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This study assessed the effects of substituting fish meal and soybean meal with an algal meal and Brewers’ spent grains (BSG), respectively, on the overall health of the carp, Cirrhinus reba. 18S rDNA sequencing identified the targeted alga as Chlorella sorokiniana SCB (Genbank accession no. OQ702656.1) and the alga was cheaply cultivated in raw poultry litter leachate to prepare the Chlorella meal. A control diet (FS) containing 30% protein was formulated with fish meal and soybean meal. Three experimental diets were formulated to contain Chlorella meal and soybean meal (CS), fish meal and BSG (FB), and Chlorella meal and BSG (CB) as protein ingredients. Developmental parameters were significantly enhanced in carp fed diets composed of Chlorella meal and BSG. The content of serum protein was the highest in fish fed the CS diet, while the highest liver functioning was in the CB group. An enhancement of carcass protein and a slight decrease in carcass lipid was observed in fish fed with algal and BSG-incorporated diets. The levels of saturated fatty acids and mono-unsaturated fatty acids were greatly reduced, while the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid contents were significantly enhanced in the carcasses of carp fed the CB diet. The apparent digestibility of the feeds and feed ingredients were evaluated, and Chlorella and BSG meals had a good digestibility profile. The estimated price of CB feed was 53.72% lower than the corresponding conventional diet. The experiments showed that Chlorella meal and BSG can successfully substitute the conventional protein ingredients in the feed for C. reba without producing any negative impact on growth and nutrient utilization. This is the first report for the assessment and establishment of a combination of an alga and BSG meals as protein sources in fish feed.

Studies on antimicrobial and immunotherapeutic agents have become a priority in the management of fish ailments. The Reba carp ( Cirrhinus reba ) is currently passing through a phase of extreme distress due to infectious diseases. The capacity of algae to synthesize secondary metabolites with immunotherapeutic and antimicrobial potential was previously reported. The current study used  C. reba  to investigate the antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties of a methanolic extract of an alga after infection with  Aeromonas hydrophila . 18 S rDNA sequencing identified the alga as  Oedogonium intermedium  strain SCB bearing GenBank accession number OQ726217.1. GC-HRMS analysis of the algal extract explored 50 compounds, and among them, 23 components were reported to show bioactivity. LD 50 value of  A. hydrophila  to  C. reba  had been evaluated by intraperitoneal injection and found to be 1.49 × 10 5  CFU/mL/fish. The infected carp exhibited abrasion in tails, hemorrhagic subcutaneous ulcers, necrotic hemorrhages, etc. The inclusion of the algal extract in the diet of  C. reba  stimulates the activity of different non-specific and specific immune components after a challenge with  A. hydrophila . Significantly enhanced ( p  < 0.05) respiratory burst activity, myeloperoxidase activity, alpha 2-macro-globulin, and antiprotease activity were observed in the challenged carp fed algal extract incorporated diet (F2) as compared to the fish fed diet lacking algal extract (F1). The F2 diet-fed challenged carp also exhibited stimulated expression of immune-related genes (viz., IL6 and C3a). Hence, the algal extract possesses sufficient antimicrobial and immunomodulatory potentialities and can be applied as a therapeutic for controlling diseases in aquaculture.

Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton, 1822) has gained high recognition in southern Asia for its nutritional and commercial benefits, although the carp is now facing productivity constraints. Probiotic-based captive breeding of the carp can be a promising technique to enhance the productivity and health status of the carp. The comprehensive study was performed on bacteria in the intestinal tract of C. reba . The total load of culturable bacteria in the gut of the carp was (8.34 ± 1.64) × 10 7 CFU/g comprising 19 different types of colonies. Most (73.7%) of the isolates were Gram-positive and rod-shaped bacteria. Among them, two intestinal isolates (PKS9 and PKS10) had shown significant antagonism against common fish pathogens namely, Staphylococcus aureus , Vibrio harveyi , and Vibrio parahaemolyticus . 16S rDNA sequencing identified the isolates PKS9 and PKS10 as Bacillus paramycoides (OM038513) and Bacillus cereus (OM033468), respectively. The isolates were determined to be biofilm formers, could persist in both acidic and alkaline environments, had high resistance to bile salts, possess surface hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation efficacy. The tests on pathogenicity and bio-safety confirmed the non-pathogenic nature of the isolates. Moreover, the strains had liberated extracellular enzymes and exhibited antioxidative properties. Hence, the isolates might be used as potential candidate probiotics for the cultivation of C. reba to enhance the nutritional and health status of the species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report analyzing the gut microbiota of Reba carp and establishing B. paramycoides as aquaculture probiotics.

