Effect of Handling and Transport on Cortisol Response and Nutrient Mobilization of Golden Shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas

Abstract

As the most popular baitfish in the USA, the golden shiner is subjected to frequent handling and transportation episodes prior to retail marketing and recreational use. Considerable mortality and economic loss can occur during handling and transportation. Limited information is available concerning stress responses, such as cortisol secretion, and mobilization of nutrients, such as zinc and ascorbic acid, during handling and transportation of this fish species. Therefore, two concurrent experiments were performed to characterize cortisol responses, as well as changes in whole‐body zinc and visceral ascorbic acid concentrations, after harvesting, grading, and transporting by ground or air. During ground transportation, fish were sampled immediately after being subjected to the following conditions: seined from a commercial pond in Lonoke, Arkansas (I), released into vats from the loading truck (II), graded by bar grader (III), loaded onto a hauling truck (IV) and after transport for 10 h to Brenham, Texas (V). Fish were also sampled before and after air freight shipment. Whole‐body cortisol appeared to be a reliable endocrine marker for stress response of golden shiner subjected to handling and transportation. Grading by bar grader was the most stressful event in the process of handling and transporting golden shiners, resulting in a significantly elevated whole‐body cortisol concentration of 107 ng/g tissue, compared to concentrations of 6.3, 32.3, 15.7, and 30.4 ng/g tissue, for stages I, II, IV, and V, respectively. A significant increase in whole‐body cortisol concentration was also observed after air transportation of 22 h duration. No significant reductions in whole‐body zinc or visceral ascorbic acid concentrations were observed.

Efficacy of nucleotide related products on growth, blood chemistry, oxidative stress and growth factor gene expression of juvenile red sea bream, Pagrus major

“…Plasma or serum cortisol concentration is a reliable biological indicator of stress response in fish and terrestrial animals (Li et al, 2009;Small and Davis, 2002). In the present study, the relative values of plasma cortisol concentrations were decreased compared with control, with the supplementation of inosine and NBP but not at a significant level.…”

“…Stress is one of the emerging factors in aquaculture activities which may affect hormonal secretion rates, intermediary metabolism, immunity and nutrient utilization (Li et al, 2009). Plasma or serum cortisol concentration is a reliable biological indicator of stress response in fish and terrestrial animals (Li et al, 2009;Small and Davis, 2002).…”

Effects of Temperature Reduction and MS‐222 on Water Quality and Blood Biochemistry in Simulated Transport Experiment of Largemouth Bronze Gudgeon, Coreius guichenoti

“…Many previous studies have shown that lowering the temperature (Yokoyama et al 1989;Yoshikawa et al 1989;Ross and Ross 1999;Ross et al 2007) or using a combination of anesthetic administration and temperature reduction reduces the potential injury of many fish species during transportation (Horváth et al 1984). The results of these studies have been based on examining the induction/recovery time (Hovda and Linley 2000;Ross et al 2007;Pawar et al 2011;Zahl et al 2011), respiratory rates (Rodman 1963, changes in water quality (Pavlidis et al 2003;Sink and Neal 2009), and physiological and biochemical responses (Dobsikova et al 2006;Cho et al 2009;Li et al 2009b;Sink and Neal 2009). However, few research reports have been published on C. guichenoti, an endemic and urgently threatened species in this area.…”

Inosine supplementation effectively provokes the growth, immune response, oxidative stress resistance and intestinal morphology of juvenile red sea bream,Pagrus major

“…However, inosine supplementation free diet group (D1) and inosine ≥6 g kg −1 supplemented diet groups (D4 and D5) located in zone D implied a comparatively higher oxidative conditions. Plasma cortisol concentration, which is another important and reliable biological indicator of stress response in fish and terrestrial animals (Li et al., ; Small & Davis, ), showed reduced level ( p > .05) in fish fed inosine supplemented diets compared with control. Result of the present study supports the findings of Tahmasebi‐Kohyani, Keyvanshokooh, Nematollahi, Mahmoudi, and Pasha‐Zanoosi () where supplementation of nucleotide significantly reduced plasma cortisol level of rainbow trout.…”