Growth Performance Of Sea Cucumber Research Articles

Evaluation of regulatory capacity of three lactic acid bacteria on the growth performance, non-specific immunity, and intestinal microbiota of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been extensively used as probiotics in aquaculture. However, probiotic effects of different inter-generic strains of LAB on sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus are still poorly understood. Here, sea cucumber were fed with five diets for 63 days, including a basal diet (the control, C group), a florfenicol diet (15 mg/kg; the positive control, FL group) and three LAB diets, i.e., the basal diets supplemented with Lactobacillus plantarum W2 (LP group), Enterococcus faecium LYB (EF group) and Pediococcus acidilactici Nj (PA group) at the dose of 1 × 1010 CFU/kg diet, respectively. A stimulation test with inactivated Vibrio splendidus was then performed and characterized immune responses of sea cucumber over 168 h. The results showed that all three LAB significantly enhanced the growth performance of sea cucumber, with the LP diet showed the best growth-promoting effect. The LP and PA diets significantly increased coelomocyte phagocytic, respiratory burst, superoxide dismutase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, catalase, and lysozyme activities. The LP and EF diets significantly up-regulated the intestinal immune genes (Aj-p105, Aj-p50, Aj-rel, and Aj-lys) expression levels, while PA diet did not significantly up-regulate the Aj-p50 gene expression level. Meanwhile, all three LAB significantly enhanced intestinal immune response. Florfenicol diet significantly decreased phagocytic and alkaline phosphatase activities, down-regulated the Aj-lys gene expression, and suppressed intestinal immune response. L. plantarum W2 significantly increased the diversity of the intestinal microbiota in sea cucumber, and the P. acidilactici Nj significantly improved both the diversity and richness. A higher relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, norank_f_Rhodobacteraceae, and Sedimentitalea was observed in the LP, EF, and PA groups, respectively, while a lower relative abundance of Firmicutes was showed in the FL group. All three LAB improved the stability of the intestinal microbial networks and up-regulated the functional pathways of intestinal microbiota associated with amino acid metabolism. However, florfenicol reduced microbial network stability and significantly inhibited the intestinal microbiota functions. In conclusion, L. plantarum W2, E. faecium LYB, and P. acidilactici Nj can be effectively used as probiotics in sea cucumber aquaculture. Among them, L. plantarum W2 exhibited the best effect on sea cucumber when the growth performance, non-specific immunity, and intestinal microbial structure and functions were considered collectively.

Dietary effect chitosan nanoparticles on growth performance, immunity and resistance against Vibrio splendidus in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicas

Chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs)is a linear polysaccharide, which has the potential as a preventive chemical substance to improve the immune function of the body. In this study, chitosan nanoparticles were used as feed additives to investigate the effects of ChNPs on the growth performance, immune indices and resistance against Vibrio splendidus of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. In our study, six groups of sea cucumber were fed for 8 weeks with basal diet and basal diet supplemented with 0.5 % COS, 0.5 % chitosan, 0.5 % ChNPs, 0.1 % ChNPs and 0.02 % ChNPs, respectively. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lysozyme (Lyz) in the coelomic fluid of sea cucumber were detected, together with the relative expression levels of immune gene complement 3 (c3), heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), lysozyme (Lyz) and Toll-like receptor 3 (tlr3). The results showed that the growth performance of sea cucumber which added 0.5 % ChNPs was significantly higher than that of control (P < 0.05). Dietary ChNPs had no significant effect on SOD enzyme activity (P > 0.05), but significantly increased ACP, ALP, Lyz and CAT enzyme activities (P < 0.05). The relative expression levels of c3 and hsp70 genes were significantly increased by any feed additives (P < 0.05). Dietary 0.5 % ChNPs could promote the expression of Lyz gene (P < 0.05), and 0.1 % and 0.02 % ChNPs could inhibit the expression of Lyz gene (P < 0.05). The supplementation of 0.5 % chitosan promoted the expression of tlr3 gene (P < 0.05), while the supplementation of 0.5 % COS, and ChNPs groups inhibited the expression of tlr3 gene (P < 0.05). The challenge test showed that dietary supplementation of 0.5 % COS significant protection to sea cucumber against V. splendidus infection. In conclusion, adding 0.5 % ChNPs could promote the growth of and improve the non-specific immunity.