Background Like botanical taxa, various species of animals are also used in traditional and modern health care systems. Present study was intended with the aim to document the traditional uses of herptile and fish species among the local communities in the vicinity of the River Chenab, Punjab Pakistan. Method Data collected by semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were subsequently analyzed using relative frequency of citation (FC), fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), similarity index (SI), and rank order priority (ROP) indices. Results Out of total 81 reported species, ethnomedicinal uses of eight herptiles viz. Aspideretes gangeticus , A . hurum , Eublepharis macularius , Varanus bengalensis , Python molurus , Eryx johnii , Ptyas mucosus mucosus , Daboia russelii russelii and five fish species including Hypophthalmichthys molitrix , Cirrhinus reba , Labeo dero , Mastacembelus armatus , and Pethia ticto were reported for the first time from this region. Fat, flesh, brain, and skin were among the commonly utilized body parts to treat allergy, cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory disorders, sexual impotency, skin infections, and as antidote and anti-diabetic agents. Hoplobatrachus tigerinus , Duttaphrynus stomaticus , and Ptyas mucosus mucosus (herptiles), as well as Labeo rohita , Wallago attu , and Cirrhinus reba (fish) were top ranked with maximum informant reports, frequency of citations, and rank order priority. Uromastyx hardwickii , Ctenopharyngodon idella , H . molitrix , Cirrhinus mrigala , C . reba , L . rohita , L . calbasu , L . dero , and Pethia ticto were the species with 100% fidelity level. Furthermore, medicinal uses of Aspideretes gangeticus , Aspideretes hurum , Calotes versicolor , Daboia russelii russelii , Hypophthalmichthys molitrix , Cirrhinus reba , Labeo dero , Mastacembelus armatus , Pethia ticto , and Gagata cenia were reported for the first time. Conclusion About half of the reported species depicted zero similarity index with previously reported literature, which indicates strong associations of local inhabitants with animal species, particularly for therapeutic purpose. Inclusive studies on composition and bioactivities of the species with maximum use reports may contribute significantly in animal-based novel drugs discovery.

Concentration of heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu)) was determined in the liver, gills, kidneys, and muscles of eight edible fish species (Channa punctata, Cirrhinus reba, Labeo rohita, Heteropneustes fossilis, Mystus cavasius, Oreochromis niloticus, Puntius sophore, and Wallago attu) from upstream and downstream zones of the Nullah Aik and Palkhu tributaries of the River Chenab located in the Sialkot district known for its tanning industries worldwide. The pattern of metal accumulation in studied organs was in the order: Cr > Pb > Cu > Cd. Liver showed greater metal accumulation, followed by gills, kidneys, and muscles. Accumulation of Pb and Cr was significantly different in organs between upstream and downstream zones. Accumulation was greater in fish species dwelling downstream, indicating impairment of ambient stream water due to untreated discharge of industrial and municipal effluents into studied streams. Highest concentration of Pb and Cr and lowest of Cd was detected in H. fossilis whereas Cu showed higher concentration and Cr lowest concentration in P. sophore. In contrast, lower concentration of Pb and Cu was recorded in M. cavasius, O. niloticus, and W. attu. Mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Cu were higher in pre-monsoon compared to post-monsoon season. Measured concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr in muscles of species such as C. punctata, W. attu, L. rohita, P. sophore, and O. niloticus were above permissible limits of heavy metals for human consumption, indicating potential health risks. Therefore, these fish species from studied locations should be avoided for human diet.

The microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of fish influences host health in both beneficial and detrimental ways and understanding the gut microbiota requires 16S amplicon sequencing. Although, Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton, 1822) has achieved widespread recognition for its nutritional and commercial value, the carp are currently confronting production limits. Probiotic-based carp captive breeding may be an effective method for enhancing the production and health condition of the carp and it requires conventional culture-based analysis. Hence, a comprehensive study was performed on the intestinal microbiota of  C. reba  by both 16S amplicon sequencing and culture-based approaches. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes,  and  Fusobacteria  were dominating the GIT of the fish. Importantly, Gram-negative pathogenic genera like  Pseudomonas, Serratia, Aeromonas,  and Unclassified Clostridiales  are found to be most abundant. Only Bacillus and Lactobacillus are found as the Gram positive bacterial genera among the top ten dominating bacteria in the GIT of the fish. The total load of culturable bacteria in the gut of the carp was 1.12 ± 0.26 × 10 8  cfu/g comprising twenty-four different types of colonies. The Gram negative bacterial load in the GIT of the carp is 6.9 × 10 7  cfu/g. Only 37.5% (4.2 × 10 7  cfu/g) of the isolates were Gram-positive and rod-shaped. Among them, one intestinal isolate (PKS9A) had shown significant antagonism against four common fish pathogens. The isolate was positive for the production of extracellular digestive enzymes like Protease, Amylase, Cellulase, Xylanase, Lipase, Phytase. The isolate PKS9A exhibited sufficient probiotic properties like bile salt hydrolase activity, cell surface hydrophobicity, antibiotic sensitivity, and is non-hemolytic in nature. 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogeny analysis identified the isolate as  Bacillus paramycoides  PKS9A (Accession no.-OR003914). Hence, the isolate may be utilized as a potential autochthonous probiotic for the cultivation of  C. reba  to enhance the nutritional and health status of the carp and to protect it from further deterioration.

The water quality of the River Mahananda has continuously deteriorated due to increased exposure of untreated wastewater from the urban areas, increasing the concentration of anthropogenic toxicants in aquatic environments that might enhance the cellular oxidative stress-induced physiological imbalance on the aquatic biota. In the present study, we have assessed the water quality of the River Mahananda and evaluated its detrimental effects on the oxidative stress parameters and neurotoxic biomarker of Cirrhinus reba. The principal component analysis revealed a significant impact of zinc, copper, fluoride, and ammonia on the pollution status of the River Mahananda. A significant decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase was observed in the liver, while significantly increased (p<0.001) concentrations of TBARS in the liver, kidney, brain, and gill of C. reba were found at the polluted sites. An organ-specific significant decrease (p<0.001) in the acetylcholinesterase activity was noted in the brain tissue of C. reba at the polluted sites (S2

Journal Article

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