Intestinal Health of Aquatic Organisms

A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Welfare, Health and Disease".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2025 | Viewed by 365

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
Interests: gut microbiota; probiotics; bacteriophage

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Guest Editor
Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
Interests: intestinal health; gut microbiota; probiotics; prebiotics; fermentation feed

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, China
Interests: bacterial diseases; intestinal inflammation; fish
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the research advancements in gut health of aquatic organisms, focusing on the composition, function, and interactions of gut microbiota in aquatic species such as fish, crustaceans, and amphibians. As our understanding of microbial diversity and its ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems deepens, gut health has become an important indicator of growth, immunity and disease resistance in aquatic organisms. The composition of intestinal flora, probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics have been the focus of intestinal health research for a long time. In recent years, the control of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine by bacteriophages is also a new hotspot. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and case studies that share the latest findings and technological innovations in the field of aquatic gut health, fostering scientific communication and collaboration in this vital area.

Prof. Dr. Mao Lin
Dr. Yunzhang Sun
Dr. Yibin Yang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • gut health
  • gut microbiota
  • biodiversity
  • probiotics
  • prebiotics
  • postbiotics
  • bacteriophage
  • immune function
  • nutrient absorption
  • disease resistance

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 2625 KiB  
Article
Effects of Probiotic-Fermented Chinese Herb on Immune Response and Growth Performance in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
by Wenzheng Zou, Xuanxuan Huang, Fang Han and Zhongqin Li
Fishes 2025, 10(5), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10050196 - 26 Apr 2025
Viewed by 125
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of fermented Chinese herb (FCH) on the growth indices, leukocyte activity, and biochemical indices of carp (Cyprinus carpio). Astragalus membranaceus (AM), Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (PCR), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GRR) as feed additives enhance immune [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of fermented Chinese herb (FCH) on the growth indices, leukocyte activity, and biochemical indices of carp (Cyprinus carpio). Astragalus membranaceus (AM), Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (PCR), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GRR) as feed additives enhance immune function, promote growth, and exert anti-inflammatory effects, respectively. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of co-fermented blends of these three herbs on growth performance and related parameters in common carp. By adding 2%, 5%, and 10% of the FCH to co-incubate with carp leukocytes, the results show that all three experimental treatments could enhance the respiratory burst activity and phagocytic activity of carp leukocytes. After 28 days of feeding with basal feed supplemented with 2%, 5%, and 10% (w/v) of the FCH, the weight gain rate and specific growth rate of carp were significantly higher than those of the control treatment without additives (ANOVA, p < 0.05), with the 5% treatment showing the highest. The activities of intestinal digestive enzymes were significantly increased (ANOVA, p < 0.05). On the 21st day, the activities of amylase (AMS), lipase (LPS), and chymotrypsin were increased compared to the control treatment. The 5% and 10% treatments showed significantly higher intestinal digestive enzyme activities compared to the 2% treatment. The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in both the control and experimental treatments initially increased and then decreased, with all three experimental treatments having higher levels than the control treatment. The activities of liver glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the experimental treatments showed no significant changes compared to the control treatment (ANOVA, p > 0.05). However, the serum GPT activity in the 5% treatment was significantly lower than that of the control treatment (ANOVA, p < 0.05), while no significant differences were observed in the other treatments. The results indicate that adding 2~10% of FCH to carp feed can improve intestinal digestion, enhance phagocytic activity and the body’s antioxidant defense capabilities, and effectively promote the growth of carp. It can significantly improve farming efficiency and economic benefits, reduce dependence on chemical drugs, and lower environmental pollution, showing good application prospects in production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intestinal Health of Aquatic Organisms)
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