets (P < 0.05). Glucose and triacylglycerol levels of shrimp fed with 500 or 1,000 mg kg⁻¹ β-1,3-glucan were significantly lower than those observed in other diets (P < 0.05). In shrimp fed with 500 and 1,000 mg kg⁻¹ β-1,3-glucan and 120-h after nitrite stress, the mortality was significantly lower than that observed in shrimp of control. Together, in this 84-day feeding trial, 250 mg kg⁻¹ β-1,3-glucan improved growth, whereas 500 mg kg⁻¹ β-1,3-glucan preferentially improved nitrite resistance, probably through accelerating energy metabolism and activating immune system.     

Effect of diet and β-naphthoflavone on hepatic and renal glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes were isolated from liver and kidney of carp (Cyprinus carpio) by glutathione affinity chromatography and chromatofocusing. Ten hepatic and eight renal catalytically active isoenzymes were identified. GST subunits from purified isoenzymes were further separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and were used as standards for the experimental sample analysis. Experimental samples came from carp that were fed fish meal (standard diet) or soybean bas ed diets for one year, injected or not with -naphthoflavone (BNF; i.p. injection of 50 mg kg-1). HPLC did not allow us to identify precisely the GST isoenzyme pattern in experimental carp. However, GSTs could be pooled in three categories: homodimeric, heterodimeric and unidentified GST subunits. On this basis, the effect of diet and BNF on the GST isoenzyme pattern was investigated. The homodimer/heterodimer ratio was decreased in liver of carp fed a standard diet and in kidney of both dietary groups. BNF increased the total specific GST activity in liver and kidney. However, the GST isoenzyme pattern was not modified in carp fed the standard diet while tissue specific modifications occured in carp fed the soybean diet. BNF decreased the homodimer/heterodimer ratio in liver and increased it in kidney. Abbreviations: BNF - -naphthoflavone; CDNB - 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene; GSH - reduced glutathione; GST - glutathione S-transferase; HPLC - high-performance liquid chromatography; SDS-PAGE - SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Effect of High Pressure Processing on the Quality and Endogenous Enzyme Activities of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) Fillets Stored at 4ºC

ABSTRACT

This study assessed effects of high pressure processing on physicochemical quality and endogenous enzyme activities of grass carp fillets stored at 4 ºC for 21-day storage. Fresh fillets were vacuum-packed and subjected to high pressure processing (0.1, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 MPa at room temperature for 15 min). Results showed that high pressure processing significantly delayed microbial growth, and reduced total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels of grass carp fillets, especially for the 600 MPa group. On the 21st day, the corresponding increases of 6%, 35%, 45%, 43%, and 53% in hardness were observed for 200 MPa, 300 MPa, 400 MPa, 500 MPa, and 600 MPa samples compared with control samples, respectively. In addition, enzyme activities in different groups decreased during storage. Among them, calpain, and myofibril-bound serine proteinases (MBSP) activities were immediately reduced after high pressure treatments, while the activities of collagenase, cathepsin B, and cathepsin D were significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited when the pressure exceeded 400 MPa. However, the pressure treatments activated cathepsin L initially, and then the activity gradually decreased in treated samples. Generally, high pressure processing reduced activities of most of the endogenous enzymes and improved the quality and extended the shelf life by at least 4 ~ 6 days of refrigerated grass carp fillets.     

Effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and 17 β-estradiol (E2) on growth, survival and histological structure of the internal organs in juvenile European catfish Silurus glanis (L.)

The effect of supplemented commercial diets with diethylstilbestrol (DES—15, 30 and 60 mg kg^?1) and 17 β-estradiol (E2—30 and 60 mg kg^?1), two chemicals commonly used in sex reversal procedure in fish, on survival and growth parameters of juvenile European catfish (Silurus glanis) was evaluated. During the two experiments, lasting 28 days each, fish were kept at temperature 25.2–26.5 °C, pH 7.4–9.3 and oxygen concentration 5.0–7.3 mg O₂ dm^?3. DES supplementation resulted in depressed growth rate of catfish. In experimental groups fed with E2, no negative effect on growth parameters was found. Both chemicals did not result in observed mortality. In all of the experimental DES groups, hepatosomatic index increased significantly, which suggests negative influence on physiological condition of catfish. DES supplementation significantly changed cytological factors of liver cells and caused hepatic alterations in parenchyma, such as vacuolization and blood congestion. Similarly, supplementation of E2 in food resulted in changes in cytological parameters of hepatocytes. However, E2 did not cause pathological changes within the liver tissue. Histological examination of the catfish gonads showed 19 and 38 % of sterile fish after treatment with 30 and 60 mg kg^?1 of DES, respectively. The results suggest that DES served in food could be ineffective in hormonal feminization process of European catfish. No disturbances of sex differentiation process after E2 treatment were observed. However, slight feminization effect in the highest level of E2 treatment group was recorded.     

Effect of dietary ω3 and ω6 fatty acids on growth and feed conversion efficiency of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Sixteen isocaloric diets varying only in the levels of ω3 and ω6 fatty acids were prepared. Each diet was fed to duplicate groups of coho salmon for 14 weeks. At termination, the final weight of each diet group fish was determined. The optimum level of dietary ω3 fatty acid ranged from 1% to 2.5%. Dietary ω6 fatty acid higher than 1% depressed fish growth. Fish growth, feed conversion efficiency, fish mortality and fatty acid composition of fish phospholipids were determined.     

Inhibition of Melanosis,Microbial and Quality Changes of White Shrimp (Penaues vannameii) via Effect of Key Lime Juice and Vacuum Packaging at 2 ± 1ºC

This study aimed to investigate the effects of key lime juice (KL) in combination with vacuum packaging (VP) or air storage (SB) on the quality changes of white shrimp stored at 2 ± 1ºC. The quality was assessed using microbiological analysis, color measurement, pH, and total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN). Treatment with KL exhibited inhibitory activity on the growth of spoilage microflora. KL in combination with VP revealed a lower bacterial count in the range of 4.37–4.91 log CFU gˉ¹ on day 12 of storage as compared to other treatments. VP + KL and VP samples could inhibit melanosis. In addition, lower TVBN content was obtained in VP + KL (5.33 mg N/100 g), followed by VP (6.03 mg N/100 g) samples on day 12 of storage (p < 0.05). VP in combination with KL had the lowest loss of quality changes for the white shrimp. Therefore, VP + KL could be used as an alternative preservative method to extend the shelf life for white shrimp.