Seasonal variation of blood biomarkers in huchen, Hucho hucho (Actinopterygii: Salmoniformes: Salmonidae) reared in captivity

Abstract

Background. Biomarker indices (protein, lipid, carbohydrate, mineral, enzymatic, and antioxidant enzymes) are used for the evaluation of health in fish blood. No studies conducted to date have provided standard values of various biomarkers in the blood plasma of Hucho hucho (Linnaeus, 1758). Therefore, we evaluated the physiological status and seasonal variation in metabolic profiles of this species. Significant seasonal changes were observed in all blood biomarkers, with the exception of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Using these data, the physiological status and seasonal variation in the metabolic profiles of H. hucho were evaluated. Generally, the goal of this study was to characterize the variation in the blood biomarkers of huchen between different seasons. Materials and methods. Fish were raised in captivity to obtain a breeding group to repopulate submontane rivers. Blood samples were collected by puncture of the caudal vein in a vacutainer with Li-Heparin to determine the seasonal values of hematological, biochemical parameters, and oxidative stress. Blood was collected from a random sample of 10 huchen in all four seasons. Results. We found significant seasonal variation in several parameters: packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), γ-globulins (GG), urea (UREA), creatinine (CRN), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CHOL), glucose (GLC), calcium (Ca2+), phosphorus (PO43–), iron (Fe3+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl aminotransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), α-Amylase (α-Amy), lipase (LIP), total bilirubin (TB), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Conclusion. This is the first study to provide standard values of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and minerals and the enzyme profile in huchen in all seasons, which may be a benchmark for future investigation that would favor the bioconservation and increase the spread of huchen.

Keywords

• blood biomarkers reference
• Hucho hucho
• metabolic