Analysing responsible innovation along a value chain-A single-cell protein case study

The British Standards Institution's Publicly Available Specification 440 (PAS 440) provides a Responsible Innovation Framework (RIF) that companies can use to continuously monitor the societal, environmental and health benefits and risks of their innovations, as well as relevant changes to the supply chain and regulations. PAS 440 is intended to help companies achieve the benefits of innovation in a timely manner and avoid any potential harm or unintended misuse of a new product, process or service. Here, the authors have applied the PAS 440 RIF to a novel single-cell protein (SCP) animal feed ingredient taking into consideration the perspectives of the value chain partners (VCPs), companies and laboratories involved in an Innovate UK research project. The authors' findings show how VCPs can use PAS440 to demonstrate that they are innovating responsibly. Using this approach to responsible innovation along the value chain-from manufacturing scale-up, through regulatory approval, to incorporation in animal feed and from there to food on supermarket shelves-can support the development of innovations that contribute to the economic and environmental sustainability of the animal feed sector. The authors conclude that the PAS 440 Guide can facilitate the progress of a new product throughout a value chain and contribute to coordinating responsible behaviour among companies involved in the value chain.

Qualitative Behavioural Assessment as a welfare indicator for farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in response to a stressful challenge

Animal welfare assessments have struggled to investigate the emotional states of animals while focusing solely on available empirical evidence. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) may provide insights into an animal's subjective experiences without compromising scientific rigor. Rather than assessing explicit, physical behaviours (i.e., what animals are doing, such as swimming or feeding), QBA describes and quantifies the overall expressive manner in which animals execute those behaviours (i.e., how relaxed or agitated they appear). While QBA has been successfully applied to scientific welfare assessments in a variety of species, its application within aquaculture remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to assess QBA's effectiveness in capturing changes in the emotional behaviour of Atlantic salmon following exposure to a stressful challenge. Nine tanks of juvenile Atlantic salmon were video-recorded every morning for 15 min over a 7-day period, in the middle of which a stressful challenge (intrusive sampling) was conducted on the salmon. The resultant 1-min, 63 video clips were then semi-randomised to avoid predictability and treatment bias for QBA scorers. Twelve salmon-industry professionals generated a list of 16 qualitative descriptors (e.g., relaxed, agitated, stressed) after viewing unrelated video-recordings depicting varying expressive characteristics of salmon in different contexts. A different group of 5 observers, with varied experience of salmon farming, subsequently scored the 16 descriptors for each clip using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Principal Components Analysis (correlation matrix, no rotation) was used to identify perceived patterns of expressive characteristics across the video-clips, which revealed 4 dimensions explaining 74.5% of the variation between clips. PC1, ranging from 'relaxed/content/positive active' to 'unsettled/stressed/spooked/skittish' explained the highest percentage of variation (37%). QBA scores for video-clips on PC1, PC2, and PC4 achieved good inter- and intra-observer reliability. Linear Mixed Effects Models, controlled for observer variation in PC1 scores, showed a significant difference between PC1 scores before and after sampling (p = 0.03), with salmon being perceived as more stressed afterwards. PC1 scores also correlated positively with darting behaviours (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). These results are the first to report QBA's sensitivity to changes in expressive characteristics of salmon following a putatively stressful challenge, demonstrating QBA's potential as a welfare indicator within aquaculture.

Investigating the impacts of H2O2 treatment on gills of healthy Atlantic salmon reveals potential changes to mucus production with implications on immune activity

Current treatment strategies for relevant infectious diseases in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) include the use of low salinity or freshwater bathing. However, often availability is restricted, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is used as an alternative. The potential impacts of H₂O₂ on fish mucosal tissues, especially the gills therefore need to be considered. In this study the mucosal and immunological effects of H₂O₂ treatment on the gills of healthy Atlantic salmon were examined by gene expression (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) investigating T-cell, B-cell, and mucin activity. Healthy fish were treated with H₂O₂ and sampled at different times: 4 h, 24 h and 14 days post-H₂O₂ treatment (dpt) (total n = 18) to investigate the effect of holding time and H₂O₂ treatment. Treatment with H₂O₂ resulted in up-regulation of markers for T-cell activity and anti-inflammatory response and down-regulation of mucin expression in the gills at 14 dpt compared to fish sampled prior to treatment (0h; n = 5 fish). These findings were supported by IHC analysis, which despite being highly variable between samples, showed an increase in the number of CD3⁺ T cells at 14 dpt in 50% of treated fish compared to pre-treatment fish. The results from this study suggest that H₂O₂ treatment does not immune compromise healthy Atlantic salmon after 14 dpt (i.e., post-recovery) but modulates gill immune activity and disrupts the mucus covering of the gills. However, further studies are required to determine whether the effects observed are related to H₂O₂ treatment in isolation or other variables such as holding time or environmental factors.

Effect of dietary oil from Camelina sativa on the growth performance, fillet fatty acid profile and gut microbiome of gilthead Sea bream (Sparus aurata)

BACKGROUND

In the last two decades, research has focused on testing cheaper and sustainable alternatives to fish oil (FO), such as vegetable oils (VO), in aquafeeds. However, FO cannot be entirely replaced by VOs due to their lack of omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), particularly eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n-3) acids. The oilseed plant, Camelina sativa, may have a higher potential to replace FO since it can contains up to 40% of the omega-3 precursors α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3) and linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6).

