Long-Term Assessment of Baseline Blood Biochemistry Parameters in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Maintained under Controlled Conditions

Abstract

Twelve biochemical parameters were measured in serum blood samples from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) maintained under controlled conditions. Forty-five samples were taken every 3 months (T1–T4) over the course of one year to define baseline values. The effect of fish total weight (TW) was also evaluated. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation between T4 and T1, and T2 and T3, indicating an increase in certain biochemical parameters with weight. Linear regression analysis showed how TW significantly explained 11–67% of the variability observed for nine parameters out of 12. Pearson’s correlation matrix showed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between TW and albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine-aminotransferase, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, magnesium, phosphorus and total protein. Furthermore, significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the majority of the biochemical parameters were found, indicating that growth can influence several parameters at the same time. The present study provides several useful baseline values for assessing the health of O. mykiss, indicating that fish weight is an important factor for interpreting the blood biochemical profile.

Exploratory Factor Analysis of Rainbow Trout Serum Chemistry Variables

“…Apart from altered clearance, CREA may increase as a consequence of muscle damage, including intense agonist activity [ 1 ]. Recently, a blood CREA increase has been related to muscle activity in trout [ 4 ]. Moreover, muscle, along with visceral adipose tissue and the liver, is also involved in lipid metabolism.…”

“…Clinical chemistry offers a valuable, affordable, moderately invasive, and nondisruptive way to assess animal physiological status and wellness within defined ranges and is widely used as a diagnostic clinical tool [ 1 ]. With regard to fish, problems arise regarding the definition of normal ranges because of the possible influence of many internal and external environmental factors [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Moreover, and as a result of physiological differences between fish and mammals, from which clinical chemistry methods have been developed, clinical correlates of blood chemistry variables are not known in detail.…”

Changes in Serum Blood Parameters in Farmed Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fed with Diets Supplemented with Waste Derived from Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

“…After an acclimatization period, 400 fish were lightly anesthetized with tricaine methane sulfonate (MS-222; 70 mg L −1 ; Sigma-Aldrich, Milan, Italy), individually weighed using a technical balance (KERN KB 2400-2N, 0.01 g accuracy, Kern & Sohn GmbH, Balingen, Germany) and randomly equally distributed in the tanks. Fish weight was also monitored during the experiment since it could influence blood parameters [38].…”

“…Monitoring blood biochemical parameters is a non-lethal means of determining the health status of fish [36][37][38]. Hematobiochemical analysis is useful in diagnostics for predicting the health status of farmed fish species [37,39], and blood biochemistry parameters are basic physiological markers in fish [38].…”

“…Monitoring blood biochemical parameters is a non-lethal means of determining the health status of fish [36][37][38]. Hematobiochemical analysis is useful in diagnostics for predicting the health status of farmed fish species [37,39], and blood biochemistry parameters are basic physiological markers in fish [38]. Previous studies have investigated changes in blood chemistry in response to disease [40], contaminants [41,42], parasitic infestation [43], environmental stressors [44], inappropriate stocking density [45,46], and farm practices [47].…”