Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Damage Associated with Seeding Surgery for Pearl Culture in the Winged Pearl Oyster Pteria sterna.

To evaluate the antioxidant activity and oxidative damage by relaxing, wounding, and seeding of a saibo of different origin on Pteria sterna hosts, five oyster treatments were included: (1) relaxed (REL) but neither wounded nor seeded; (2) relaxed and wounded (WOU) but not seeded; (3) relaxed, wounded, and seeded with an allograft (ALL); (4) relaxed, wounded, and seeded with an autograft (AUT); and (5) unrelaxed, unwounded, and unseeded as control (CTR). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) activity were quantified between 3 and 24 h post-seeding. Compared to the CTR oysters, which did not suffer oxidative stress, SOD activity significantly decreased in the gonad and digestive gland in all treatments and decreased in mantle tissue in AUT oysters; this indicates that the entire process of preparing oysters for pearl culture (relaxing, wounding, and seeding) generates oxidative stress in the host. CAT was not a sensitive enzyme for measuring the short-term response of oysters to the wounding-seeding processes but rather a more prolonged or chronic stress. Similar to SOD, the lowest GPx and TBARS activity in seeded oysters evidenced their susceptibility to oxidative stress and damage, particularly in the WOU treatment. Evidence from this study indicates that SOD is a more sensitive enzyme for measuring the short-term response of the host oyster to the wounding and seeding of a saibo. It is also clear that the host undergoes stress at all stages of the pearl culture process, mostly during gonad wounding and regardless of the origin of saibo.

Uso de Levaduras Activas en Nutrición de Camarón

RESUMEN La acuacultura de camarón es una industria que usa harina de pescado en las dietas, el cual es un ingrediente difícil de obtener a bajo costo y es cada vez más escaso. Es importante encontrar estrategias que ayuden a la nutrición del camarón mediante el uso de ingredientes alternativos que reemplacen o complementen a la harina de pescado y ayuden a desarrollar una industria más amigable para el medio ambiente. Las levaduras se pueden añadir a las dietas para los organismos acuáticos y son un producto microbiano generado por sistemas biotecnológicos o un subproducto de las industrias agroalimentarias. Este estudio determinó el uso potencial de levaduras activas (Candida insectorum, C. parapsilosis, C. sake, C. utilis, Debaryomyces hansenii, Rhodosporidium paludigenum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, y Yarrowia lipolytica) en camarones juveniles y postlarvas de Litopenaeus schmitt, Fenneropenaeus indicus y L. vannamei. Los resultados muestran que las levaduras activas pueden ser empleadas a diferentes dosis como un sustituto parcial de la harina de pescado y/o harina de soya e incorporarse a dietas de camarones juveniles o usarse directamente en dietas para postlarvas. Sin embargo, es necesario realizar estudios que determinen las estrategias más eficientes para que la levadura activa sea ingerida por el camarón.

ABSTRACT Shrimp aquaculture is an industry that uses fishmeal in diets, which is an ingredient difficult to obtain at low cost and increasingly scarce. It is important to find strategies that help shrimp nutrition by using alternative ingredients that replace or complement fishmeal and help develop a more environmentally friendly industry. Yeasts can be added to diets for aquatic organisms and are microbial products generated by biotechnological systems or a by-product from agri-food industries. This study determined the potential use of active yeasts (Candida insectorum, C. parapsilosis, C. sake, C. utilis, Debaryomyces hansenii, Rhodosporidium paludigenum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Yarrowia lipolytica) in juvenile and postlarvae shrimp of Litopenaeus schmitt, Fenneropenaeus indicus, and L. vannamei. The results show that active yeasts can be used at different doses, as partial substitute for a fishmeal-soybean meal and incorporated into diets for juvenile shrimp or used directly in diets for postlarvae. However, it is necessary to carry out studies to determine the most efficient strategies for the active yeast to be ingested by shrimp.

