A comparative study of natural or artificial feed on physiological health and gut microbiota in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi)

IF 2.2 3区农林科学 Q2 FISHERIES

Aquaculture International Pub Date : 2025-03-21 DOI:10.1007/s10499-025-01923-y

Wei Fang, Xiangjun Leng, Biao Yun, Lei Wang, Xueqiao Qian

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Abstract

Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) aquaculture faces sustainability challenges due to its reliance on live prey fish. Although artificial feed (AF) has ecological and economic advantages, the effects of artificial feed on physiological health and gut microbiota in mandarin fish are still unclear. This study aimed to determine the effects of AF on the digestive enzymes, antioxidative capacity, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota in mandarin fish. Healthy and same-sized juvenile mandarin fish (average weight, 25.1 ± 0.1 g) were randomly divided into eight experimental cages (300 L) in quadruplicate (40 fish per cage). The fish in the control group were fed with Indian mrigal carp (Cirrhinus mrigala) with 17.2% wet-weight protein and 4.3% wet-weight lipid, while the fish in the AF group were supplied with an artificial diet. Fish were hand-fed to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. The results showed that the activities of digestive enzymes were 66–193% higher in the AF group compared with the control group. Artificial diet increased the content of malondialdehyde in the intestine of mandarin fish by 85%. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of ER stress-related genes, including X-box binding protein 1 (xbp1) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (chop), were 63–79% higher in the AF group compared with the control group. Regarding cytokine expression, the mRNA levels of interleukin-8 (il-8) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnfα) were 62–418% higher in the AF group. In addition, artificial feed enhanced the α-diversity of the gut microbiota. The relative abundance of Lactococcus in the intestine was higher in the AF group. In conclusion, artificial feed enhanced the activities of digestive enzymes and the stability of the intestinal microecosystem while simultaneously inducing oxidative stress, ER stress, and inflammation in the intestine of mandarin fish. Thus, feed additives with antioxidant and immune-enhancing functions may be used in the process of artificial feed replacing live prey fish. This study provided theoretical guidance for the improvement of mandarin fish artificial feed.

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来源期刊

Aquaculture International 农林科学-渔业

CiteScore

5.10

自引率

6.90%

发文量

204

审稿时长

1.0 months

期刊介绍： Aquaculture International is an international journal publishing original research papers, short communications, technical notes and review papers on all aspects of aquaculture. The Journal covers topics such as the biology, physiology, pathology and genetics of cultured fish, crustaceans, molluscs and plants, especially new species; water quality of supply systems, fluctuations in water quality within farms and the environmental impacts of aquacultural operations; nutrition, feeding and stocking practices, especially as they affect the health and growth rates of cultured species; sustainable production techniques; bioengineering studies on the design and management of offshore and land-based systems; the improvement of quality and marketing of farmed products; sociological and societal impacts of aquaculture, and more. This is the official Journal of the European Aquaculture Society.