Abstract
ABSTRACTIn this study, the effect of short-term starvation (0, 1 and 2 weeks) on biochemical parameters and non-specific immune response of tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) was investigated. Fish in three different groups were deprived of feed for 0 (control), 1 (S1) and 2 (S2) weeks, respectively. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical and immunological analyses. The results indicated that plasma glucose, cholesterol and peroxidase levels and haemolytic complement activity were significantly lower in starved fish for 2 weeks than those in fed fish and in starved fish for 1 week. Plasma lysozyme activity significantly changed in different starvation periods in all treatment groups. However, no significant effect was observed on plasma antiprotease activity. There were significant differences between the control and the food-deprived groups in plasma triglyceride levels. Starvation increased plasma total protein, albumin and globulin in the deprived groups compared with the control group. The results of this study showed significant changes in non-specific immune parameters, plasma glucose levels and other metabolites in this species after feed deprivation that are indicative of the relationship between starvation effects and the extension of starvation period.
Highlights
The ability of fishes to tolerate starvation differs between species
The effect of starvation periods on plasma peroxidase activity was noticeable; peroxidase activity in fish starved for 2 weeks (0.85 ± 0.05) was significantly lower than those of starved for 1 week (1.14 ± 0.03) or fed continuously (1.27 ± 0.09) (P < .05; Figure 2)
To our knowledge, few studies have assessed the immune responses of fish, ornamental fish, to starvation periods
Summary
The ability of fishes to tolerate starvation differs between species. As reviewed by Navarro and Gutiérrez (1995) and McCue (2010), the majority of fishes may only tolerate several days or weeks of starvation, whereas some fishes such as European eel, Anguilla Anguilla, are reported to survive nearly four years of starvation (Boetius & Boetius 1985). Starvation decreases plasma glucose, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels during food deprivation periods (Perez-Jiménez et al 2007). The metabolic responses of fasting depend on many variables including environmental conditions, period of food deprivation, fish species and the previous feeding history (Navarro & Gutiérrez 1995). While a large number of studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of starvation on growth and metabolic responses of fish species of interest for aquaculture (Blasco et al 1992; De Pedro et al 2003; Pérez-Jiménez et al 2007; Costas et al 2011; Falahatkar 2012; Furné et al 2012; Pérez-Jimenez et al 2012; Yarmohamadi et al 2012), few studies have focused on the influence of fasting on the fish immune responses (Sakai 1983; Caruso et al 2010, 2011, 2012)
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