Application of compost in the different of pen culture substrates type for the intensification of sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra (Jaeger 1883) culture

Intensification of aquaculture is directed at the effort to increase productivity by carrying capacity of production factors. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of Holothuria scabra cultured intensively through the application of compost fertilizer. H. scabra were reared for 90 days (20 individuals/m2 of density), using a pen culture method on the three different substrates, namely fine sand, seagrass mud, and coarse sand, where each treatment was made as four replicates. The amount of compost used for the type of each substrate was the same. The results showed that applying compost in sea cucumbers culture using the pen culture method was proven to be effective in increasing the growth performance of sea cucumbers H. scabra, with the weight gain, growth rate, and survival, respectively, ie: 49.10±1.62 g; 1.26±0.03% g/day and 90.00% on seagrass mud substrate; 46.00±6.92 g; 1.23±0.11% g/day and 89.00% on a fine sand substrate and the lowest is 42.05±g; 1.13±0.08% g/day and 87.50% were found on a coarse sand substrate. The growth response was not significantly different between the three substrate types (Duncan’s test, p>0.05), indicating that the availability of nutrient sources in substrates is one of the key factors for the intensification of H. scabra culture.

Effects of kelp residues fermented with probiotics on the culture of sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

The kelp aquaculture production in China is the largest in the world, and a large amount of kelp residue is produced by kelp processing. Kelp residues contain substantial quantities of crude fibre, protein, and residual alginic acid, and may be used as feedstuff for aquaculture animals. In this study, we used probiotics to ferment kelp residues to improve kelp nutrient content and then fed the fermented kelp to the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. To study the effect of fermented feed on sea cucumber, its growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, diversity of intestinal microbiota and water quality of the sea cucumber culture water were determined. Growth performance of sea cucumber fed with fermented feed significantly (p < .01) increased when compared with sea cucumber fed with formulated feed. Amylase, cellulose and alginase activities were significantly (p < .01) higher in the fermented feed group when compared with the formulated feed group. The total number and diversity of intestinal microbiota showed a significant increase in sea cucumbers fed with the fermented feed. The water quality of the fermented feed group showed much lower ammonia and nitrite (<0.050 mg/L) levels when compared with the formulated feed group. These results suggest that kelp residues fermented with probiotics enhance the growth, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microbiota of sea cucumbers and improve the culture water quality. Fermented kelp residues are a new supplementary nutrient source for sea cucumbers and may be applicable to other animal aquacultures.

Comparative growth and survival performance of sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra) in co-cultured pen system with commercial macroalgae

Mariculture has recently been adopted in many parts of coastal East Africa as a source of income and employment to many women and heartbroken fishermen who are the main victim of dwindling wild stock of aquatic resources. The sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra) has for long time been collected and sold as export marine product. Macroalgae (Eucheuma denticulatum and Kappaphycus alvarezii) are the common cultured seaweed species that provide hope for future increase in mariculture production. An experiment was conducted along the intertidal lagoon of Unguja Ukuu village in Zanzibar to assess the survival and growth performance of sea cucumber (H. scabra) in two separate pens under co-cultured systems with E. denticulatum and K. alvarezii. Juvenile sea cucumber H. scabra with mean weight (± se) of 67.18 ± 2.06 were integrated with the two common commercial seaweed in pen system for 10 weeks. The results revealed that the growth rate and survival of H. scabra, E. denticulatum and K. alvarezii were better under integration system. The growth of H. scabra was higher (1.038 gd-1) in pen systems co-cultured with K. alvarezii compared to 0.898 gd-1 in pen systems co-culture with E. denticulatum. Survival rate of H. scabra was higher (76%) in the pen systems co-cultured with E. denticulatum compared to that (70%) observed in pen systems co-cultured with K. alvarezii. The results suggest that the best integration of sea cucumber and macroalgae is between H. scabra and K. alvarezii. However, reliable source of H. scabra juvenile is essential for the future expansion of pen co-culture system.