Combined administration routes of marine yeasts enhanced immune-related genes and protection of white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) against Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Antibiotic usage to control infectious diseases in shrimp aquaculture has led to serious problems on antimicrobial resistance. An alternative to mitigate this issue is the use of probiotics, which can be easily administered by feed and water. This study examines immunomodulatory and protective effects of the marine yeasts Debaryomyces hansenii CBS8339 (Dh) and Yarrowia lipolytica Yl-N6 (Yl) -alone and mixed-in white shrimp Penaeus vannamei post-larvae. Administration routes (fed and water alone or in combination), supplementation frequency and time elapsed after the last dietary supplement were tested on growth and gene expression of penaeidin, lectin, lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, as well as survival upon Vibrio parahaemolyticus IPNGS16 challenge. Penaeidin and lectin genes were upregulated in post-larvae fed orally with Yl or combined Dh + Yl. Higher growth and survival for yeast supplementation treatments were observed compared to the control group, mainly when yeasts (Dh + Yl) and administration routes (feed and water) were combined. In conclusion, mixed yeast and combined administration routes improved growth and immunity against V. parahaemolyticus.

Effect of low salinity on acute arsenic toxicity and bioconcentration in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles.

This study investigated acute arsenic toxicity and bioconcentration capacity in Litopenaeus vannamei because it has been frequently exposed to lower salinities than its isosmotic point (25 g L-1). Juveniles (9.9 ±â€¯0.4 g) were exposed to low (5-10 g L-1) and isosmotic salinity (25 g L-1) levels; As values were 30.8, 20.2, 16.8 and 13.9 mg L-1 at 5 g L-1; 30.4, 19.1, 16.8 and 14.8 mg L-1 at 10 g L-1; 31.5, 19.0, 15.0 and 11.9 mg L-1 at 25 g L-1 at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC50, respectively. No significant differences were found among As LC50 values calculated for different salinity levels and same exposure times, concluding that low salinity did not affect shrimp sensitivity to As. Likewise, no significant differences were observed in As bioconcentration in shrimp exposed to the same waterborne As and distinct salinity, supporting the results of acute toxicity. Bioconcentration factors of As maintained a relatively stable tendency where all values (0.8 ±â€¯0.2 to 1.7 ±â€¯0.4) were statistically comparable to 1, indicating that As was accumulated in a similar proportion to waterborne As concentration at three salinity levels. This study proposed 135.3 ±â€¯12.1 µg L-1 for salinities from 5 to 25 g L-1 as provisional safe As concentration. According to these results, the hypothesis that sustains an effect of low salinity on As acute toxicity and its bioconcentration capacity cannot be acceptable. Therefore, the information provided allows knowing the threshold levels of As in water to avoid ecological and economic losses.

Probiotics in the intestinal tract of juvenile whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei: modulation of the bacterial community.

Molecular analysis of the 16S rDNA of the intestinal microbiota of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei was examined to investigate the effect of a Bacillus mix (Bacillus endophyticus YC3-b, Bacillus endophyticus C2-2, Bacillus tequilensisYC5-2) and the commercial probiotic (Alibio(®)) on intestinal bacterial communities and resistance to Vibrio infection. PCR and single strain conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses were then performed on DNA extracted directly from guts. Injection of shrimp with V. parahaemolyticus at 2.5 × 10(5) CFU g(-1) per shrimp followed 168 h after inoculation with Bacillus mix or the Alibio probiotic or the positive control. Diversity analyses showed that the bacterial community resulting from the Bacillus mix had the highest diversity and evenness and the bacterial community of the control had the lowest diversity. The bacterial community treated with probiotics mainly consisted of α- and γ-proteobacteria, fusobacteria, sphingobacteria, and flavobacteria, while the control mainly consisted of α-proteobacteria and flavobacteria. Differences were grouped using principal component analyses of PCR-SSCP of the microbiota, according to the time of inoculation. In Vibrio parahaemolyticus-infected shrimp, the Bacillus mix (~33 %) induced a significant increase in survival compared to Alibio (~21 %) and the control (~9 %). We conclude that administration of the Bacillus mix induced modulation of the intestinal microbiota of L. vannamei and increased its resistance to V. parahaemolyticus.

Isolation and characterization of infectious Vibrio sinaloensis strainsfrom the Pacific shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Decapoda: Penaeidae)

