Abstract
The stress response of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus ) to wild capture or controlled shallow water stressors was investigated. Stress associated with capture from the wild, handling and transport and shallow water evoked significant changes in circulating levels of cortisol, glucose, lactate, haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) in coral trout. Plasma glucose, Hb and Hct increased over 30 to 60Â min in response to the controlled stressor and then returned toward unstressed levels, even if the stressor persisted. Cortisol increased to maximum levels over the 60Â min following the onset of the stressor and remained elevated for 4Â h in the case of a single 30Â min shallow water event or 3Â d in response to the capture, handling and transport. The difference between the responses of blood glucose and cortisol suggests that cortisol does not maintain blood glucose during stress in coral trout. The concentrations of circulating thrombocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes were also significantly affected by shallow water stress. As lymphocytes and granulocytes are important immune components, reduced concentrations of these cells may explain the increases in disease susceptibility, commonly observed in stressed fish during live transport.
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Frisch, A., Anderson, T. The response of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) to capture, handling and transport and shallow water stress. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 23, 23–34 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007811302002
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007811302002