Growth performance and digestion improvement of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus fed by solid-state fermentation diet

In this study, the compound probiotics including Pseudoalteromonas. Sp D11, Bacillus subtilis A142, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y23 and Lactobacillus plantarum L54 were applied for solid-state fermenting the artificial diet of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. The quality of solid-state fermented (SSF) feed and its potential effects on growth performance and digestive enzyme activities were investigated. The results showed that, compared to unfermented diet, SSF feed had a better palatability quality; meanwhile, a higher ratio of crude protein, free amino acids and reducing sugars and a lower ratio of crude fibre, crude ash and alginic acid were found in SSF feed. The results of the feeding trial showed that feeding SSF feed could improve growth performance of sea cucumbers more than those fed with the unfermented diet. The results of digestive enzyme assays showed that feeding SSF feed to animals could significantly improve activities of amylase, cellulase, alginic acid enzyme and protease, which implied that fermented feed could improve digestibility of A. japonicus. In summary, the SSF feed fermented by compound probiotics had better palatability and nutrition value than unfermented feed. And feeding SSF feed could significantly improve the growth performance and digestion ability for sea cucumbers in the phases of nursery and grow-out.

Effects of Dietary Taurine on the Growth, Digestive Enzymes, and Antioxidant Capacity in Juvenile Sea Cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus

AbstractTaurine has been widely used as a growth‐ or health‐promoting additive in aquatic animals because of its multiple functions, while little work has been done on its effects on sea cucumbers, in spite of the occurrence of serious diseases. In this study, juvenile sea cucumbers (4.68 ± 0.04 g) were fed diets supplemented with taurine at 0% (control), 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2% for 8 wk. At the end of an 8‐wk feeding trial, growth performance of sea cucumbers was not significantly affected by dietary taurine (P &gt; 0.05). However, dietary taurine significantly elevated intestinal lipase activities of sea cucumbers (P &lt; 0.05). Intestinal amylase activity and trypsin activity in sea cucumbers did not show significant changes after animals were fed diets supplemented with taurine (P &gt; 0.05). Dietary taurine at all five dosages significantly increased total antioxidant capacity in sea cucumbers, while superoxide dismutase activity in groups with dietary taurine at 0.25 and 0.5% was significantly higher than that of the control group (P &lt; 0.05). Therefore, it appears that taurine could be used as a potential feed additive to confer better health of farmed sea cucumbers.

Effects of seaweed replacement by hydrolyzed soybean meal on growth, metabolism, oxidation resistance and body composition of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

