The influence of rearing density on stress response and disease susceptibility of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis)

The impact of coldwater disease caused by Flavobacterium psychrophilum is a recent important problem in the farming of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis). We hypothesized that stress from high-rearing densities predisposes fish to disease by reducing their immunocompetence, and we sought to reduce fish losses by introducing an alternative culture regime. Fish enclosed at three densities (1250 fish or 8.0 kg, 400 fish or 2.6 kg and 100 fish or 0.6 kg/m³) were examined. Fish in the high-density treatment exhibited more elevated serum cortisol concentrations and more suppressed serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations accompanied by higher mortality, possibly caused by coldwater disease, than those in the medium- and low-density treatments. These results indicate that high-rearing densities stress fish and evoke subsequent physiological responses which have maladaptive effects. We propose that coldwater disease may be prevented by improving the disease resistance of fish by using moderate stocking densities.