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Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 14322

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ignacio Fernández

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Guest Editor

Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Spanish National Resarch Council (CSIC), Vigo, Spain
Interests: development of sustainable aquaculture production; identification of new alternative resources for fish oil and meal substitution; identification, validation and implementation of biomarkers of fish physiological conditions, particularly nutritional status; identification of suitable predictive and diagnosis descriptors of fish quality; application of NGS technologies to study molecular mechanisms in fish development; development and promotion of the use of in vitro systems for compound screening applying biotechnological approaches
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Dr. Patricia Díaz-Rosales

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Guest Editor

Animal Health Research Centre (CISA-INIA), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
Interests: search for new functional ingredients; evaluation of the effect of new ingredients in the fish immune response; use of functional ingredients as potential adjuvants in oral vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquaculture sustainability relies on better reproductive performance and quality, superior disease resistance, and improved feeding regimes and feed conversion. Breeding selection programs, implementation of circular economy and zero waste perspectives, as well as constant innovation in feed formulation, have been envisaged as the best strategies to achieve the sustainability of this industry.

A well-balanced feed is essential for fish growth, development, and wellbeing. The incorporation of fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO), the golden standard nutritional sources for marine fish species, has been reshaped according to new trends towards greener or land-based aquafeeds. The total replacement of FM and FO by alternative raw materials has been shown to hamper fish growth, while more modest approaches impact fish physiology and immunocompetence at the digestive system due to deficiency in amino acids and minerals and the presence of antinutritional factors, among other factors. While physico-chemical and/or enzymatic reactions have proven to be partially successful strategies to overcome these limitations, the identification and use of functional additives to boost mucosal immunity was another complementary or parallel development. Indeed, fish growth, wellbeing, and resistance to diseases depends on the status of the immune system. Among the different tissues with immunocompetence, the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), acting as a physical, chemical, and biological barrier for animal protection, is particularly relevant in the interconnection between fish nutrition and immunity. Thus, monitoring and improving GALT status seems to be a cornerstone to achieving good growth and wellbeing in farmed fish.

While a greater understanding of how commonly used alternative raw materials (e.g., soybean meal) affect gut mucosa is now available, little is known of how new raw materials might impact mucosal health at cellular and molecular levels. Furthermore, unveiling the potential of particular feed compounds to boost the immune system (and the related mechanism), especially those coming from agri-food byproducts, might allow the expansion of the circular economy in Western aquaculture.

This Special Issue on Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health” aims to present and compile the recent insights on how feed ingredients (macro- and micronutrients but also functional additives) positively or negatively affect fish growth and immunity, particularly at the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, at cellular and/or molecular levels. Original research articles and reviews with fundamental or applied perspectives on how feed ingredients impact fish health, combining classical and innovative approaches, are welcome.

Dr. Ignacio Fernández
Dr. Patricia Díaz-Rosales
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

mucosal immunity
nutrigenomics
digestive system
alternative raw materials
micronutrients and feed additives

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Related Special Issue

Feed Ingredients, Environmental Factors and Fish Mucosal Health in Animals

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 3187 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Dietary Protein Quality Affects the Interplay between Gut Microbiota and Host Performance in Nile Tilapia

by Gabriella do Vale Pereira, Carla Teixeira, José Couto, Jorge Dias, Paulo Rema and Ana Teresa Gonçalves

Animals 2024, 14(5), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050714 - 24 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2015

Abstract

Dietary protein quality plays a key role in maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity, but also modulates the growth of luminal microorganisms. This work assessed the effect of dietary protein sources on the performance, gut morphology, and microbiome in Nile tilapia. Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets comprising equivalent amounts of the protein supply derived from either PLANT, ANIMAL, INSECT, or BACTERIAL (bacterial biomass) sources were fed to triplicate groups of fish (IBW: 12 g) for 46 days. Fish fed the ANIMAL and BACTERIAL diets showed significantly higher weight gains than those fed the PLANT and INSECT diets (p < 0.05). Relative abundance at the phylum level showed that Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Proteobacteria were the more abundant phyla in tilapia’s intestine, while Cetobacterium was the most representative genus in all treatments. Interesting patterns were observed in the correlation between amino acid intake and genus and species abundance. Metabolism prediction analysis showed that BACTERIAL amine and polyamine degradation pathways are modulated depending on diets. In conclusion, different protein sources modulate the relationship between bacteria functional pathways and amino acid intake. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health)

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11 pages, 1232 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Stocking Density and Food Deprivation on Mucous Cells and Lysozyme Activity in the Skin and Gills of Silver Catfish

by Gabriela Pires Scherer, Isadora Maria Oliveira Zavaglia, Fernando Jonas Sutili, Hugo Napoleão Pereira Silva, Magale Dallaporta Furquim, Marcelo Leite da Veiga, Bernardo Baldisserotto and Sílvio Teixeira da Costa

Animals 2023, 13(22), 3438; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223438 - 7 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1194