Infectious diseases especially those caused by bacterial and viral pathogens are serious loss factors in shrimp farming. In this study, bacteria were isolated from the gut and hepatopancreas of stressed shrimps obtained from a commercial farm. The isolates were screened on Thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar plates for the selection of Vibrio species. Presumptive vibrios were characterized through tests for hemolytic and enzymatic activity, hydrophobicity, growth and molecular identification. Three experimental infections were conducted in order to confirm the pathogenicity of selected bacterial strains VHPC18, VHPC23, VHPC24 and VIC30. In the third experimental challenge the LD50 was obtained, it lasted 10 days with 10 shrimp, weighing 6.9±1.1g, per tank. The treatments in triplicate were: (1) saline solution (control group); (2) 2×10(5)CFU/shrimp; (3) 4×10(5)CFU/shrimp; (4) 2×10(6)CFU/shrimp; (5) 4×10(6)CFU/shrimp, and (6) 8×10(6)CFU/shrimp. In all challenges, water parameters measured during the experimental period remained within optimum ranges. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that the mixture of four vibrio isolates, identified as Vibrio sinaloensis, was virulent for L. vannamei. The LD50 value was 1.178×10(5)CFU/g body weight. V. sinaloensis may act as opportunistic pathogens for cultured L. vannamei. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 567-576. Epub 2012 June 01.

Las enfermedades de etiología infecciosa, especialmente las causadas por patógenos bacterianos y virales ocasionan graves pérdidas en el cultivo de camarón blanco Litopenaeus vannamei. En este estudio se caracterizo: la actividad enzimática y hemolítica; hidrofobicidad; crecimiento e identificación molecular de vibrios aislados del intestino y hepatopancreas de camarones estresados, obtenidos de una granja comercial, en medio Agar Tiosulfato Citrato Bilis Sacarosa. Además, se realizaron tres infecciones experimentales para confirmar la patogenicidad de las cepas bacterianas seleccionadas VHPC18, VHPC23, VHPC24 y VIC30. En la tercera infección experimental se obtuvo la LD50, el reto duro 10 días, con 10 camarones por tanque con un peso de 6.9±1.1g. Los tratamientos se realizaron por triplicado: (1) solución salina (grupo control); (2) 2×10(5)UFC/camarón; (3) 4×10(5)UFC/camarón; (4) 2×10(6)UFC/camarón; (5) 4×10(6)UFC/camarón y (6) 8×10(6)UFC/camarón. En todos los retos, los parámetros del agua permanecieron dentro de los intervalos óptimos. Las pruebas de patogenicidad confirmaron que la mezcla de cuatro aislados de Vibrio, identificados como Vibrio sinaloensis, fue virulenta para L. vannamei. El valor de la LD50 fue de 1.178×10(5)UFC/g de peso corporal. Los resultados permiten establecer que las cepas de V. sinaloensis pueden actuar como patógenos oportunistas en L. vannamei cultivado.

Toxicity of cultured bullseye puffer fish Sphoeroides annulatus.

The toxin content in various life cycle stages of tank-cultivated bullseye puffer (Sphoeroides annulatus) were analyzed by mouse bioassay and ESI-MS spectrometry analysis. The presence of toxin content was determined in extracts of sperm, eggs, embryo, larvae, post-larvae, juvenile, pre-adult, and adult fish, as well as in food items used during the cultivation of the species. Our findings show that only the muscle of juveniles, the viscera of pre-adults, and muscle, liver, and gonad of adult specimens were slightly toxic (<1 mouse unit). Thus, cultivated S. annulatus, as occurs with other cultivated puffer fish species, does not represent a food safety risk to consumers. This is the first report of toxin analysis covering the complete life stages of a puffer fish under controlled conditions.

Superoxide dismutase activity in juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei and Nodipecten subnodosus exposed to the toxic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima.

The toxic effect of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima on juvenile American whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and giant lion-paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus was evaluated. Organisms were exposed to three densities (500, 2000, or 5000 cells mL(-1)), superoxide dismutase activity and soluble protein in the hepatopancreas and muscle were determined at 1, 6, 24 and 48 h after challenge. Shrimp exposed at 5000 cells mL(-1) significantly increased SOD activity in the hepatopancreas at 1 h post-challenge, whereas enzymatic activity in muscle significantly increased at 24 h at all densities. Scallops exposed to 500 and 2000 cells mL(-1) showed significant SOD activity increase in hepatopancreas at 24 and 12 h, respectively. Mortality at 48 h was 100% in scallops exposed to 5000 cells mL(-1). Shrimp showed higher levels of SOD activity than scallops. Soluble protein content in the shrimp hepatopancreas was significantly higher at densities of 500 and 2000 cells mL(-1) at 6 and 1 h, respectively. Soluble protein content in the scallop hepatopancreas was higher than control values at 1 h after challenge. In this study, 500 cells mL(-1) was enough to trigger SOD activity in two benthic species exposed to the toxic dinoflagellate P. lima.