A feeding trial was conducted to assess effects of seaweed replacement by hydrolyzed soybean meal (HSBM) on growth performance, diet utilization, metabolism and body composition of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Six iso-energetic (11.39±0.08kJ/g) and isoprotein (13.62±0.05g/kg) diets were formulated by replacing 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% seaweed protein with graded HSBM levels of 0%, 4.09%, 8.18%, 12.27%, 16.36% and 20.45%. The seventh diet (S12.27%) used 12.27% soybean meal (SBM) instead of 12.27% HSBM. Triplicate tanks (40 sea cucumber per tank) were fed one of seven diets for 45days. The results showed that growth performance of sea cucumber increased with the increase of HSBM levels from 4.09% to 12.27% while decreased as the HSBM level increased to 20.45% (P<0.05). Sea cucumber fed diets with HSBM level from 8.18 to 16.36% have higher daily feeding intake (P<0.05), while those fed diet with HSBM level of 20.45% have lower feed efficiency compared with the control treatment (P<0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficients of dry material and crude protein of sea cucumber fed diets with HSBM levels from 8.18% to 20.45% were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05). High inclusion of HSBM (16.36% and 20.45%) significantly reduced intestine-body wall ratio, and moderate to high HSBM levels (8.18–20.45%) reduced viscera-body wall ratio and intestine-viscera ratio (P<0.05). Alkaline protease activity was elevated by dietary addition of HSBM at level of 8.18% but suppressed at level of 20.45% (P<0.05). Amylase activity was also elevated significantly by addition of HSBM levels from 12.27% to 20.45% (P<0.05). Intestinal glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activities significantly increased in sea cucumber fed diets with HSBM levels from 4.09% to 12.27% but GPT activity of intestine and body wall decreased in those fed diets with HSBM levels from 16.36% to 20.45% compared with the control group (P<0.05). Intestinal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in sea cucumber fed diets with HSBM levels from 8.18% to 12.27% (P<0.05), but the activities of SOD and glutathione peroxidase of body wall showed significant declines at high HSBM levels (16.36% and 20.45%) (P<0.05). The contents of Ash, Mg, Ca, Zn and Se of body wall significantly increased in sea cucumber fed diet with HSBM level of 8.18% (P<0.05). Fe content of body wall significantly increased in sea cucumber fed diets with HSBM level from 12.27% to 20.45%. Sea cucumber fed diet with 12.27% HSBM have inferior growth performance, diet utilization, oxidation resistance and metabolism compared those fed diet with 12.27% SBM (P<0.05). Present study indicated that sea cucumber could utilize effectively HSBM as a seaweed powder replacer. Based on growth performance, we can conclude that the optimum dietary levels of HSBM for sea cucumbers is 8.03–8.15% (replacing 39.25–39.86% seaweed). Statement of relevanceOur paper provided an idea of optimizing the feed formula of sea cucumber by adding hydrolyzed soybean meal in sea cucumber culture. This optimized formula could improve diet utilization and promote growth of sea cucumber. More importantly, replacement of seaweed powder with hydrolyzed soybean meal could reduce the use of seaweed powder due to unstable supply and increased price.

Substituting seaweed with corn leaf in diet of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus): Effects on growth, feed conversion ratio and feed digestibility

A 60-day experiment was conducted to develop a practical diet for sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) substituting seaweed with corn leaf. Five experimental diets were constructed with each containing a 70% sea mud. The other 30% is composed of (A) 30% Sargassum thunbergii (seaweed) only, (B) 22.5% seaweed and 7.5% corn (Zea mays) leaves, (C) 15% seaweed and 15% corn leaves, (D) 7.5% seaweed and 22.5% corn leaves and (E) 30% corn leaves only. The experiment was conducted in 15 plastic aquaria containing seawater, each of which stocked with 20 sea cucumbers. Three replicate groups of sea cucumber were fed one of the five experimental diets. The results revealed that the apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter (ADMD) and crude protein (ACPD) of the test diets decreased with increasing corn leaf content in diets. Corn leaf content in the sea cucumber diet did not affect the body composition of sea cucumber. 22.5% seaweed can be replaced with powdered corn leaf in the sea cucumber diet without any negative effects on weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of sea cucumber. Diet containing higher than 15% corn leaf significantly increased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of sea cucumber. However, the growth performance and FCR of sea cucumber fed the mixed diet of 15% corn leaf plus 15% seaweed were better than the growth performance and FCR of sea cucumber fed other experimental diets. The regression analysis of dietary corn leaf inclusion level versus SGR revealed that the optimal corn leaf inclusion level was 11.2% for the best growth rate of sea cucumber. Therefore, under the present experimental design and condition, a diet with 70% sea mud plus 18.8% seaweed plus 11.2% corn leaf can be recommended for the best growth performance of sea cucumber. The findings of this study will encourage feed manufacturers and sea cucumber culturists to utilize corn leaf in producing low-cost aqua-feed.

