Comparative Study of Flesh Quality, Blood Profile, Antioxidant Status, and Intestinal Microbiota of European Catfish (Silurus glanis) Cultivated in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and Earthen Pond System

Abstract

With the increasing demand for European catfish, traditional extensive growth methods in polyculture are no longer sufficient to meet market needs. Therefore, this study aimed to identify indicators for improving recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology by determining and comparing growth performance, flesh quality, blood profile, oxidative status, and intestinal microbiota parameters between fish cultivated in a RAS and an earthen pond. Results revealed that RAS-grown fish had a higher fat content compared to pond-grown fish, while no significant differences were found for growth parameters. Sensory analysis showed no significant difference in taste between the two groups. Blood composition analysis showed small differences. Oxidative status analyses showed higher catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in RAS-grown fish and slightly higher superoxide dismutase activity in pond-grown fish. Microbial analysis showed differences in the intestinal microflora, with a higher total number of aerobic germs and anaerobic germs and a lower total number of sulfite-reducing clostridia in RAS-grown fish. This study provides valuable insights into the comparative performance of a RAS and a pond rearing system in European catfish production, potentially informing future growth technologies.

Evaluating the Use of Grape Pomace in Cyprinus carpio Nutrition: Effects on Growth, Biochemistry, Meat Quality, Microbiota, and Oxidative Status

“…The reduction in the number of pathogenic sulphite-reducing clostridia is an important result considering the implications of this microbiological indicator in regard to public health [56], an aspect also signaled by other authors [57]. The quantitative evaluation of the selected microbiological indicators provides general data on the effect of the tested diets on the intestinal microbiota, aspects that have also been highlighted in previous studies [58,59]. Comparing the experimental results with those obtained in the control group, it appears that GP provides important nutrients that favor the multiplication of commensal microflora in the digestive tract.…”

Inclusion of Sorghum in Cyprinus carpio L. Diet: Effects on Growth, Flesh Quality, Microbiota, and Oxidative Status

“…The tissue samples were homogenized in an ice-cold potassium phosphate buffer solution 0.1 M, KCl 1.15%, pH 7.4, in a ratio of 1:10 ( w / v ). The homogenates were centrifuged (20 min at 3000 rpm and 4 °C) and the supernatants were further used to measure the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and to determine the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) according to the methods described in Barbacariu et al [ 18 ]. SOD, CAT, and GPX activities and the levels of GSH and MDA were normalized to the total content of soluble proteins measured by the Bradford method [ 19 ].…”