Aquaculture International最新文献

{"title":"In vivo and in silico preliminary evaluation of the cyanobacterial peptides portoamides A and B against the white spot syndrome virus in freshwater crabs (Paratelphusa hydrodomous)","authors":"Bharath Raja,&nbsp;Vidya Radhakrishnan,&nbsp;Sudhakaran Raja,&nbsp;Sandra Pereira,&nbsp;Catarina Gonçalves,&nbsp;Vitor Vasconcelos,&nbsp;Mariana Reis,&nbsp;Joana R. Almeida","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01947-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01947-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>White spot syndrome, caused by the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), is a devastating viral disease responsible for significant economic losses in the shrimp farming industry. In the search for natural therapeutic alternatives against WSSV, this study explored the antiviral potential of portoamides, natural peptides produced by the cyanobacterium <i>Phormidium</i> sp. LEGE 05292. Given that the structural proteins of the viral envelope, specifically VP28, VP26, and VP24, are the primary mediators of host cell attachment, they serve as promising targets for antiviral drug development. Our approach combined <i>in vivo</i> post-infection histopathological analysis with <i>in silico</i> molecular docking to assess the antiviral efficacy of portoamides. In the <i>in vivo</i> study, crabs were injected with portoamides alongside WSSV and monitored for 30 days post-infection. The antiviral activity of portoamides was evaluated through survival rates and histopathological observations. The results revealed that crabs treated with portoamides showed improved survival and reduced signs of viral infection compared to the control group. In parallel, <i>in silico</i> molecular docking analysis was conducted to assess the binding affinity between portoamides and the viral envelope proteins VP28, VP26, and VP24. The docking results demonstrated that these proteins exhibited the highest binding energies with portoamides, indicating a strong interaction that could potentially inhibit viral attachment and replication. Our findings suggest that portoamides effectively inhibit WSSV replication by interacting with the viral envelope proteins, thereby preventing the virus from establishing infection in crabs. Moreover, it is hypothesized that portoamides may stimulate the immune system in crabs, further enhancing resistance to WSSV infection. However, additional studies are needed to fully understand the immunomodulatory mechanisms involved. These preliminary results highlight the potential of portoamides as natural antiviral agents for combating WSSV in aquaculture settings, paving the way for future research on their application in disease management strategies.\u0000</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-025-01947-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143778030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of long-term photoperiod on growth, gonad yield and health status of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius","authors":"Fanjiang Ou,&nbsp;Wenzhuo Tian,&nbsp;Peng Liu,&nbsp;Hao Guo,&nbsp;Xuechun Jiang,&nbsp;Shuaichen Wu,&nbsp;Tongshan Jia,&nbsp;Jun Ding,&nbsp;Yaqing Chang,&nbsp;Weijie Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01957-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01957-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Enhancing growth, gonad yield, and health status in cultured sea urchins is crucial. This study examined the growth, gonadal development, and immune response of the sea urchin <i>Strongylocentrotus intermedius</i> subjected to five distinct photoperiod regimes (light–dark ratio of 0L: 24D, 8L: 16D, 12L: 12D, 16L: 8D, and 24L: 0D) for a duration of 13 months. The findings indicated that sea urchins in the 0L treatment achieved the largest body weight overall, however, they attained the maximum specific growth rate (SGR) only during the initial 0 to 3 months stage. In the latter phases, sea urchins subjected to the 12L or 16L treatment attained the highest SGR. This outcome indicated a heightened requirement for light as body size increases. The photoperiod regime significantly influenced the gonad yield of the experimental sea urchins (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05), with individuals in the 16L treatment attaining the greatest gonad weight and the highest gonad index by the conclusion of the experiment. The photoperiod regime did not significantly influence the gonadal coloration of the experimental sea urchins. Histological analysis indicated that the proportion of mature individuals decreases with the reduction of daily light duration. The 0L and 8L photoperiods may regulate the excessive gonadal development in young <i>S. intermedius</i>. At the end of the experiment, no significant change in the phagocytic rate or phagocytic index was seen between the treatments. Finally, long-term photoperiods did not influence the survival rate or immunity of <i>S. intermedius.</i> Our findings indicated that in land-based aquaculture systems, the sea urchin <i>S. intermedius</i> may be cultivated in dark or under reduced daily light to achieve rapid growth, followed by cultivation in a 16L photoperiod to enhance gonad output at harvest.