Physiological and behavioral responses to an electrical stimulus in Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Consumer awareness of the need to improve fish welfare is increasing. Electrostunning is a clean and potentially efficient procedure more and more used to provoke loss of consciousness prior to killing or slaughtering (reviewed by Van de Vis et al. in Aquac Res 34:211–220, 2003 ). Little is known ho...

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Published in:	Fish physiology and biochemistry Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 1019 - 1028
Main Authors:	Roques, Jonathan A. C., Abbink, Wout, Chereau, Gaétan, Fourneyron, Aurélie, Spanings, Tom, Burggraaf, Dirk, van de Bos, Ruud, van de Vis, Hans, Flik, Gert
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-08-2012 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Animal Anatomy Animal Biochemistry Animal Physiology Animals Aquaculture Behavior Biomedical and Life Sciences Blood Glucose - metabolism Case-Control Studies cells Cognitive ability common carp Consciousness Electric Stimulation evolution Fish Freshwater & Marine Ecology Handling, Psychological Histology Hydrocortisone - blood Ions - metabolism Life Sciences Morphology na+/k+-atpase Nociception Oreochromis mossambicus Pain pain perception Physiology rainbow-trout stress Stress, Physiological Swimming Tilapia Tilapia - physiology Trout water welfare Zoology Netherlands Mozambique Nociception Tailfin electroshock Behavior Fish welfare Stress Mozambique tilapia
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Summary:	Consumer awareness of the need to improve fish welfare is increasing. Electrostunning is a clean and potentially efficient procedure more and more used to provoke loss of consciousness prior to killing or slaughtering (reviewed by Van de Vis et al. in Aquac Res 34:211–220, 2003 ). Little is known how (powerful) electrical stimuli, which do not stun immediately, are perceived by fish. We investigated responses of hand-held Mozambique tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ) to a standardized electric shock applied to the tailfin. The handling with the resulting unavoidable acute stress response was carefully controlled for. Fish responses were analyzed up to 24 h following the shock. Electric shock resulted in slightly higher levels in plasma cortisol, lactate, ionic levels, and osmolality, than handling alone. Plasma glucose had significantly increased 6 h after shock compared to handling, indicative of enhanced adrenergic activity. Mucus release from the gills, branchial Na + /K + ATPase activity, and chloride cell migration and proliferation, parameters that will change with strong adrenergic activation, were not affected. Decreased swimming activity and delay in resumption of chafing behavior indicated a stronger and differential response toward the electric shock. Responses to handling lasted shorter compared to those to an electric shock. The differential and stronger responses to the electric shock suggest that fish perceived the shock potentially as painful.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0920-1742 1573-5168
DOI:	10.1007/s10695-011-9586-9