China has become the world's largest producer, exporter, and consumer of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), but the per capital consumption in China is low. Thus, we conducted an empirical study of 1,821 consumers of tilapia in China. We aimed to identify the perception of tilapia among Chinese consumers and to investigate the factors that might influence their perceptions by using a logit model. The majority of the respondents liked tilapia and were willing to buy it. Significant factors that affected the preference of consumers for tilapia included their perception of the importance of the nutritional value, freshness, and safety of the fish as well as convenience to buy, family incomes, and regional variables. Effective ways to enhance consumer perceptions of tilapia include increasing its nutritional value and safety, improving marketing strategies, and ensuring its availability to local consumers.
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for aquatic animals. The aquatic plant Potamogeton maackianus is an important natural food of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). The aim of this study was to determine whether the antioxidant and immune responses of Chinese mitten crab are affected by including Se-cultured P. maackianus in the diet. Three groups of P. maackianus were cultured at levels of 0.02 mg/kg Se, 8.83 mg/kg Se, and 16.92 mg/kg Se, and the plants in these groups were used in experimental diets fed to crabs (dietary Se content of 0.05, 0.43, and 0.82 mg/kg, respectively). Compared with crabs in the 0.05 mg/kg group, those in the 0.82 mg/kg group showed significantly increased specific growth rate, protease and lipase activities, triglyceride and cholesterol contents, and Se content in the hepatopancreas and muscle (P < 0.05); increased activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase in the antioxidant system; increased transcript levels of MT (encoding metallothionein); and decreased malondialdehyde content (P < 0.05). At the end of the rearing experiment, the crabs in the different groups were exposed to copper (Cu 2+) stress for 96 h. All the juvenile crabs in the 0.43 and 0.82 mg/kg groups survived 96 h of Cu 2+ stress. Crabs in the 0.82 mg/kg group showed enhanced antioxidant responses under Cu 2+ stress, increased transcript levels of MT and LYZ, and increased resistance. Therefore, supplementation of the diet of Chinese mitten crab with increased levels of Se-cultured P. maackianus can reduce oxidative stress under Cu 2+ exposure, activate the immune response, and benefit growth.
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