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143778031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of temperature on growth performance, gonad development, immunity, and antioxidant response of hybrid red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus ♂ × Oreochromis aureus ♀)","authors":"Endalh Mekonnen,&nbsp;Yujie Deng,&nbsp;Yude Sun,&nbsp;Lanmei Wang,&nbsp;Jianjun Fu,&nbsp;Mingkun Luo,&nbsp;Zaijie Dong,&nbsp;Wenbin Zhu","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01930-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01930-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The alteration of water temperature influences fishery productivity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of water temperature on the growth performance, gonad development, immunity, and antioxidant functions of hybrid red tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> × <i>Oreochromis aureus</i>). The experimental fish were reared at four different temperatures (22, 25, 28, and 31 ℃). The fish reared at 28 ℃ had the highest weight gain and the highest specific growth rate, but a lower feed conversion ratio. Increasing the water temperature to 28 ℃ promotes the development of the gonads of this fish; however, lower temperatures (22 ℃) can inhibit its development. The fish reared at 28 ℃ had the highest gonad somatic index (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Malondiadehyde, lysozyme, and complement (C3) in the gills and liver of hybrid red tilapia (<i>O. niloticus</i> × <i>O. aureus</i>) were significantly decreased at 31 ℃, indicating the immune system was influenced at a higher temperature. However, the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione in the gills and liver of the fish were significantly higher (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) at rising temperatures. The fish reared at 25 ℃ showed better liver health. We conclude that thermal stress may increase oxidative stress and reduce immune function in red tilapia, leading to impaired fish growth, and reproduction. Knowledge of the effects of temperature on fish species is critical for sustainable fishery management, and it may improve the production of these species and contribute to genetic breeding programs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143769714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feed enriched by autochthonous probiotic bacteria and its effect on growth and immune response under different feeding regimes and immune response after Aeromonas salmonicida infection in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)","authors":"Natália Chomová,&nbsp;Marek Ratvaj,&nbsp;Dagmar Mudroňová,&nbsp;Peter Popelka,&nbsp;Jan Mareš,&nbsp;Miroslava Palíková,&nbsp;Martin Faldyna","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01950-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01950-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study examined the impact of a newly developed probiotic feed using the autochthonous probiotic strain <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> R2 Biocenol™ on the immune response of healthy rainbow trout, particularly after infection with <i>Aeromonas salmonicida</i> subsp. <i>salmonicida</i>. A probiotic feed was tested using different application strategies—continuous and cyclic feeding—to assess its influence on immune function. In the first phase, a non-infectious experiment was conducted to compare these feeding approaches and their effects on immune-related gene expression over time. The second phase involved an infection trial in which fish previously supplemented with probiotics were exposed to a bacterial pathogen to evaluate potential protective effects. Results indicated that while continuous probiotic feeding did not significantly alter immune function, cyclic feeding was associated with a temporary boost in immune response, as evidenced by changes in the expression of key immune-related genes (<i>cd8</i>, <i>igm</i>, <i>il-8</i>, <i>tnf-α</i>). Furthermore, the body length and weight improved in fish fed with probiotics increased over the study period. One week post-infection, pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions (<i>il-1</i>, <i>il-8</i>, <i>tnf-α</i>) were reduced in the probiotic group, with a similar trend observed for other pro-inflammatory molecules. The second infectious sampling indicated increased expression of <i>cd4</i> and <i>cd8</i> genes, suggesting heightened acquired immunity in the probiotic group. These findings suggest that probiotics can influence immune function and may contribute to improved disease resistance in aquaculture.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-025-01950-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143769715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to: The effect of aqueous application of probiotics on growth, heavy metal accumulation, blood biochemistry, and histological alterations of Dicentrarcus labrax","authors":"Mohamed M. Abdel‑Rahim,&nbsp;Shimaa A. Shahin,&nbsp;Abdallah Tageldein Mansour,&nbsp;Ahmed Saud Alsaqufi,&nbsp;Ahmed E. Elshafey,&nbsp;Amira A. Omar,&nbsp;Hassan A. El‑Sharkawy,&nbsp;Radi A. Mohamed,&nbsp;Ashraf I. G. Elhetawy","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01936-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01936-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143769716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Importance of biofilms in water quality management in aquaculture systems—a review","authors":"Mamdouh Al- Harbi,&nbsp;Ramzi H. Amran,&nbsp;Sathianeson Satheesh","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01953-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01953-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Biofilms, the assemblage of microbial communities on surfaces, play an important role in aquaculture by improving water quality, enhancing the growth and disease resistance of cultured organisms. Microorganisms, especially bacteria associated with biofilms, are involved in the reduction of dissolved solids and pathogens and participate in the nutrient cycling of aquaculture systems. The use of biofilm-based technology in aquaculture is considered an eco-friendly measure for the treatment of wastewater in recirculating aquaculture systems. This review paper explores the role of biofilms in improving water quality in aquaculture systems. While many microorganisms are associated with biofilms, the focus of this paper is on the bacteria community. The mechanisms through which biofilms maintain good water quality and the potential of biofilm-based sustainable aquaculture practices are discussed in detail.