Journals Information
Bioengineering and Bioscience(CEASE PUBLICATION) Vol. 3(4), pp. 60 - 67
DOI: 10.13189/bb.2015.030402
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Physiological and Immunological Responses in Giant California Sea Cucumbers (Parastichopus californicus) Exposed to Aquaculture-related Stress
Regina Shannon , Elliott Blumenthal , Ahmed Mustafa *
Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, USA
ABSTRACT
Sea cucumbers are a valuable resource both for food and the production of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, and as a result, the market for the giant California sea cucumber, Parastichopus californicus, has greatly increased, resulting in the establishment of fisheries along the west coast of North America. The sea cucumber industry is poorly regulated, and the fisheries are not believed to be sustainable, so there is interest in promoting the intensive aquaculture of this species. Since aquaculture conditions can cause stress to animals, which makes them more susceptible to disease, it is important to determine the stress susceptibility of sea cucumbers to two potential stresses, handling and low salinity. In order to study the impact of these stressors, a variety of physiological and immunological assays were done on the coelomic fluid of giant California sea cucumbers. Assays included total and differential cell counts, coelomic fluid protein, phagocytic capacity, lytic activity, and respiratory burst activity. Our results indicated that there were few significant differences from the control, and no differences in parameters analyzing immune function. These results indicate that the giant California sea cucumber is likely to be productive in an aquaculture environment, and the culture of this species should be encouraged.
KEYWORDS
Sea Cucumber, Aquaculture, Stress, Immune Response
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Regina Shannon , Elliott Blumenthal , Ahmed Mustafa , "Physiological and Immunological Responses in Giant California Sea Cucumbers (Parastichopus californicus) Exposed to Aquaculture-related Stress," Bioengineering and Bioscience(CEASE PUBLICATION), Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 60 - 67, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/bb.2015.030402.
(b). APA Format:
Regina Shannon , Elliott Blumenthal , Ahmed Mustafa (2015). Physiological and Immunological Responses in Giant California Sea Cucumbers (Parastichopus californicus) Exposed to Aquaculture-related Stress. Bioengineering and Bioscience(CEASE PUBLICATION), 3(4), 60 - 67. DOI: 10.13189/bb.2015.030402.