Salt treatment for recovery of the mud loach, Misgurnus mizolepis from transport stress

ABSTRACT

Due to the shortage of the fingerling/juvenile mud loach, Misgurnus mizolepis in Korea, these fish have been imported from China. However, the mortality rate during and after their transportation is very high. In this study, we examined various physiological and histological parameters to evaluate the effect of salt treatment on the survival and recovery of mud loaches in holding farms during the quarantine process. Glucose, osmolality, Na+, Cl−, and histological changes were assessed for three different salinities. Non-treated fish (control 0.0%) exhibited lower levels of osmolality, and Na+ and Cl− concentrations compared with those kept in solar salt solution (0.5% and 1.0%). Glucose levels in control fish were higher than those in fish exposed to 0.5% and 1.0% solar salt solution. Histologically, control fish showed thinner epidermis of skin, branchial hyperplasia and lamellar fusion with an abundance of eosinophilic granule cell-like cells. After solar salt solution treatment, damaged gill structures in the fish almost recovered within 5 days. The present study demonstrates that mud loaches transported from China suffer from skin and gill damage and physiological dysfunction which may increase the mortality and morbidity. Moreover, saline treatment might alleviate the stress responses and ionic/osmotic imbalances, and help heal gill damage.