Comparison of Physical,Thermal and Chemical Methods to Measure Protein Denaturation in Frozen Pacific Whiting (Merluccius productus)

The potential of using the torsion test and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the effect of frozen storage on protein denaturation in fish fillets was investigated. Pacific whiting fillets were stored for 12 weeks at three temperature conditions: -20¦C, -8¦C, and at a level varying between 0 and -8¦C. Salt soluble protein (SSP) extractability and Ca++-ATPase activity were used to evaluate the torsion test and DSC. The shear strain value of the torsion test provided a good correlation with SSP extractability, Ca++-ATPase activity, and myosin transition enthalpy as measured by DSC. Therefore, shear strain can be considered as a useful tool for the determination of protein denaturation in Pacific whiting during periods of frozen storage. Because Ca++-ATPase activity, shear stress and shear strain, and myosin transition enthalpy all decreased within one week, protein deterioration in frozen Pacific whiting appears to be rapid at the temperatures tested.     

Correlation of Kudoa Spore Counts with Proteolytic Activity and Texture of Fish Mince from Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus)

ABSTRACT

Sixteen batches of fish mince prepared using fillets from Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) harvested near Vancouver Island, Canada were studied for possible correlations of Kudoa spore counts with proteolytic activity and cooked texture. The fish were mainly infected by K. paniformis, and Kudoa spores were distributed throughout 7 sampling sites on 13 individual hake fish tested. Proteolytic activity of fish homogenate was optimum within the range of pH 5.25–5.50 and 52–55°C. Significant (p < 0.05) correlations were observed among fish mince K. paniformis spore counts, endogenous proteolytic activity, cooked texture measured as maximum compression force (g), and the change in free amino groups during autolysis.     

Pacific hake (Merluccius productus Ayres, 1855) hydrolysates as feed attractants for juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Walbaum, 1792)

Soybean meal (SBM) inclusion in salmonid diets can lower feed cost, but dramatically reduces growth and feed utilization, and increases mortality in juvenile chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, due to diminished diet palatability and/or other adverse physiological effects exerted by antinutritional factors in SBM. The objective of this study was to investigate whether commercial Antarctic krill meal Euphausia superba or hydrolysates enzymatically produced from Pacific hake Merluccius productus could reverse the negative palatability effects of SBM inclusion in juvenile chinook salmon diets. Diets without SBM or with SBM and no added feed attractant were used as positive and negative control diets respectively. Incorporation of 2% krill meal or Alcalase^®‐produced hydrolysates into SBM‐containing diets (20% of dry matter by isonitrogenous replacement of fishmeal) significantly (P < 0.05) increased feed intake, feed utilization, fish weight gain and thermal growth coefficient during a 5‐week trial. Nevertheless, the negative effects on fish performance incurred by dietary inclusion of 20% SBM could not be fully reversed, indicating that most of those effects were likely unrelated to palatability. This study demonstrates the potential for using Pacific hake hydrolysates as a dietary feed attractant for salmonid diets, and supports the need for further research to optimize its application for ideal fish performance.     

Interannual variation in the availability and utilization of euphausiids as prey for Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) along the south-west coast of Vancouver Island

The species and size composition of euphausiids consumed by Pacific hake ( Merluccius productus ) along the south-west coast of Vancouver Island were monitored during the 1989, 1990 and 1995–97 summer feeding seasons. Thysanoessa spinifera and Euphausia pacifica were the only euphausiid species eaten by hake. Hake persisted in selecting krill longer than 17 mm and consistently preferred T. spinifera, even though there was a substantial reduction in euphausiid abundance, a change in species composition and a shift in the size distribution to smaller individuals after the 1992–93 warm water years. The biomass of euphausiids available to hake after 1993 averaged 27% of that for 1991, the pre-ENSO year, and was 12% of the 1991 value in 1996. Hake predation was not responsible for the reduction in euphausiid abundance, as it was already low at euphausiid sizes smaller than those eaten by hake.     

