Genomic, transcriptional and proteomic clarification of fathead minnow and common carp composition in epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cell line.

Transcriptomic profiling reveals tetrabromobisphenol A-induced dysregulation of hepatic lipid homeostasis in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Optimizing Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine efficacy in common carp: The role of free vs. microencapsulated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii bulgaricus.

The effect of Spirulina platensis on water quality factors, biofloc composition, growth efficiency, fatty acid and amino acid profile of fillets, carcass composition, antioxidant activities, bacterial population, and gene expersion in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) reared in a system without water exchange

Alleviation of heat stress in cultured carp (Cyprinus carpio) via the administration of Bacillus subtilis var. natto strain TTCC903

Effect of papaya leaf extract on growth performance, skin mucosal immune responses, liver enzymes, disease resistance, and tight junctions of Cyprinus carpio.

Microplastic and nanoparticles contaminated feed impairs common carp (Cyprinus carpio) growth performance and metabolic regulation

Decoding the gut-microbiota-muscle nexus: Multi-omics integration reveals mTOR driven flesh modulation in rice-fish co-cultured common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Antiparasitic effects of copper nanoparticles on monogeneans Dactylogyrus spp. in Cyprinus carpio koi associated with physiological and histological alterations.

Heavy metals and metalloids (HMLs) are toxic, non-biodegradable pollutants that can accumulate in sediments and aquatic organisms, posing significant risks to ecosystems. Their persistence in the environment leads to long-term contamination, harming aquatic life, disrupting ecosystems, and threatening water quality. HMLs have not been extensively studied in Dukan Lake, Kurdistan region, northern Iraq; thus, their environmental fate remains largely unknown. To address this, we conducted a field monitoring study to examine the presence of HMLs in the lake, collecting samples from common carp, sediment, and water. HMLs were regularly measured during the sampling period, with median concentrations detected in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) tissues (0.01–2.9 × 102 µg/g), sediment (0.5–7.8 × 102 µg/g), and water (0.01−6.9 µg/L). Fe, Mg, and Zn were the dominant metals across all samples. Seasonal variations of the HMLs were observed, with higher concentrations found in summer and autumn seasons compared to winter and spring, indicating the impact of temperature and precipitation. Despite high concentrations in sediment and water, HMLs accumulation remained below the threshold. These results underscore the significance of lake monitoring in evaluating ecosystem health and surface water quality. The environmental impact and ecotoxicological significance of HMLs from places that are not monitored and still need further evaluation.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary fermented corn stover (FCS) supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune responses, and gut microbiota composition in koi carp (Cyprinus carpio var. koi) cultured in a biofloc system. A total of 300 fish (35.10 ± 0.08 g) were fed diets containing 0, 5, 10, 20, or 30 g/kg FCS for eight weeks. At the end of the feeding trials, blood serum, intestine of fish in each treatment was collected to evaluate the antioxidant activities, histology, gut microbiome, and gene expression. Fish receiving 10 g/kg FCS showed the highest final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), daily weight gain (DWG) and specific growth rate (SGR), with quadratic regression estimating an optimal inclusion level of ∼16.7 g/kg. Pearson correlation results showed that the feed conversion ratio was negatively correlated with FCS, while FW, SGR, and WG were positively correlated. Antioxidant activity was enhanced in FCS-fed groups, evidenced by elevated 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging and reduced malondialdehyde levels. FCS-10 groups improved intestinal mucosal integrity by increasing villus height, width, and crypt depth. Gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of antioxidant-related genes (GST, GPX1, CAT) and immune markers (IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, TLR4) in the FCS-10 group. Microbiota profiling showed increased Bacillus and Lactobacillus and reduced Aeromonas abundance. These findings highlight FCS as a promising functional feed additive for enhancing growth, immune function, and gut microbial balance in koi carp, contributing to sustainable aquaculture practices.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chia seed oil (CSO; Salvia hispanica L.) on the growth performance, haematological-biochemical parameters, immune-related gene expression, and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The fish were fed diets containing 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% CSO for 60 days. The results showed a significant improvement in final weight, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in fish fed diets containing 1% and 2% CSO compared to the control group. Haematocrit (Hct) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels increased in the CSO groups, while serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels decreased significantly, particularly in the 1% CSO group. The observed decrease in liver enzyme activities (AST, ALT) suggested a hepatoprotective effect of CSO. In the stress test with A. hydrophila, the highest survival rate (80%) was recorded in the 2% CSO group. Furthermore, gene expression analyses performed on spleen tissue revealed an increase in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 in the groups fed with CSO, particularly at the 1% level. These findings indicate that adding 1–2% CSO to carp feed promotes growth, improves lipid metabolism, strengthens immune status, and increases resistance to bacterial infection. Consequently, the use of CSO as a sustainable and functional additive to fish oil in fish feed is suggested.

