title: Rapid effects of essential fatty acid deficiency on growth and development parameters and transcription of key fatty acid metabolism genes in juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer).
abstract: Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), a catadromous teleost of significant and growing commercial importance, are reported to have limited fatty acid bioconversion capability and therefore require preformed long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) as dietary essential fatty acid (EFA). In this study, the response of juvenile barramundi (47·0 g/fish initial weight) fed isolipidic and isoenergetic diets with 8·2% added oil was tested. The experimental test diets were either devoid of fish oil (FO), and thus with no n-3 LC-PUFA (FO FREE diet), or with a low inclusion of FO (FO LOW diet). These were compared against a control diet containing only FO (FO CTRL diet) as the added lipid source, over an 8-week period. Interim samples and measurements were taken fortnightly during the trial in order to define the aetiology of the onset and progression of EFA deficiency. After 2 weeks, the fish fed the FO FREE and FO LOW diets had significantly lower live-weights, and after 8 weeks significant differences were detected for all performance parameters. The fish fed the FO FREE diet also had a significantly higher incidence of external abnormalities. The transcription of several genes involved in fatty acid metabolism was affected after 2 weeks of feeding, showing a rapid nutritional regulation. This experiment documents the aetiology of the onset and the progression of EFA deficiency in juvenile barramundi and demonstrates that such deficiencies can be detected within 2 weeks in juvenile fish.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences,Deakin University,Warrnambool,Princess Hwy,Sherwood Park,VIC,3280,Australia.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Salini
authors.affiliation: 1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences,Deakin University,Warrnambool,Princess Hwy,Sherwood Park,VIC,3280,Australia.
authors.forename: Giovanni M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Turchini
authors.affiliation: 2CSIRO Agricultural Productivity Flagship,144 North Street,Woorim,QLD,4507,Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.affiliation: 2CSIRO Agricultural Productivity Flagship,144 North Street,Woorim,QLD,4507,Australia.
authors.forename: Brett D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Glencross
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D017756:Aquaculture; D001315:Australia; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000172:deficiency*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000009:adverse effects; D009929:Organ Size; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005395:Fish Oils; D029941:Fish Proteins; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil
keywords: Aetiology; Barramundi; Deficiency; EFA essential fatty acid; Essential fatty acids; FM fish meal; FO fish oil; GLDH glutamate dehydrogenase; LC-PUFA long-chain PUFA