• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2019

Higher thermal exposure can influence the blood cell morphology and count. Hence, based on the previous results (Rahman et al., 2019), the present study evaluated the morphometric indices of erythrocytes and their nucleus under different water temperatures (25℃, 28℃, 31℃, and 34℃) to investigate their use as an indicator of thermal stress in red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara. 180 healthy specimens of E. akaara were exposed to four temperature conditions (25℃ as control, 28℃, 31℃, and 34℃) for 42 days, following 2 weeks of acclimation at 25℃. Erythrocyte major axis (EL), erythrocyte minor axis (EW), nucleus major axis (NL), and nucleus minor axis (NW) were examined from the blood smears on each sampling day (i.e., 2, 7, and 42 days of thermal exposure). EL and NL were significantly decreased, whereas EW and NW were increased at higher water temperature (31℃ and 34℃). The major-minor axis proportions of erythrocytes and their nucleus (EL/EW; NL/NW) were decreased with increasing water temperature (31℃ and 34℃). The strong relationships were observed among the morphometric indices of erythrocytes and their nucleus, especially in EL vs. NL and EW vs. NW. This study reveals that elevated water temperature (31℃ and 34℃) can influence the major and minor axis morphometry of erythrocytes and their nucleus in red spotted grouper. These indices may be used as stress indicators to monitor the health status of E. akaara and probably for other fish species.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2003

We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding growth hormone (GH) from pituitary poly(A)$^{+}$ RNA of red-spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara). The cDNA of red-spotted grouper GH is 883 base pairs (bp) consisting of 21 bp of 5'untranslated region (UTR), 615 Up of an open reading frame (ORF) and 247 Up of 3'UTR. The polyadenylation signal, AATAAA, was 20 bp upsteam of polyadenylation site. Based on the nucleotide sequences, the deduced putative polypeptide contains 204 amino acids (aa), representing 17 aa of a signal and 187 aa of a mature polypeptide. The putative GH cDNA encodes a polypeptide with four cysteine residues and only one N-gly- cosylation site. Comparative sequence alignment shows that red-spotted grouper GH exhibits high similarity with its corresponding other Perciformes species GH cDNAs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2017

Skeletal deformities are significant problems that affect the growth and commercial value of fish reared in hatcheries. However, studies of bone metabolic process related to skeletal deformities are limited. We investigated the potential correlation between bone deformities and plasma calcium, phosphorus, and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels in reared red spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) juveniles. We collected E. akaara frys from private farms at 110, 140, 180 and 300 days after hatching (DAH), and classified the normal and deformed fish by observing their external shape and inner frame by soft X-ray. We also analyzed the calcium, phosphorous, and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels in their plasma. A comparison between normal and deformed fish, indicated that calcium and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels were higher in deformed fish than in the normal at 180 and 300 DAH. The level of phosphorus was also higher in deformed individuals than in normal fish, but only at 300 DAH. These results suggest that skeletal deformities are associated with increases in plasma calcium, phosphorus, and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.612-619
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• 2016

In this study, we crossbred Epinephelus akaara and E. lanceolatus to produce a hybrid grouper with faster growth and adaptation to domestic aquaculture environments. The plasma cortisol and glucose levels and osmoregulation (stress response indicators) of the hybrid grouper, E. akaara ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂, were investigated under several salinity levels (32, 24, 16, and 8 psu). The body lengths and weights of E. akaara (8.2 ± 0.1 cm, 8.3 ± 0.4 g) and the hybrid (8.6 ± 0.1 cm, 10.0 ± 0.4 g) were similar at the start of the experiment, but were significantly different at the end of the experiment. Juveniles of both E. akaara and the hybrid showed greater weight gain, specific growth, and feed conversion rate (FCR) under low salinity of 16 psu. Under the 8 psu treatment, the juvenile E. akaara all died, while the hybrid juveniles survived. Plasma cortisol levels were not affected by lower salinity in both species. The above results indicate that the hybrid is more tolerant of low salinity than is E. akaara, although both species exhibited higher growth and FCR at 16 psu, lower than the salinity of natural seawater. Thus, juveniles of both E. akaara and the hybrid can be more effectively cultured in brackish areas or waters with salinity lower than that of seawater.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated safety and efficacy of a low temperature immunization protocol with NNV in red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara and long tooth grouper, Epinephelus bruneus and seven band grouper, Hyporthodus septemfasciatus. Further, growth rate between immunized and naïve fish was evaluated during the experiment to check side effect of immunization. Three grouper species were immunized by immersion method with live NNV at 10^5.0 TCID₅₀/mL at 16.5℃ for 30 min and reared for 120 days at natural sea water temperature. To evaluate growth rate, total length and wet weight was measured 7 times after immunization. Immunized three grouper species were challenged by intramuscular inoculation with NNV at 10^4.2 TCID₅₀/100 µL/fish. Immunization at low temperature with live NNV did not show any clinical symptoms of infection, mortality and inhibition of growth. After challenge, cumulative mortality of naïve seven band grouper, red spotted grouper, long tooth grouper were 45, 10, 20 %, respectively. However no mortality was observed at immunized groupers. Thus, it was demonstrated that immunization at low temperature with live NNV are able to protect three different species of groupers without inhibition of growth.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.850-860
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• 2023

The effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis supplementation on hybrid grouper Epinephelus akaara ♀×Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ were evaluated. The fish were fed a basal diet and five other diets consisting of 0.6% mannan oligosaccharides, L. plantarum, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis and mixture of each 0.15% prebiotic and all the probiotics (designated as MOS, LP, BS, BL, and SYN) for 56 days. Growth performance and feed utilization showed no significant differences among all experimental groups. Lipid level of whole-body was significantly high in MOS and BL groups. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase was significantly low in BL and SYN groups. Nitro-blue tetrazolium, lysozyme and anti-protease, and glutathione peroxidase in BS, SYN, and all probiotic groups, respectively, were significantly high. Intestinal Vibrio bacteria was significantly low in all probiotic and SYN groups. Gene expression of interleukin-1β and interleukin-10 in SYN group; transforming growth factor β2 in MOS and BS groups, toll-like receptor 2-2 in BS and BL groups; and C-type lectin in MOS, LP and SYN groups were significantly upregulated. Our findings indicate that mannan oligosaccharides, L. plantarum, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis could improve innate immunity, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammation, and intestinal microbiota of hybrid grouper.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.506-514
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• 2020

We investigated seed management and feeding regime of larval red spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara using live food organisms. Fertilized eggs were produced in March 2020 by manipulating photoperiod and water temperature. Broodstock (F0) produced approximately 0.30×10⁶ eggs, of which 0.25×10⁶ were fertilized; first-generation broodstock (F1) produced 2.00×10⁶ eggs, of which 1.90×10⁶ were fertilized. Larvae were reared at temperatures of 21.0-24.5℃. The feeding regime consisted of rotifers Artemia, and commercial pellet feed. From 5-8 days after hatching (dah), rotifers collected from high-density incubation tanks were fed to grouper larvae at a density of 10-20 individuals/mL. From 9-30 dah, rotifers collected from low-density incubation tanks were fed to larvae at a density of 10-20 individuals/mL. Newly hatched Artemia were provided from 20-24 dah and enriched Artemia from 25-50 dah. Commercial pellet feed was given starting at 13 dah. The average mouth size in hatchlings was 263.4±3.7 ㎛ at 5 dah, 406.7±21.0 ㎛ at 11 dah, and 856.9±136.6 ㎛ at 21 dah. At 1 dah, larvae had a mean total length of 1.95±0.06 mm. At 66 dah, the mean TL was 4.0 cm. The final number of surviving red spotted grouper larvae was 218,380 fishes.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2015

The hatchability of the artificially induced hybrid between two groupers (family Serranidae), red spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) and brown-marbled grouper (E. fuscoguttatus) that lives in different habit environment was investigated. There was no difference in the required time of each developmental stages after fertilization between hybrid (red spotted grouper ♀ ${\times}$ brown-marbled grouper ♂) and purebred (red spotted grouper ♀${\times}$♂) and required 25.6 hours to hatch at incubated in $25^{\circ}C$, but a noticeable unequal cleavage in cell size was observed in hybrid eggs unlikely to purebred. The hatching rate of fertilized eggs of hybrid was generally low across the four incubate temperatures (22, 25, 28, $31^{\circ}C$) with highest 9.8% in $25^{\circ}C$. This study demonstrated the possibility of artificial hybridization between two groupers, red spotted grouper and brown-marbled grouper, thus preparing the groundwork on developmental characteristics, deformities of hatched larvae and early survival ability for further studies on aquaculture.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.235-242
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• 2021

The present study investigated the critical thermal maxima (CT_max) of red-spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara under different acclimation temperatures (T_acc). Fish were acclimated at 24℃, 28℃, and 32℃ water temperature for 2 weeks. Water temperature was increased at a rate of 1℃/h and CT_max level was measured following the critical thermal methodology (Paladino et al., 1980). The results showed that CT_max values of E. akaara were 35.61℃, 36.83℃, and 37.65℃ for fish acclimated at 24℃, 28℃, and 32℃, respectively. The acclimation response ratio (ARR) was 0.26. The CT_max values were significantly correlated with body size. Collectively, it is said that the CT_max value of red-spotted grouper can be affected by different adaptation temperature (24℃, 28℃, and 32℃) and the fish acclimated to a higher temperature has a higher CT_max level. Besides, the CT_max value of 35.61℃-37.65℃ indicating the upper thermal tolerance limit for E. akaara under different T_acc (24℃, 28℃, and 32℃). Understanding the thermal tolerance of E. akaara is of ecological importance in the conservation of this species.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine the stress response [ethological (operculum movement number (OMN)), hematological (hematocrit and hemoglobin), biochemical (glucose, cortisol and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT))] in red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara during exposure of different water temperature in winter season. This species (Total length, $18.56{\pm}0.34cm$) previously maintained in water temperature of $15^{\circ}C$ were transferred to 15, 20 and $25^{\circ}C$. During experimental period (7 days), OMN, hematocrit (Ht), glucose and GOT values were significantly high in $15^{\circ}C$ when compared to 20 and $25^{\circ}C$. Hemoglobin value was also increased at $15^{\circ}C$, but no significant differences. There was no differences in cortisol levels among the temperature groups. No fish mortality was observed during the experimental period. From these results, $15^{\circ}C$ is likely more stressful to red spotted grouper than $20^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. These observations confirm that red spotted grouper adapts better to temperatures between 20 and $25^{\circ}C$ during the winter season.