Non-lethal diet sampling is essential where individual-level monitoring and welfare matter, yet evidence on season-long outcomes in agastric fishes is scarce. We tested syringe-based gut flushing in pond-reared common carp Cyprinus carpio over one growing season (April-September) using PIT-tagged fish assigned a priori to three handling histories: flushed (sedated, measured, flushed), handled-only (sedated, measured), and unhandled controls. At harvest, recapture (survival proxy) remained high and statistically similar among handled groups and growth to harvest did not differ across treatments (end-point mass: flushed 1857.3 ± 367.4 g; handled-only 1769.7 ± 311.8 g; unhandled 1731.9 ± 392.6 g). A mid-season divergence in July (handled-only > flushed in weight gain) was transient and absent at harvest. Operational performance scaled predictably: total water required to clear effluent increased with fish size (~20 mL in small carp to >90 mL in large individuals; occasional ~120 mL) and varied seasonally, rising from May to August and easing in September. Practical safeguards (rounded catheters guided between pharyngeal teeth; conservative advancement ≤2 cm beyond the teeth; controlled bolus infusions; standardised recovery) supported complete evacuations with low injury risk. Collectively, these results validate gut flushing as a field-ready, non-lethal method that can be integrated into routine dietary monitoring of agastric cyprinids without compromising survival or harvest growth, while providing simple, size- and season-based parameters to standardise protocols across studies.

This study investigated the occurrence, sources, and health risks of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in commonly consumed fish and crayfish from the Caohai Lake, a typical plateau lake in southwest China. Four dominant species (crucian carp, common carp, yellow catfish, and crayfish) were collected and analyzed. The results showed a generally low level of PAH contamination (mean: 26.7 μg/kg wet weight), with bioaccumulation tendency decreasing as the number of PAH rings increased. Crayfish exhibited the highest total concentration of PAHs, whereas yellow catfish accumulated the most carcinogenic PAHs. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified four primary sources—petroleum leakage, coal combustion, traffic emissions, and biomass burning—with petroleum-derived PAHs being the most significant contributor. The assessment of health risk indicated that while the average hazard index (HI) was below 1, approximately 10% of the samples posed a potential non-carcinogenic risk, particularly from crayfish and yellow catfish. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for DahA, BaP, BaA, and BbF all exceeded the negligible risk level of 10−6 but remained below 10−4. Notably, the mean total ILCR (TILCR) approached 10−4, with yellow catfish presenting the highest carcinogenic risk, highlighting concerns of the carcinogenic risk of PAHs. Source-oriented risk assessment revealed that petroleum leakage was the dominant contributor to non-carcinogenic risk (>55%), while traffic emissions contributed most to carcinogenic risk (>57%). To mitigate carcinogenic risk, implementing stormwater diversion systems along the circular lakeside roads is recommended to reduce the input of traffic-derived PAHs.

Hydropeaking and invasive non-native fish species are among the most significant pressures to riverine ecosystems and freshwater biodiversity, yet, fish responses to hydropeaking and the effectiveness of mitigation measures remain largely uncharted. This study addressed this gap through an indoor flume experiment assessing how two flow events influenced the use of artificial habitats (flow refuges) by the invasive non-native common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish behaviour was evaluated for a base flow (continuous 7 L/s) and a peak flow (increase from 7 L/s to continuous 60 L/s). Refuge use was quantified within three regions of two flow refuges alongside physiological responses (glucose and lactate) to stress and fatigue. Results were compared with previous findings for the native Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) tested under the same conditions. No significant differences in lactate or glucose levels were observed between flow events for either species. In contrast, both species showed significantly higher frequency and duration of refuge use during peak flow. The native Iberian barbel displayed more frequent and prolonged refuge use than common carp, suggesting a stronger dependence on these structures for hydrodynamic sheltering. These findings raise concerns that intensified competition for flow refuge use may impede native species’ access to these structures.

