key: cord-1002160-pig9u5p8 authors: Shun, Cheng; Yong-yi, Jia; Mei-li, Chi; Shi-li, Liu; Jian-bo, Zheng; Dan-li, Wang; Zhi-min, Gu title: The exploration of artificial incubation of Cherax quadricarinatus eggs date: 2020-06-05 journal: Aquaculture DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735576 sha: 44028c7a3492b206f9d59c43f0810a7bbb5b8114 doc_id: 1002160 cord_uid: pig9u5p8 The redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, is an economically valuable freshwater crayfish. However, some production obstacles, such as a low egg hatching rate and asynchronous hatching, are hindering its development in the aquaculture industry. Artificial incubation of eggs may solve these problems. This study explored the technology of artificial incubation of redclaw crayfish eggs. The following results were obtained: 1) 75% alcohol as a disinfectant for 60 s had a preferable antibacterial effect and promoted the hatching rate; 2) densities of 300 and 600 eggs/incubator resulted in significantly higher hatching and survival rates than a density of 900 eggs/incubator; 3) at a density of 600 eggs/incubator, the optimum number of net pieces for attachment of freshly hatched juveniles was 20 per incubator; 4) with a density of 600 eggs/incubator and 20 net pieces/incubator, the hatching rate was 82.05% ± 4.09%, the survival rate was 55.12% ± 7.51%, and a total of 129,200 SPF (specific pathogen-free) seedlings were cultivated. This artificial incubation system was maintained at close to an aseptic state, with an absence of white spot virus, iridovirus, Vibrio and ciliates; this was true for all water sources used and for incubation of both eggs and juvenile crayfish. In conclusion, if we implement reasonable methods of disinfection, SPF detection and pathogen isolation and utilize optimal egg densities and incubation systems, large-scale production of SPF seedlings of Cherax quadricarinatus is possible. 3 / 23 production of animals free from aphanomycosis (Jose et al., 1999; Edgerton, 1999; . The development of this technology for the purpose of crayfish production has long attracted attention from scientists and aquaculturists in many countries (Jones et al., 2020) . In China, Zhu et al. (2002) first tried to hatch the eggs of Procambarus clarkii in vitro, but their results showed significantly lower hatchability in artific ially incubated eggs compared to those attached to maternal pleopods. In the 21st century, researchers have successfully conducted a multitude of studies on artificial incubation of crayfish eggs and have achieved breakthroughs in disinfectants, incubation methods, the incubation system, and other components. In terms of disinfectants, most studies have shown that formaldehyde (1500 ppm -4500 ppm, administered every 2-3 days for 15-25 min) can greatly control the growth of fungi, kill parasites and improve hatchability (Celada et al., 2004; Melendre et al., 2006; Melendre et al., 2007; Royuela et al., 2009; Antonín et al., 2010) . However, there is concern about the user safety of formaldehyde because of its suspected carcinogenicity and its potential adverse effects on the aquatic environment (Arndt et al., 2001) . The common disinfectant 75% alcohol can inactivate most bacteria and viruses (Lio-Po et al., 1982; Wang et al., 2013) , including coronavirus . Therefore, it is necessary to study it as a disinfectant in artificial incubation of crayfish eggs. In terms of incubation methods and systems, Brian et al. (2001) The aim of this study is to explore the technology of artificial incubation of redclaw crayfish eggs through the selection of disinfectants and the optimization of the technological process. The results will allow for establishment of an SPF (specific pathogen-free) seedling generation technology that is suitable for production of C. quadricarinatus free of certain pathogens. The process of artificial incubation includes dis infection, in vitro incubation, SPF detection and pathogen isolation. Eggs were obtained from C. quadricarinatus berried females at the Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China. 805 females were employed (weight 69.15±11.04 g, body length 108.53±12.44 mm, abdominal length 53.75±4.15 mm). All females of their first spawning, and they're all the same age, egg quality at the starting point was similar. The incubation system consisted of four main components: a ZISS incubator (from the company of Zissaqua in Korea, volume: 500 ml), an ozone sterilizer (power: 130 w, ozone production: 5 g/L), an incubation tank (100 × 40 × 40 cm) and a greenhouse pool (area 13 m 2 ) with a natural gas pipeline and inflation pipe to allow the water in the pool to be heated. The ZISS incubator was the core component of the device; it was able to keep the eggs in a continuous rolling state with controllable dynamic water flow through the principle of gravity. The eggs in the ZISS incubator was exchanged every other day. (e) Sucker. (f) Airstone. Arrows display water inlet, water outlet and oxygen charging route in the ZISS incubator. The eggs were carefully separated from the pleopods using comb to gently but firmly strip the eggs from the ovigerous setae to which they are attached and directly into a culture dish, and sterilized with different disinfectants. 