Ectoparasitic sea lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ) affect behavior and brain serotonergic activity in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.): Perspectives on animal welfare

Abstract Scientific research and public debate on the welfare of animals in human custody is increasing at present. Fish are in this context mentioned with particular attention to the high numbers of individuals reared in aquaculture. Research on fish has also contributed to the understanding of ind...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiology & behavior 2014-06, Vol.132, p.44-50
Main Authors: Øverli, Øyvind, Nordgreen, Janicke, Mejdell, Cecilie M, Janczak, Andrew M, Kittilsen, Silje, Johansen, Ida B, Horsberg, Tor E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of Variance
Animal Welfare
Animals
Aquaculture
Behavior
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - anatomy & histology
Brain - metabolism
Brain - parasitology
Copepoda - pathogenicity
Experimental infestation
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Infectious diseases
Lepeophtheirus salmonis
Locomotion - physiology
Medical sciences
Melatonin - metabolism
Neurochemistry
Parasites
Parasitic diseases
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Salmo salar
Salmo salar - anatomy & histology
Salmo salar - parasitology
Salmo salar - physiology
Sea lice
Skin - parasitology
Skin - pathology
Skin Pigmentation
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Summary:Abstract Scientific research and public debate on the welfare of animals in human custody is increasing at present. Fish are in this context mentioned with particular attention to the high numbers of individuals reared in aquaculture. Research on fish has also contributed to the understanding of individual variation in the ability to cope with stress and disease. One mediator of such variation is the brain serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) system, which conveys physiological and behavioral responses to stress and sub-optimal rearing conditions. Here we study links between the 5-HT response, melanin-based skin pigmentation, and behavior in laboratory-reared Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) experimentally infested with ectoparasitic sea lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ). Lice numbers were more variable in less pigmented fish, while the neurochemical response to ectoparastic lice—increased levels of the main 5-HT catabolite 5-HIAA in the brain stem—did not differ between pigmentation groups. A strong depression of growth and locomotor activity was seen in all infested fish but less pigmented fish grew better than fish with more skin melanization regardless of infestation status. The observed combination of neurochemical and behavioral effects clearly suggest that animal welfare concerns can be added to the list of negative effects of ectoparasitic sea lice.
ISSN:0031-9384
1873-507X
DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.04.031