High levels of docosahexaenoic acid are present in eight New World silversides (Pisces: Atherinopsidae)

Abstract

<jats:p>ABSTRACT Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the most critical and least available omega-3 fatty acid in the Western human diet. Currently, the source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) is mainly dependent on wild fisheries, making this resource unsustainable in the foreseeable future. In recent years, a high rate of biosynthesis and accumulation of DHA has been discovered in a freshwater species (Chirostoma estor) belonging to the Atherinopsidae family. Interest in evaluating fatty acid composition in other members of the family has emerged, so this study compiles original data of flesh composition of eight atherinopsid species from freshwater and brackish environments, either wild or cultured. High levels of DHA (16 to 31%) were found in all analyzed members of the family, except in C. grandocule, independently of their habitat or origin. The analyzed species of the Jordani group (C. estor, C. promelas and C. humboldtianum) showed high DHA and low EPA levels (&lt;0.5%) as previously reported for cultured C. estor. The low trophic niche of these atherinopsids and their fatty acid accumulation capabilities are factors that make these species noteworthy candidates for sustainable aquaculture.</jats:p>

Loss of gut microbial diversity in the cultured, agastric fish, Mexican pike silverside (Chirostoma estor: Atherinopsidae)

“…To help fill in the knowledge gap about the importance and function of agastric fish gut microbiota, we propose studying the Mexican pike silverside, Chirostoma estor due to its simplified digestive tract lacking a stomach and consisting instead of a short-intestine that is only 0.7 the fish’s length (relative gut length - rgl) ( Ross et al, 2006 ). The Mexican pike silverside has been described by the FAO of the United Nations, as a species with high aquaculture potential due to its regional importance, low trophic level, and high nutraceutical value (high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content) ( Fonseca-Madrigal et al, 2014 ; Martínez-Palacios et al, 2019 ; Martínez-Palacios et al, 2020 ). This teleost fish consumes mostly zooplankton and insects, which are finely ground by chewing before swallowing ( Ross et al, 2006 ; Martínez-Palacios et al, 2019 ).…”