Aquaculture America 2020

February 9 - 12, 2020

Honolulu, Hawaii

INVESTIGATION OF GUT MICROBIOTA, PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS RESPONSE, AND IMMUNE PARAMETERS IN CULTURED BURBOT Lota lota maculosa

Timothy J. Bruce* and Kenneth D. Cain
 
Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences
875 Perimeter Dr. MS1136
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID, 83844-1136
tbruce@uidaho.edu
 

As aquaculture expands in the United States, there is a need to investigate novel fish species  that may offer producers new products for the domestic market. Burbot ( Lota lota), have shown  strong  potential  as a new aquaculture species in the western states. B urbot share similar culture  requirements to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and have been shown to be relatively resistant to many salmonid pathogens, thus providing an excellent opportunity  for diversif ication of trout  production facilities. At the University of Idaho, there have been recent efforts to evaluate commercial diet selection, pathogen susceptibility, and life  stage culture  optimization for this species. F indings to  date have provided insight for expanding burbot culture. The proposed research project will use recently published methodologies developed for other cultured species to investigate the ability of burbot to utilize plant-based feed ingredients and characterize some aspects of burbot immunity and health.  This current  study  will develop and investigate areas of burbot nutrition, stress physiology and immunology related to the commercial development of this species. The specific objectives of this project will be to: 1) characterize the intestinal microbiota associated with feeding burbot plant-based diets, 2) evaluate the influence of rearing stressors in burbot culture, 3) investigate an array of burbot immune metrics and assess virulence of pathogenic bacteria isolated from commercial burbot operations and 4) assess the potential for killed vaccines  to be used to prevent disease in this species.  The results from this project will be of interest to commercial coldwater aquaculture producers, as well as agencies expanding burbot culture for management implications. Further, this project will provide novel findings on the burbot immune system and  determine the feasibility and e ffects of  vaccination efforts for this species. Increased production and stimulation within the domestic aquaculture sector will assist with curbing the current trade deficient and help achieve the necessary increase in global food production required by 2050.