Effects of common salt, vitamin C and taurine on transportation-induced HSP70 levels in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

The transportation of fish from farm to farm, farms to markets, and farms to homes are necessary stressful practices in aquaculture, hence the need to look for how to mitigate its impact. The present study investigated the effects of common salt, vitamin C and taurine administered through fish water on transportation-induced stress using shock protein 70 (heat shock protein 70 or HSP70) as a biomarker of stress. Group I contained the control and not transported fish and Group II contained the transported fish without common salt, vitamin C or taurine in fish water while Groups III, IV, and V contained the transported fish with common salt (6 gL^-1), vitamin C (200 mgL^-1), and taurine (200 mgL^-1), respectively. There was significant (p<0.05) decline in HSP70 levels in the transported fish. However, significantly (p<0.05) elevated HSP70 levels occurred in fish transported with common salt and vitamin C but no significant (p>0.05) changes occurred in HSP70 levels of fish transported with taurine. There should be cautious use of common salt and vitamin C administration via the fish water for live fish transportation.