Indicators of physiological and immunological status of Litopenaeus setiferus wild populations (Crustacea, Penaeidae)

• Published in: Marine biology 2004-08, Vol.145 (2), p.401-413
• Main Authors: ROSAS, C, COOPER, E. L, PASCUAL, C, BRITO, R, GELABERT, R, MORENO, T, MIRANDA, G, SANCHEZ, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal populations; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aquatic ecosystems; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Body weight; Cholesterol; Coastal zone; Coasts; Crustaceans; Digestive glands; Environmental changes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immune status; Litopenaeus setiferus; Marine; Marine biology; Marine ecosystems; Metabolites; Osmotic pressure; Penaeidae; Physiology; Sea water ecosystems; Shellfish; Synecology
• ISSN: 0025-3162; 1432-1793
• DOI: 10.1007/s00227-004-1321-y

Constant environmental changes in oceanic and estuarine systems due to human activity in coastal zones require different tools and strategies for their study to be able to assess the health status of aquatic ecosystems. The Gulf of Mexico has a tremendous ecological importance because of its biological diversity. Baseline levels of blood metabolites and immune components were defined for wild tropical populations of Litopenaeus setiferus, an important shrimp species of the Gulf of Mexico. Osmotic pressure, oxy hemocyanin (OxyHc), glucose, proteins, cholesterol, lactate, and triacylglycerols (TAG) were used as indicators of physiological status; pro phenoloxydase (proPO) and phenoloxydase (PO) quantification of hemocytes, as well as respiratory burst, were used to assess the immunological status. Significant differences were observed in live weight of juveniles, males, and females of L. setiferus with mean values of 10.54, 35.05, and 40.33 g, respectively. A value of 460 mOsm/kg was recorded in the water where juveniles were sampled and 1,000 mOsm/kg in adult sampling zones. Consequently, the osmotic pressure of L. setiferus juveniles (718.02 mOsm/kg) was 22% lower than in adults (925 mOsm/kg); there were no differences between sexes. A significantly lower value in juvenile OxyHc was observed. This value was 24 and 16% lower than that observed in males and females, respectively. Hemolymph glucose, cholesterol, and triacylglycerol levels were not statistically different between shrimp stages, showing median values of 0.19, 0.32, and 0.39 mg/ml of glucose, cholesterol, and triacylglycerols, respectively. Hemocyanin was distributed normally in the juvenile-male population but not in females. A proportion between 52 to 81% of OxyHc of the total protein (OxyHc/Prot) was obtained for all stages. Digestive gland glycogen showed no normal distribution in juveniles and adults. Digestive gland glycogen was significantly higher in juveniles (median value of 2.64 mg/g) than in adults (median value of 1.58 mg/g). A higher value of lactate (0.11 mg/ml) was observed in juveniles than in males (0.09 mg/ml) and females (0.04 mg/ml). Granular cells (GC) corresponded to 36, 44, and 39% of the total hemocytes (TH) observed in juveniles, males, and females. ProPO showed no normal distribution in all stages. A high proPO activity was recorded in L. setiferus females that was 95% higher than in the juvenile-male group. Respiratory burst was divided into two groups, juveniles-male