Effectiveness ofl-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate as an ascorbic acid source for sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the adequate dietary ascorbic acid (AsA) levels and the effects on growth, meat quality and antioxidant status of sea cucumber (10.04 ± 0.06 g), Apostichopus japonicus. l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (35% AsA equivalent) was supplemented separately to the basal diet to obtain five AsA levels, 0, 598, 1473, 4676 and 14340 mg kg−1 diet respectively. After 60-day feeding trial, the sea cucumbers fed diets containing 598 and 1473 mg AsA kg−1 showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain and specific growth rate values than the sea cucumbers fed control diets. The sea cucumbers fed diets containing 1473 and 4676 mg AsA kg−1 showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) hydroxyproline contents than those of the sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0 and 598 mg AsA kg−1. Antioxidant enzymes such as total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase showed increasing trends with the increasing dietary AsA levels, but no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed when the sea cucumbers fed diets with high dietary AsA levels. The content of malondialdehyde had the opposite trend of antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, the adequate dietary AsA level focusing on growth performance of sea cucumber is between 598 and 1473 mg kg−1 diet. Furthermore, high level of dietary AsA (between 598 and 4676 mg kg−1 diet) improved meat quality and antioxidant status.

Utilization of corn meal and extruded soybean meal by sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka): Insights from carbon stable isotope analysis

Feed utilization of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) fed diets with different proportions of terrestrial plants, including corn meal and extruded soybean meal, as the substitutes of brown algae Sargassum thunbergii was determined by means of carbon stable isotope analysis. Carbon stable isotope ratios (δ13C) of the different ingredients in diets and the isotopic shifts of sea cucumber fed different diets were determined. The different δ13C values of the various ingredients and the changing ratios of the different ingredients in the formulated diets resulted in the distinguishable isotopic signal between different diet types, and the shifts in the δ13C values of sea cucumber in different groups showed a tendency to approach the δ13C values of corresponding diets. Replacement of S. thunbergii by the mixture of corn meal and extruded soybean meal in formulated diets with suitable proportion might promote the growth of sea cucumber owing to the relatively higher utilization efficiency of corn meal and extruded soybean meal compared to S. thunbergii. However, further replacement of S. thunbergii by the mixture of corn meal and extruded meal in diets resulted in the decreased utilization efficiency of corn meal and extruded soybean meal by sea cucumber and the subsequent reduction in the growth performance of sea cucumber.

Effects of a probiotic mixture (Bacillus subtilisYB-1 andBacillus cereusYB-2) on disease resistance and non-specific immunity of sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus(Selenka)

The effect of a commercially available compound probiotics product containing Bacillus subtilis YB-1 (50%) and Bacillus cereus YB-2 (50%) fed to sea cucumbers, Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) on challenge infections and non-specific immune responses was assessed. Sea cucumbers (were randomly allocated into nine aquariums at a density of 30 sea cucumbers per tank and triplicate groups) were fed diets containing 0 (control), 107 and 1010 cfu (g diet)−1 of the probiotics mixture for 32 days. The growth factors and immunological parameters were measured. In addition, the effects on resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus infection were also evaluated. The results indicate that all the immunological parameters (phagocytic activity, superoxide anion production, lysozyme activity, catalase activity and phenoloxidase activity) measured and the growth rate of sea cucumbers fed 1010 cfu of the probiotics mixture were significantly (P < 0.05) improved than control groups at 16 and 32 days. After challenging, the cumulative mortality for the control was 100%, whereas the cumulative mortality for sea cucumbers fed 1010 cfu of the probiotics mixture was 47% (P < 0.05). Although the total autochthonous intestinal heterotrophic bacterial counts were not affected by dietary treatment (P > 0.05), Bacillus sp. levels were significantly elevated in sea cucumbers fed the probiotics mixture (P < 0.05). These results confirmed that administration of the probiotics mixture in the diet stimulated non-specific immune responses and enhanced the growth performance of sea cucumbers, and was effective in controlling infections caused by V. alginolyticus.