The feeding ecology of larval Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) in the California Current region: an updated approach using a combined OPC/MOCNESS to estimate prey biovolume

A combined optical particle counter (OPC) and multiple opening and closing net and environmental sensing system (MOCNESS) was used to obtain simultaneous measurements of the fine‐scale distribution of ‘prey‐sized’ particles and the vertical distribution of larvae of Pacific hake (Merluccius productus). Physical properties were also measured. The data were used to describe the feeding ecology of Pacific hake larvae, and to explore the effects of prey abundance, time of day, temperature and depth on feeding. Pacific hake larvae consumed a wide variety of prey including copepod eggs, nauplii, copepodites, and euphausiid metanauplii. Calanoid copepodites comprised > 75% of the ingested prey volume. First‐feeding larvae were 2.5–3.0 mm SL. These larvae consumed prey 40–200 μm wide. Larvae 3.0–6.5 mm long ingested prey 40–400 μm wide and larvae > 6.5 mm long ingested prey 400–700 μm wide. There were clear diel patterns in feeding incidence and prey volume ingested. Feeding commenced between 06:01 and 08:00 hours PST and continued until ～ 16:00 hours. Ingested prey items remained in the gut until complete gut evacuation occurred near dawn. The volume of food ingested was estimated using two indices, the cube root of the prey volume (CRPV) and the cube root of the stomach volume (CRSV). Standard length, log elapsed time since gut evacuation, depth and particle biovolume contributed significantly to variation in both indices. Temperature did not contribute to variability in either CRPV or CRSV.     

Freeze‐dried forms of mosquito larvae for feeding of Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens Regan, 1910)

Live diets are preferably used for rearing Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens Regan, 1910) since they provide superior growth over the dry feed. In the current study, three different preparations of mosquito larvae were prepared (frozen at ?20°C, F–20; freeze‐dried and kept at 4°C, FD4; freeze‐dried and kept at ambient temperature, FDAT) and were individually fed to 1‐month‐old red male fighting fish (1.18 ± 0.01 g initial body weight) over 6 weeks duration. At the end of experiment, there were no significant differences in growth performance and feed utilization across three dietary treatments (p ? 0.05). Specific activity of lipase was significantly lower in fish fed FD4 and FDAT than with the F–20 diet, while no differences in other enzymes were observed. The fish fed with FDAT diet significantly increased in viscerosomatic index relative to F–20 and FD4 treatments. Significant improvements in skin redness and flesh quality (RNA and RNA/protein ratio) were observed in the fish fed with FDAT diet relative to the other treatments. This preferred FDAT treatment also maintained the carcass composition. Analysis of digestive enzymes in FDAT mosquito larvae demonstrated the presence of protein‐, carbohydrate‐, and lipid‐digesting enzymes after 1 month of storage. The findings from our experiments indicate that the freeze‐dried form (FDAT) of mosquito larvae is suitable for rearing Siamese fighting fish. However, effective preparation protocol and appropriate storage times should be further studied.     

Host-parasite interaction of the myxosporeans Kudoa paniformis Kabata & Whitaker, 1981 and Kudoa thyrsites (Gilchrist, 1924) in the muscle of Pacific whiting, Merluccius productus (Ayres): an ultrastructural study

Abstract. Kudoa paniformis and Kudoa thyrsites infect the muscle of Pacific whiting, Merluccius productus , and K. paniformis is known to cause a softened muscle texture after death of the fish. Ultrastructural studies were conducted on the host-parasite interaction between Pacific whiting and these myxosporeans at two stages of their infection: (1) unencapsulated plasmodia that contained mature and developing spores, and (2) encapsulated plasmodia that contained deteriorating spores. Unencapsulated plasmodia of both species had a microvillar border that was closely associated with the host muscle. Species-specific characteristics included the presence of multi-vesicular bodies in plasmodia of K. paniformis whereas the cytoplasm of K. thyrsites plasmodia contained an array of vesicles, microfilaments and microtubules. Differences in the predominant organelles of the plasmodia may be related to the production of different proteolytic enzymes by each species. A host response became apparent only after a plasmodium had replaced the width of an infected muscle fibre. At that time, the plasmodia of both species became encapsulated by a wall of fibroblast-like cells that were connected by numerous desmosomes. Occasional phagocytes were located at the edge of these capsules. Ultrastructural evidence suggests that the encapsulated plasmodia were not proteolytically active. Melanin deposition did not occur. However, encapsulated plasmodia with deteriorating spores contained electron-dense breakdown products.     