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143761659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of Myo-inositol on antioxidant capacity and immunity in freshwater crayfish","authors":"Changchang Pu,&nbsp;Yuanyi Liu,&nbsp;Yinfeng Cheng,&nbsp;Bingke Wang,&nbsp;Aimin Wang,&nbsp;Chunnuan Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01949-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01949-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Myo-inositol (MI\u0000) plays a vital role in the growth and development of crustaceans. Although most researchers have focused on the critical role of MI in fish, its application in crustaceans is lacking. A 6-week trial was conducted to comparatively evaluate the effects of 6 levels of dietary MI (0, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 mg/kg diet) in juvenile freshwater crayfish <i>Procambarus clarkii</i> (6.39 ± 0.05) g. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary MI on antioxidant capacity, non-specific immunity, and possible molecular mechanisms in freshwater crayfish. Research shows dietary MI could improve hepatopancreatic antioxidant enzyme activity and non-specific immunity (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). MI can be converted into phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) under the action of phospholipase, which activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway can promote the transcription level of Nrf2-Keap1, thereby promoting the expression of antioxidant-related genes (<i>sod</i>, <i>cat</i>, and <i>gpx</i>) to improve the antioxidant mechanism (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). In addition, dietary MI could prevent the occurrence of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS, <i>bip</i>, <i>xbp1</i>, and <i>ire1</i>) and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (<i>jnk</i>, <i>il-6</i>, <i>tnf-</i>α, and <i>nf-κb</i>) and apoptosis-related genes (<i>bax</i>, <i>cytc</i>, and <i>casp3</i>) (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Dietary MI improves antioxidant capacity by regulating increased Nrf2 translocation and NF-κB translocation. In conclusion, dietary MI can enhance the antioxidant defense system of freshwater crayfish by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway and coordinating the transcription levels of Nrf2 and NF-κB.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143761658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative health assessment of wild and farmed barred spiny eel, Macrognathus pancalus (Hamilton, 1822)","authors":"Farhana Hoque,&nbsp;Subhendu Adhikari,&nbsp;Ajmal Hussan,&nbsp;Baidya Nath Paul,&nbsp;Rathindranath Mandal,&nbsp;Arabinda Das,&nbsp;Subhas Sarkar,&nbsp;Pramoda Kumar Sahoo","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01940-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01940-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The barred spiny eel, <i>Macrognathus pancalus</i>, is a high-value food fish with significant market demand but limited aquaculture due to the absence of a defined culture protocol. Health monitoring is crucial for early disease detection, risk assessment, and optimizing rearing conditions and disease management. Hence, this study evaluated the health status of wild <i>M. pancalus</i> from natural waters in West Bengal and farmed counterparts from ICAR-CIFA and RRC, Rahara, to facilitate its integration into aquaculture. The assessment included the study of health indices, hematological profiles, histology, stress biomarkers, and microbial diversity of eel from both environments. Results revealed that wild fish exhibited a higher Health Assessment Index (HAI), greater coefficient of variation (CV), and noticeable organ anomalies, alongside elevated levels of stress biomarkers. In contrast, farmed fish demonstrated significantly (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) higher erythro-nuclear dimensions and hemoglobin levels, reflecting better overall health. Parasitological examinations identified the presence of <i>Thelohanellus</i> sp., <i>Trichodina</i> sp., and nematodes in wild fish with marked alterations in liver and kidney tissues. Bacterial loads were higher in wild fish, with <i>Pseudomonadaceae</i> being the dominant bacterial family in both groups. Antibiotic resistance profiling indicated a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index ranging from 0 to 0.58, with higher resistance levels in wild fish. The environmental differences between natural and farmed conditions influenced fish health and microbial diversity. The study highlights the need for environmental management and aquaculture adoption to conserve this high-valued indigenous eel from the wild.