Eco-toxicological effects of polyethylene microplastics on DNA damage in erythrocytes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The preparation and formulation of larval diet to meet the nutritional requirements of fish is crucial to enhance growth at advanced phases of life. A 56-day growth assessment experiment was conducted in triplicate to find suitable amount of fish oil incorporation for Cyprinus carpio postlarvae. Four nanosized feeds with equal nitrogen content (40%) were formulated by graded lipids incorporations, L3 (3%), L6 (6%), L9 (9%), and L12 (12%). These diets were fed to four separate groups of C. carpio. Following the trial, key parameters including growth performance, gills histology, structural stability (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and thermo-biochemical (thermogravimetric analysis) profile of common carp were assessed. The results indicated that there was no marked distinction in survival rate of four dietary groups. But lipid incorporation had a marked impact on final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate of fish across all treatment groups. Post hoc test revealed that the L12 group, which received the highest lipid level, achieved the highest growth performance, followed by L9 and L6 groups. The lowest growth was observed in the L3 group. Gills histological analysis showed mild to moderate tissue alterations in gill structures at suboptimal lipid levels, indicating stress and potential physiological compromise. The FTIR spectra for fish feed and muscles were in the approximate wavenumber ranges of 3300 to 2800 and 1750 to 500cm-1 respectively and confirmed significant variations in protein and lipid profiles. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed that feeds with higher lipid content showed altered thermal stability, with Diet L3 and L6 displaying greater resistance to thermal degradation, suggesting denser, more stable formulations. DSC for fish muscle showed that L3 retained the highest residual mass (28.90% at 665.23°C), indicating greater thermal stability, possibly due to a denser protein matrix and lower lipid interference. While L6 exhibited the lowest residue (24.76% at 691.99°C), suggesting higher organic loss and potentially more efficient thermal degradation. Moreover, L9 and L12, resulted in no recorded data beyond 416°C, showed intermediate stability with weight percent around 34.5%, implying a comparable degradation profile up to that temperature. These results indicate that increasing dietary lipid levels influences the thermal degradation behavior of fish muscle, with moderate lipid levels (L6, L9) showing the most significant breakdown of organic matter. Overall, the study highlights the importance of optimizing dietary lipid levels in nano-formulated larval feeds to enhance growth, nutrient utilization, and tissue integrity in C. carpio. The integration of histological, spectroscopic, and thermal analyses provides a robust framework for developing sustainable, thermostable, and effective early-stage feeds for common carp. This study incorporated graded lipid inclusion in larval feeds and evaluated their effects not only on growth, survival, and histological integrity but also documented a novel tool to asses spectral and thermal properties of larval feed and fish meat quality for its potential aquaculture usage.

This study was conducted to test the effect of adding an insect powder mixture on the performance of common carp fry which had initial body weight attained (16.65±0.01) g. A total of 72 fish they were randomly distributed into 4 treatments with 3 replicates (6 fish per replicate). A commercial Ferdaneh diet with a crude protein content of 30% and a gross energy 412 kcal/g was used. A commercial insect powder mixture (grasshopper and mealworms) was added to the diets at the following experimental levels: T0 was the control treatment without any addition. And it was added to T1, T2, and T3 at levels of 1%, 2%, and 3%, respectively. Fish performance was tested after 60 days of the experiment, based on weight gain, daily growth rate, relative growth rate, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, feed conversion efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio. The results of the statistical analysis showed that all addition treatments significantly exceeded on the control treatment, in the following order: T3 then T2, followed by T1, for all studied parameters hence, we conclude that common carp fry showed the best growth performance after adding the insect powder mixture at the above-mentioned levels to their diet, particularly at 3%.

Distribution and risk assessments of 210Po in the body organs of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Barbel Chub (Squaliobarbus curriculus) within Red River, Vietnam.

The incorporation of edible mushrooms into fish-based products offers a promising approach to enhance nutritional quality and oxidative stability. Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are valued for their β-glucans and bioactive compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hot-air dried and freeze-dried oyster mushrooms, added at different levels, on the nutritional composition, lipid quality, and oxidative stability of carp burgers. Carp burgers were prepared with 0.5-2.0% (w/w) of hot-air dried or freeze-dried oyster mushrooms, rehydrated at a standardized ratio of 5:1. Nutritional composition, β-glucan content, fatty acid profile, and lipid oxidation were determined. Oxidative stability was assessed by peroxide, p-anisidine, and total oxidation, while nutritional quality was evaluated using lipid indices, including polyunsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio (PUFA/SFA), and atherogenicity index. Freeze-dried mushrooms preserved higher β-glucan content (5.80 g/100 g at 2% inclusion) than hot-air dried samples (2.21 g/100 g). Their addition lowered fat by 19.6% and enhanced oxidative stability, with peroxide and anisidine values reduced by 23% and 35%, respectively. Lipid nutritional indices improved, as the PUFA/SFA ratio increased by 15% and the atherogenicity index remained below 0.36 across all treatments. At 2.0% inclusion, freeze-dried mushrooms maximized β-glucan retention (96.9%) and reduced TOTOX by 22.2%. The optimal range for balanced oxidative protection was 1.5-2.0%. Incorporating freeze-dried oyster mushrooms at 1.5-2.0% with standardized rehydration improves the nutritional profile, fatty acid composition, and oxidative stability of carp burgers. These results provide practical parameters for developing functional fish products with enhanced health value and extended shelf-life.