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid and curcumin on growth performance and oxidative stress enzymes in juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) feed with aflatoxins

Aflatoxicosis is a growing problem in aquaculture. A 42‐day study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and curcumin (CUR) to protect juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) from aflatoxins. Growth parameters along with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activities were measured. Shrimps (36) with an average weight of 76 ± 0.9 mg were randomly allocated in eight experimental groups. Non‐contaminated diet (NCD) and aflatoxin‐contaminated diet (ACD) at 200 μg/kg were prepared. ACD was used to prepare six diets supplemented with CLA (4, 5 or 6 g/kg) and CUR (0.15, 0.2 and 0.3 g/kg). ACD reduced feed intake, growth rate and nitrogen retention efficiency, and increased ALP and GST activity. Improved nitrogen retention was observed for all groups feed with CLA. CUR supplementation at 0.2 g/kg increased feed intake and growth rate while at 0.15 g/kg increased nitrogen retention. ALP activity was reduced in all CUR groups and in 5 and 6 g/kg CLA groups. Reduction in GST activity was observed in 0.15 and 0.2 g/kg CUR groups and 4 g/kg CLA group. CLA supplementation and CUR supplementation can be beneficial to protect juvenile shrimp against aflatoxins.     

Utilization of fermented soybean meal for fishmeal substitution in diets of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Two feeding experiments were carried out to evaluate the utilization of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) in diets for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The digestibility experiment was assessed with four diets: a reference diet and three ingredient test diets containing FSBM, local and Chilean fishmeal. The growth experiment was conducted including four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets formulated to contain the graded levels of dietary fishmeal (0 g/kg, 150 g/kg, 300 g/kg and 450 g/kg) substituted by FSBM. The results indicated that ADCs of crude protein in FSBM were high (888.4 g/kg) and equal in local fishmeal but little lower than Chilean fishmeal while without any significant differences observed in ADCs of crude lipid among the different test ingredients. After 75 days of growth trial, survival rates and feed conversion ratio were not significantly different among the experimental treatments. However, shrimp fed the diets with increasing inclusions of FSBM had a tendency to reduce weight gain and specific growth rate. Based on the correlation between weight gain and substituted fishmeal level analysed by broken‐line regression, the optimum level of fishmeal replaced by FSBM in diet was 253.6 g/kg without adverse effects on growth and feed utilization of Pacific white shrimp.     

Effects of different dietary copper sources on the growth and intestinal microbial communities of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary copper sources on growth performance and intestinal microbial communities of juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Four isonitrogenous (420 g/kg crude protein) and isolipidic (70 g/kg crude lipid) experimental diets were formulated to contain different copper sources, Diet NSC (no‐supplemented copper), Diet CS (copper sulphate), Diet Availa (copper amino acid complex from Availa^®Cu100) and Diet M (1:1, copper sulphate + copper amino acid complex). A total of 360 Pacific white shrimp juveniles (initial weight: 1.86 ± 0.03 g) were randomly allocated into four groups, with three replicates per group and 30 shrimps each replicate. An Illumina‐based sequencing method was used to analyse the intestinal bacterial composition of shrimp juveniles. The results revealed that shrimps fed Diet M had significantly higher percent weight gain (PWG) than that fed Diet NSC and Diet CS, while there were no significant differences between Diet M and Diet Availa. Survival was not affected by the dietary copper sources. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were dominant in the intestines of Pacific white shrimp. Shrimps fed Diet M and Diet Availa had higher bacterial richness and diversity than those fed Diet NSC and Diet CS with no significant differences among all treatments. Furthermore, Diet M and Diet Availa which contained copper amino acid complex reduced the relative abundance of Vibrionaceae in shrimp intestinal tract. This study indicated that dietary copper sources could affect the intestinal microbial communities and diets supplemented with Availa^®Cu100 could have a positive impact on the growth performance and decrease the potential risk of disease in Pacific white shrimp.     