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143761746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Addition of bromelain enzyme to a plant-based diet in Labeo rohita fingerlings: Effects on growth, body composition, enzyme activities, and intestinal morphology","authors":"Samra Qudratullah,&nbsp;Mahroze Fatima,&nbsp;Syed Zakir Hussain Shah,&nbsp;Noor Khan,&nbsp;Beenish Aftab,&nbsp;Ayesha Khizar,&nbsp;Wazir Ali,&nbsp;Ayesha Tanveer","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01946-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01946-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigated the impact of bromelain supplementation in plant based-diet on the growth, enzymatic activity, and intestinal morphology of <i>Labeo rohita</i>. A total of 300 fingerlings (initial weight, 12.27 ± 0.11 g) were acclimatized and randomly distributed into 15 aquaria (20 fish/aquarium), which were fed diets (30% CP) supplemented with bromelain at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/kg (D₀, D₁, D₂, D_3, and D_4, respectively) in triplicate for 90 days at a 3% body weight ratio. Bromelain supplementation up to 20 g/kg significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.05</i>) increased weight gain and the specific growth rate; however, higher supplementation levels reduced (<i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.05</i>) growth performance. Similarly, the fish fed up to 20 g/kg bromelain-supplemented diet presented a significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.05</i>) lower FCR, and the opposite trend was observed at higher levels. Compared with those in the control group, significant (<i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.05</i>) increases in the activities of digestive enzymes, such as proteases and lipases, were observed in the fish fed diets supplemented with up to 20 g/kg bromelain, and the opposite trend was observed at higher supplementation levels. However, amylase activity was reduced (<i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.05</i>) in the fish fed up to 20 g/kg bromelain supplemented diets in comparison to control group. No significant changes (<i>p</i> &gt; <i>0.05</i>) in survival rate or body composition (moisture, crude fat, ash, or crude protein) were noted. The contents of minerals, particularly copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium, in the fillets decreased significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.05</i>) in the fish fed with bromelain-supplemented diets, and the opposite trend was observed for phosphorus. Furthermore, bromelain supplementation up to 20 g/kg significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.05)</i> improved serum alkaline phosphatase activity and intestinal morphology, increasing the goblet cell count, mucosal length, villus length, and width; however, higher levels had opposite effects. Moreover, polynomial regression analysis revealed 25.89 g/kg bromelain as the optimal concentration for enhancing the growth and health status of <i>L. rohita,</i> which highlights the potential of bromelain as an effective dietary supplement to increase fish performance in plant-based aquaculture systems. Future research should focus on large-scale applications, economic feasibility, and synergistic effects with other feed additives to reduce the reliance on fishmeal in aquafeed.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143761657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A laboratory-scale recirculating aquaculture system for long-term experimental rearing of bivalves under minimal stress conditions for aquatic animal research","authors":"Soumya Balakrishnan,&nbsp;Ambadi Kannan Maliyekkal Sajeevan,&nbsp;Akshay P. S.,&nbsp;I. S. Bright Singh,&nbsp;Jayesh Puthumana","doi":"10.1007/s10499-025-01941-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-025-01941-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Aquatic animal facilities should be designed to minimize stress, ensuring stable environmental conditions that promote animal welfare and enhance experimental reliability. Maintaining bivalves in laboratory tanks with routine water exchange (static-renewal system, SRS) often results in stress and high mortality rates, making long-term rearing challenging. Flow-through systems, while an alternative, require access to seawater and are limited by coastal proximity and regulatory restrictions. Additionally, seasonal collection and transportation of bivalves complicate the consistent supply of animals for carrying out experiments. To address these issues, a simplified recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) was developed to provide stable conditions for bivalves, enabling long-term maintenance with minimal stress for experimental research in aquatic animals. The RAS system integrates culture tanks with solid filtration and biofiltration units to maintain optimal water quality. The RAS was compared to SRS over a three-month rearing period using the bivalve <i>Magallana bilineata</i>. Water quality parameters were assessed every three days, while animal health and mortality were closely monitored. Stress levels were measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based <i>hsp70</i> mRNA expression. The implemented RAS successfully maintained bivalves with minimal stress and stable water chemistry resulting in only 10% mortality in RAS, whereas it was 80% in SRS. The animals in SRS showed significantly elevated <i>hsp70</i> expression (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), whereas the expression levels were comparable between those in RAS and the wild (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Therefore, the implemented simple RAS significantly improved the welfare of bivalves, reducing mortality and stress, while supporting long-term maintenance and ensuring the suitability for experimental research in aquatic animals.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"33 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143761803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}