METHODS

A 90-day feeding trial was conducted with 600 gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) of 32.92 ±  0.31 g mean initial weight fed three diets that replaced 20%, 40% and 60% of FO with CO and a control diet of FO. Fish were distributed into triplicate tanks per diet and with 50 fish each in a flow-through open marine system. Growth performance and fatty acid profiles of the fillet were analysed. The Illumina MiSeq platform for sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and Mothur pipeline were used to identify bacteria in the faeces, gut mucosa and diets in addition to metagenomic analysis by PICRUSt.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The feed conversion rate and specific growth rate were not affected by diet, although final weight was significantly lower for fish fed the 60% CO diet. Reduced final weight was attributed to lower levels of EPA and DHA in the CO ingredient. The lipid profile of fillets were similar between the dietary groups in regards to total saturated, monounsaturated, PUFA (n-3 and n-6), and the ratio of n-3/n-6. Levels of EPA and DHA in the fillet reflected the progressive replacement of FO by CO in the diet and the EPA was significantly lower in fish fed the 60% CO diet, while ALA was increased. Alpha and beta-diversities of gut bacteria in both the faeces and mucosa were not affected by any dietary treatment, although a few indicator bacteria, such as Corynebacterium and Rhodospirillales, were associated with the 60% CO diet. However, lower abundance of lactic acid bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus, in the gut of fish fed the 60% CO diet may indicate a potential negative effect on gut microbiota. PICRUSt analysis revealed similar predictive functions of bacteria in the faeces and mucosa, although a higher abundance of Corynebacterium in the mucosa of fish fed 60% CO diet increased the KEGG pathway of fatty acid synthesis and may act to compensate for the lack of fatty acids in the diet. In summary, this study demonstrated that up to 40% of FO can be replaced with CO without negative effects on growth performance, fillet composition and gut microbiota of gilthead sea bream.

A comparison of the use of different swab materials for optimal diagnosis of amoebic gill disease (AGD) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Routine gill swabbing is a non-destructive sampling method used for the downstream qPCR detection and quantitation of the pathogen Neoparamoeba perurans, a causative agent of amoebic gill disease (AGD). Three commercially available swabs were compared aiming their application for timelier AGD diagnosis (Calgiswab^® (calcium alginate fibre-tipped), Isohelix^® DNA buccal and cotton wool-tipped). Calcium alginate is soluble in most sodium salts, which potentially allows the total recovery of biological material, hence a better extraction of target organisms' DNA. Thus, this study consisted of (a) an in vitro assessment involving spiking of the swabs with known amounts of amoebae and additional assessment of retrieval efficiency of amoebae from agar plates; (b) in vivo testing by swabbing of gill arches (second, third and fourth) of AGD-infected fish. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments identified an enhanced amoeba retrieval with Calgiswab® and Isohelix® swabs in comparison with cotton swabs. Additionally, the third and fourth gill arches presented significantly higher amoebic loads compared to the second gill arch. Results suggest that limiting routine gill swabbing to one or two arches, instead of all, could likely lead to reduced stress-related effects incurred by handling and sampling and a timelier diagnosis of AGD.

Normal values of M mode echocardiographic measurements of more than 2000 healthy infants and children in central Europe

OBJECTIVE

To obtain normal M mode (one dimensional) echocardiographic values in a substantial sample of normal infants and children.

DESIGN

Data were obtained over three years from a single centre in central Europe.

PATIENTS

2036 healthy infants and children aged one day to 18 years.

METHODS

In line with recommendations for standardising measurements from M mode echocardiograms, and using digital echocardiographic equipment, measurements were obtained of the following: right ventricular anterior wall thickness at end diastole, right ventricular end diastolic dimension, thickness of interventricular septum at end diastole and end systole, thickness of posterior wall of the left ventricle at end diastole and end systole, left ventricular dimension at end diastole and end systole, pulmonary and aortic valve diameter, and left atrial dimension.

RESULTS

Measurements are presented graphically on centile charts with respect to body surface area, and as tables with mean and 2 SD values for newborns in relation to body weight, and for infants and children in relation to body surface area. Best fitting regression equations are given for each measured variable, using the 50th centile values.

CONCLUSION

In comparison with previously published normal values, the presented charts and tables make it possible to judge echocardiographic measurements of a particular patient as normal or abnormal.

Continuous measurement of cardiac output by the Fick principle in infants and children: comparison with the thermodilution method

OBJECTIVE

To compare a system that continuously monitors cardiac output by the Fick principle with measurements by the thermodilution technique in pediatric patients.

DESIGN

Prospective direct comparison of the above two techniques.

SETTING

Pediatric intensive care unit of a university hospital.

PATIENTS

25 infants and children, aged 1 week to 17 years (median 10 months), who had undergone open heart surgery were studied. Only patients without an endotracheal tube leak and without a residual shunt were included.

METHODS

The system based on the Fick principle uses measurements of oxygen consumption taken by a metabolic monitor and of arterial and mixed venous oxygen saturation taken by pulse- and fiberoptic oximetry to calculate cardiac output every 20s.

INTERVENTIONS

In every patient one pair of measurements was taken. Continuous Fick and thermodilution cardiac output measurements were performed simultaneously, with the examiners remaining ignorant of the results of the other method.

RESULTS

Cardiac output measurements ranged from 0.21 to 4.55 l/min. A good correlation coefficient was found: r2 = 0.98; P < 0.001; SEE = 0.41 l/min. The bias is absolute values and in percent of average cardiac output was - 0.05 l/min or - 4.4% with a precision of 0.32 l/min or 21.3% at 2 SD, respectively. The difference was most marked in a neonate with low cardiac output.

CONCLUSION

Continuous measurement of cardiac output by the Fick principle offers a convenient method for the hemodynamic monitoring of unstable infants and children.