Fishmeal replacement with feather-enzymatic hydrolyzates co-extruded with soya-bean meal in practical diets for the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

A feeding experiment was conducted to examine the potential of a commercial steam-processed-feather meal (SPFM) and feathers enzymatically hydrolysed for 60 or 120 min (EHF60 and EHF120) as substitutes for fishmeal (FM) in diets for white shrimp juveniles. Enzymatically hydrolised feathers or SPFM were blended through an extruder with soyabean meal (SBM) in a 1:1 ratio (EHF-SBM, SPFM-SBM). Isoproteic and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain 9% EHF60-SBM, 9% EHF120-SBM and 18% EHF60-SBM. These diets were compared with a diet containing 13.7% SPFM-SBM and a control diet designed to contain 18.4% FM and no feather. Quadruplicate groups of 15 shrimp (0.33 g initial-body weight) were fed twice a day on each diet for 4 weeks. The weight gain of shrimp fed on the three EHF-SBM diets did not differ from that of shrimp fed on the FM-control diet; however, shrimp fed on the SPFM-SBM diet gained less weight. The EHF60 and EHF120 coextruded with SBM in a 2:1 ratio were evaluated in a commercial rearing pond. Both ingredients included at 20% in the test diets were compared with a control diet containing 17.8% FM. Triplicate groups of juvenile shrimp (3.4 g initial-mean weight), randomly allocated in 1 m³ plastic cages, were fed with the test diets during 30 days. Growth (weight gain, specific-growth rate (SGR)) and nutritional value of the diets, food conversion ratio (FCR), protein-efficiency ratio (PER), digestibility were similar. In summary, these results indicate that white shrimp can be fed with a practical diet containing 20% EHF-SBM (2:1) without impairing growth or food conversion. The use of 20% EHF-SBM (2:1) allowed the fish-meal portion to be reduced by nearly by 55%.     

Effects of replacing fish oil with stearine as main lipid source in diet on growth and survival of Pacific White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

The stearine fraction from raw fish oil refinement has been treated as a waste material. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of replacing prime refined fish oil with stearine as the main lipid source to a control diet on shrimp growth and survival as well as on pellet water stability of diets. Test diets were processed containing three levels (0.7%, 1.3% and 2.7%) of either stearine or refined fish oil in a semi‐purified control diet. These diets were each assigned to five or six replicated tanks and each tank was stocked with seventeen juvenile shrimp (ca. 0.50 g) in an indoor seawater recirculating system. At the end of 6 weeks, the survival of shrimp was 89.4–95.3% with no significant difference (P > 0.05) among dietary treatments. The six test diets obtained significantly higher (P < 0.05) shrimp growth rates (1.46–1.83 g week^?1) than the control diet (1.38 g week^?1). The shrimp that were fed the three stearine‐added diets exhibited high growth rates (1.75–1.83 g week^?1). Increasing the inclusion level of the stearine improved pellet water stability (91.7–93.9%; P < 0.05). These results suggest that stearine can replace fish oil in shrimp feed based on the growth performance.     

南美白对虾幼体和仔虾淀粉酶和脂肪酶活力的研究

以酶学分析方法测定了南美白对虾状幼体,糠虾和仔虾三个发育期淀粉酶和脂肪酶的活力。试验结果表明,糠虾期淀粉酶比活力显著高于状幼体和仔虾两期(P<0.05);脂肪酶比活力状幼体显著高于糠虾幼体(P<0.05)。在食性转化过程中,南美白对虾幼体消化酶活力与其食性相适应,不同发育阶段消化酶调节机制不同。     

Effects of dietary aflatoxin B1 on growth performance,body composition,haematological parameters and histopathology of juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) on growth performance, haematological parameters and histological changes in juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Six practical diets (455 g kg^‐1 protein, 78 g kg^‐1 lipid) with different levels of AFB₁ (0, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000 μg kg^?1) were formulated. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of shrimps (initial weight: 0.52 g). The results showed that shrimp fed with control diet (0 μg kg^?1 AFB₁) had significant higher weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) than other groups. However, there were no significant differences in feed efficiency (FE) or hepatosomatic index (HSI) among all groups. Compared to the control diet, AFB₁ supplementation significantly changed the activities of shrimp serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) and the content of cholesterol (CHO). Histological damages were identified in the hepatopancreas of shrimp when dietary AFB₁ level was over 107.6 μg kg^?1. Based on this study, it was concluded that the AFB₁ level in Pacific white shrimp diet should be <38.1 μg kg^?1.     