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the regions of the body surface of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) with a higher population of mucous cells in the skin. Additionally, the effects of stressful conditions, such as different stocking densities and food deprivation, on the proliferative response of mucous cells in the skin and gill epithelium and their impact on cutaneous mucous lysozyme activity were investigated. Silver catfish were divided into four experimental groups: high stocking density (32 kg/m³) and fed (HSD-F), high stocking density and fasted (HSD-FS), low stocking density (2.5 kg/m³) and fed (LSD-F), and low stocking density and fasted (LSD-FS). Fish in the fed groups received commercial feed twice a day, amounting to 1% of the tank biomass. After a 14-day experimental period, the fish were anesthetized and euthanized. Samples of cutaneous mucous and skin fragments from seven different points and the second left branchial arch were collected. Histological slides of the skin and gills were stained with PAS + Alcian Blue at pH 2.5, and the epidermal mucous lysozyme activity was assessed using the turbidimetric method. The ventral point in front of the ventral fin was found to be the optimal location for collecting cutaneous epithelia due to its higher density of mucous cells. The population of mucous cells in both the skin and gills varied based on the collection point and treatment applied. The highest lysozyme activity in the epidermal mucous was observed in fish from the HSD-F group. Overall, these findings suggest that stocking density and food deprivation create stressful conditions for silver catfish, which modulate their mucosal response to each situation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health)

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16 pages, 16426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Distribution of IgT mRNA⁺ Cells in the Gut of the Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.)

by Pedro Luis Castro, Fran Barac, Tom Johnny Hansen, Per Gunnar Fjelldal, Ivar Hordvik, Håvard Bjørgen and Erling Olaf Koppang

Animals 2023, 13(20), 3191; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203191 - 12 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1428

Abstract

The newly discovered IgT⁺ B cell is thought to play a dominant role in mucosal immunity, but limited studies have examined its distribution in fish species, hindering our understanding of its function. This study investigated IgT and poly Ig receptor (pIgR) mRNA⁺ cell distribution in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) gut using RNAscope in situ hybridization (ISH) and assessed the effects of vaccination. The pyloric caeca, mid-intestine (first and second parts), and posterior segment in two weight stages (Group 1: avg. 153 g, Group 2: avg. 1717 g) were examined in both vaccinated and unvaccinated fish. ISH revealed more IgT mRNA⁺ cells in the second part of the midgut compared to other intestinal segments, as well as a higher number of positive cells in Group 2 (older fish). In line with previous findings, intraperitoneal vaccination had no significant impact on the number of IgT⁺ transcripts. IgT mRNA⁺ cells were found mostly in the lamina propria and near capillaries, while pIgR was registered in both the lamina propria and mucosa. Interestingly, vaccinated fish presented adhesions and granulomatous tissue in the peritoneum, with both IgT and pIgR mRNA⁺ cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the distribution of IgT mRNA⁺ cells in the intestine of Atlantic salmon is region-specific and is not affected by intraperitoneal vaccination but varies with fish age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health)

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18 pages, 916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary ARA, DHA, and Carbohydrate Ratios Affect the Immune Status of Gilthead Sea Bream Juveniles upon Bacterial Challenge

by Rui Magalhães, Nicole Martins, Filipa Fontinha, Rolf Erick Olsen, Claudia Reis Serra, Helena Peres and Aires Oliva-Teles

Animals 2023, 13(11), 1770; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13111770 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1422

Abstract

This study aims to assess the effects of different dietary n-6/n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios and CHO content in the immune response of gilthead seabream. For that purpose, gilthead sea bream juveniles (initial body weight = 47.5 g) were fed for 84 days with four isoproteic (47% crude protein) and isolipidic (18% crude lipids) diets with high (20%) or low (5%) level of gelatinized starch (HS or LS diets, respectively) and included approximately 2.4% ARA or DHA. At the end of the trial, the DHA-enriched groups presented increased red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin, plasmatic nitric oxide (NO) content, and antiprotease and alternative complement activities. The ARA groups had increased thrombocyte count, and plasmatic bactericidal activity against Vibrio anguillarum was lower in the fish fed the ARA/LS diet. After the feeding trial, the fish were challenged with an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of killed Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Phdp) and sampled at 4 and 24 h after the challenge. At 4 h after i.p., the ARA groups presented increased plasma total immunoglobulins (Ig) and bactericidal activity against V. anguillarum. In addition, the fish fed the ARA/LS diet presented lower white blood cell (WBC) and alternative complement activity. At 24 h after i.p., the ARA groups presented increased RBC, WBC, and thrombocyte numbers, total IG, plasma peroxidase activity, and casp3 expression in the distal intestine. The HS groups presented increased plasma NO content and bactericidal activity against Phdp and decreased protease, antiprotease activity, and bactericidal activity against V. anguillarum. In conclusion, high dietary DHA levels seemed to improve the immune status of unchallenged gilthead sea bream juveniles, while high dietary ARA levels improved the fish immune response to a bacterial challenge. The energy provided by dietary starch seems to be important to promote a fast response by the fish immune system after a challenge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health)

