Changes in Hematological, Biochemical and Non-specific Immune Parameters of Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, Following Starvation

• Published in: Animal bioscience Vol. 27; no. 9; pp. 1360 - 1367
• Main Authors: Kim, Jong-Hyun, Jeong, Min Hwan, Jun, Je-Cheon, Kim, Tae-Ik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Asian - Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies 01.09.2014; Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies (AAAP) and Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology (KSAST); 아세아·태평양축산학회
• Subjects: Health aspects; Immune response; Immunological research; Starvation; Zoological research; 축산학; Biochemical Response; Growth; Food Deprivation; Olive Flounder; Hematological Response; Lysozyme Activity; Paralichthys olivaceus
• ISSN: 1011-2367; 2765-0189; 1976-5517; 2765-0235
• DOI: 10.5713/ajas.2014.14110

Triplicate groups of fed and starved olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (body weight: 119.8±17.46 g), were examined over 42 days for physiological changes using hematological, biochemical, and non-specific immune parameters. No significant differences in concentrations of blood hemoglobin and hematocrit and plasma levels of total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, and cortisol were detected between fed and starved groups at any sampling time throughout the experiment. In contrast, plasma total protein concentrations were significantly lower in starved fish than in fed fish from day 7 onwards. Moreover, plasma lysozyme concentrations were significantly higher in starved flounder from day 21 onwards. This result confirms that the response of olive flounder to short-term (less than about 1.5 months) starvation consists of a readjustment of metabolism rather than the activation of an alarm-stress response. The present results indicate that starvation does not significantly compromise the health status of fish despite food limitation.