title: Effects of chemical and handling exposure on fatty acids, oxidative stress and morphological welfare indicators in gilt-head sea bream (Sparus aurata).
abstract: This work investigates the changes in the morphological traits, body composition, body fat and oxidative stress of Sparus aurata under two stress conditions: a low weekly exposure to the pesticide Diuron and chronic handling stress. The fish exposed to handling stress showed lower values in the morphological traits and perivisceral fat, whereas chemical stress induced a decrease in the percentage of muscle and carcase and an increase in the percentage of spleen and hepatosomatic index. The two stress situations produced changes in the FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) levels in all organs studied with a particularly marked response for Diuron in the gill. No significant differences in the ROS (reactive oxygen species) level were found for the digestive tract or the gill. In muscle, only Diuron produced a significant increase in ROS, while in liver, both treatments increased the ROS levels. This supports the oxidative stress sensitivity to chemical stress and shows that also could be an appropriate indicator of handling stress. The morphological indexes and body components examined could be practical and easy welfare indicators. Nevertheless, further works must be needed to use under the production conditions in fish farms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, University of Almería, Cite 2B, Carretera de Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain. mjmuros@ual.es
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Muros
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villacreces
authors.forename: Genaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miranda-de la Lama
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Haro
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-Barroso
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D004237:Diuron; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013030:Spain; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006540:Herbicides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D004237:Diuron