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17 pages, 699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Dietary Vegetable Oil Mixtures including Soybean Oil on Intestinal Oxidative Stress in Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

by Irene García-Meilán, Ramón Fontanillas, Joaquim Gutiérrez, Encarnación Capilla, Isabel Navarro and Ángeles Gallardo

Animals 2023, 13(6), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13061069 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2621

Abstract

Fish oil is commonly replaced by vegetable oils in sea bream diets, but little is known about their effects on intestinal health regarding oxidative stress biomarkers. The negative effects of lipid peroxidation on digestive mucosa could have consequences in animal nutrition and welfare. In this study, five isonitrogenous (46%) and isolipidic (22%) diets with 75% of vegetable oils inclusion were evaluated: soybean oil (S) alone or different mixtures containing soybean oil with linseed (SL), linseed and rapeseed (SLR), linseed and palm (SLP), and linseed, rapeseed, and palm (SLRP). Gilthead sea bream juveniles were fed twice a day for 18 weeks. Pyloric caeca and proximal intestine samples were collected 24 h post feeding for lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, and GR) and gene expression analyses. Pyloric caeca presented larger unhealthy changes in oxidative status than proximal intestine. Although SL-fed fish showed the highest antioxidant activities, they were unable to cope with LPO that in pyloric caeca was 31.4 times higher than in the other groups. Instead, SLP fish presented the best oxidative status, with low LPO levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and gene expression. In summary, between the vegetable oils dietary mixtures tested, SPL would maintain better intestinal health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health)

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15 pages, 1891 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Functional Properties of Spray-Dried Porcine Plasma in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Fed Low Fish Meal Diets

by Laura Fernández-Alacid, Ignasi Sanahuja, Cristina Madrid, Javier Polo, Joana P. Firmino, Carlos Balsalobre, Felipe E. Reyes-López, Eva Vallejos-Vidal, Karl B. Andree, Enric Gisbert and Antoni Ibarz

Animals 2022, 12(23), 3297; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233297 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1975

Abstract

Blood by-products are an untapped source of high-quality ingredients for aquafeeds, containing a broad variety of cytokines, hormones, growth factors, proteins, bioactive peptides, and amino acids. The effects of the spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP), a type of processed animal protein on several immune parameters, were evaluated in sea bream using ex vivo and in vitro assays. In this study, fish were fed with two isoproteic, isolipidic, and isoenergetic diets: control diet (7% fish meal, FM) and SDPP diet (2% FM and 5% SDPP). At the end of the 92-days trial, those fed the SDPP diet were larger in body weight (p < 0.05) without differences in feed conversion ratio (p > 0.05). The ex vivo immune stimulation of splenocytes indicated that SDPP had a beneficial effect in promoting systemic immunity, since the surface cell marker (cd4), pro- (il-1β), and anti-inflammatory (tgf-β1) cytokines, and genes involved in humoral immunity (IgM) were up-regulated. The co-culture assays of skin mucus corroborated that SDPP enhanced the antibacterial capacity of mucus against V. anguillarum. In addition, main mucus biomarkers did not show significant differences, except for cortisol levels which were lower in the SDPP diet. The present study indicated that SDPP may be considered a functional ingredient in aquafeeds formulated with low FM levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health)

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19 pages, 1855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fish Microbiome Modulation and Convenient Storage of Aquafeeds When Supplemented with Vitamin K1

by Marcos Acosta, Eduardo Quiroz, Dariel Tovar-Ramírez, Vânia Palma Roberto, Jorge Dias, Paulo J. Gavaia and Ignacio Fernández

Animals 2022, 12(23), 3248; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233248 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2352

Abstract

Vitamin K (VK) is a fat-soluble vitamin necessary for fish metabolism and health. VK stability as dietary component during aquafeed storage and its potential effect on intestinal microbiome in fish have not yet been completely elucidated. The convenient storage conditions of aquafeeds when supplemented with phylloquinone (VK1), as well as its potential effects on the gut microbiota of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) juveniles, have been explored. Experimental feeds were formulated to contain 0, 250 and 1250 mg kg⁻¹ of VK1 and were stored at different temperatures (4, −20 or −80 °C). VK stability was superior at −20 °C for short-term (7 days) storage, while storing at −80 °C was best suited for long-term storage (up to 3 months). A comparison of bacterial communities from Senegalese sole fed diets containing 0 or 1250 mg kg⁻¹ of VK1 showed that VK1 supplementation decreased the abundance of the Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, and Rhodobacterace families. All these microorganisms were previously associated with poor health status in aquatic organisms. These results contribute not only to a greater understanding of the physiological effects of vitamin K, particularly through fish intestinal microbiome, but also establish practical guidelines in the industry for proper aquafeed storage when supplemented with VK1. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Ingredients and Fish Mucosal Health)

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