混养锦鲤对微咸水凡纳滨对虾池水质及产量的影响

在6口面积均为0.4 hm2的微咸水池中养殖凡纳滨对虾,密度为7.5×105尾/hm2,其中4口混养锦鲤,密度分别为1500、3000、60001、2 000尾/hm2,研究混养锦鲤对凡纳滨对虾池水质及产量影响。结果表明:混养池水质比较稳定,透明度、NH4+-N和NO2--N波动幅度较小且数值较低,混养池对虾平均产量为3345 kg/hm2,比单养池平均产量2268 kg/hm2高47.5%,其中混养锦鲤3000尾/hm2的池虾产量最高,达到3765 kg/hm2。     

On-farm evaluation of three different hatchery sources of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultured in on-levee tanks in low-salinity waters of west Alabama

ABSTRACT

Shrimp farmers in Alabama who produce the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, have recently reported abnormally low survival at harvest. Farmers have hypothesized that this phenomenon may be due to disease, toxic algae, shrimp source, or reduced shrimp robustness in later stages of production. To compare performance of shrimp from different sources, postlarvae were obtained from three different hatcheries and stocked on the same day in on-levee tank systems (TS) on two farms (Farm 1-TS; Farm 2-TS1; Farm 2-TS2). Following 104 days of culture on Farm 2-TS1 and Farm 2-TS2, there were no differences in survival (72.8%–91.2%) or final weight (19.8–24.6 g). At Farm 1-TS following 107 days of culture, there were differences in survival from shrimp sourced from one hatchery (40.5%) compared to the other two hatcheries (61.0%–69.8%). Results demonstrated acceptable growth performance and survival from all hatchery sources.     

Water disinfection by ozonation has advantages over UV irradiation in a brackish water recirculation aquaculture system for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

By keeping tropical shrimp, like Litopenaeus vannamei, in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), valuable food for human consumption can be produced sustainable. L. vannamei tolerates low salinities, and therefore, the systems can operate under brackish water conditions. The stabilization of the microbial community in RAS might be difficult under high organic loads, and therefore, water treatment measures like UV irradiation or ozone application are commonly used for bacterial reduction. To investigate the impact of these measures, the effects of UV irradiation and ozone application were studied in small-scale brackish water RAS with a salinity of 15‰ stocked with L. vannamei. UV reactors with 7 and 9 W were used, and by ozonizers with a power of 5–50 mg/hr, the redox potential in the water was adjusted to 350 mV. Ozone had a stabilizing effect on the microbial composition in the water and on biofilms of tank surfaces and shrimp carapaces, prevented an increase of nitrite and accelerated the degradation of nitrate in the water. UV irradiation led to changes in the microbial composition and was less effective in optimizing the chemical water quality. Thus, the use of ozone could be recommended for water treatment in brackish water RAS for shrimp.     

Effect of disinfection with peracetic acid on the microbial community of a seawater aquaculture recirculation system for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

When tropical shrimps are kept in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), one of the limiting factors is the maintenance of a sufficient water quality, and therefore, often disinfectants like peracetic acid (PAA) are added to the water either as prophylactic or treatment measure. In this study, PAA in concentrations of 0.1 mg/L, 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L was applied continuously for 56 days to small-scale seawater RAS stocked with Litopenaeus vannamei. Treatment with 0.1 mg/L did not result in a reduction in the total bacterial amount and therefore was not effective. A concentration of 10 mg/L led to significant changes in the chemical water parameters already after 2 days and was therefore not recommendable. A concentration of 1 mg/L led to increased levels of ammonia and nitrite within 2 days and to a significant increase in the bacterial amount in the water, most probably due to an enhanced growth of heterotrophic bacteria. The microflora showed significant fluctuations, and there were indications that the welfare of the shrimps was affected. Using 1 mg PAA/L for prophylactic use is therefore also not recommendable but might be an alternative option for short-term treatment in cases of disease outbreaks.