18 females were employed, the eggs in each incubator from 2 females. Three treatments were tested: -sterile water for 60 s as a control. -2000 ppm formaldehyde for 15 min. -75% alcohol for 60 s. Then, the eggs were washed with sterile water twice, and 10 eggs from each group were J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Journal Pre-proof ground with 200 µl of sterile water. The ground eggs were diluted 100 times and then cultured on blood agar (for detection of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria) and TCBS (mainly for the detection of Vibrio). After 24 hours, the number of bacteria was counted to determine the bacteriostatic effect. The remaining eggs were placed in the incubator. The water used for incubation was disinfected with ozone, and the eggs were disinfected with 75% alcohol for 60 s every other day until hatching began. The incubation water temperature was maintained at 28-30°C. After hatching, the number of stage 1 juveniles was quantified. The hatching rate (hatching rate = number of juveniles in stage 1/number of eggs) was determined. Three parallel experiments were performed under each disinfectant condition. The eggs were separated from the comb and sterilized with 75% alcohol for different disinfection times. 24 females were employed, the eggs in each incubator from 2 females. Four disinfection times were tested: -75% alcohol for 10 s, 30 s, 60 s and 90 s. Then, the eggs were washed twice with sterile water, and 10 eggs from each group were used to determine the bacteriostatic effect following the detection steps used in experiment 1. The remaining eggs were incubated following the same steps used in experiment 1. Finally, the hatching rate was determined. Three parallel experiments were performed for each disinfection time. The eggs were separated from the comb and sterilized with 75% alcohol for 60 s. The sterilized eggs were washed with sterile oxygen-rich water and placed in the incubator. 18 females were employed, the eggs in each incubator from 1-3 females. Three densities were tested: -300, 600 and 900 eggs/incubator. The incubation protocol was the same as that used in experiment 1. Finally, the numbers of stage 1 and stage 3 juveniles were quantified. The hatching rate and survival rate (survival rate = number of stage 3 juveniles /number of eggs) were determined. Three parallel experiments were performed for each egg density. The eggs were separated from the comb and then sterilized with 75% alcohol for 60 s. The sterilized eggs were washed with sterile oxygen-rich water and placed in the incubator at a density of 600 eggs/incubator. Twelve incubators were used, and net pieces (2.0 × 2.0 cm) were added to each incubator in advance. 24 females were employed, the eggs in each incubator from 2 females. Four numbers of net pieces were tested: -0, 15, 20 and 25 net pieces per incubator. The incubation protocol was the same as that used in experiment 1. Finally, the numbers of stage 1 and stage 3 juveniles were quantified. The hatching and survival rates were determined. Three parallel experiments were performed for each number of net pieces. All eggs were separated from the comb and sterilized with 75% alcohol for 60 s. The J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Journal Pre-proof sterilized eggs were washed with sterile oxygen-rich water and placed in the incubator. 721 females were employed, the eggs in each incubator from 2 females. Finally, the numbers of stage 1 and stage 3 juveniles were quantified. The hatching and survival rates were determined. We performed SPF detection on breeding crayfish, eggs and incubation water before and after disinfection; eggs and water during incubation; and stage 1 and stage 3 juveniles. At the same time, the eggs, water, newly hatched crayfish (stage 1 juveniles) and free mobile crayfish (stage 3 juveniles) during maternal incubation were tested as the control. The detection methods were based on the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) list of shrimp-related diseases and China entry exit inspection and quarantine industry standards. In addition to the common diseases of the redclaw crayfish, we detected white spot virus, iridescent virus, Vibrio, ciliate and other colonies; these data can help prevent and isolate the invasion of epidemic diseases. All incubation devices should be kept in a closed area. Incubation water should be sterilized regularly by an ozone sterilizer and should be isolated from other pollution sources. Possible cross-infection should be avoided, and persons should not enter the closed incubation area during the cultivation period. Strict disinfection procedures should be carried out to avoid an epidemic. The results of the bacteriostatic test showed that disinfection with 75% alcohol for 60 s had the best antibacterial effect, and eggs under that condition did not carry Vibrio (Fig. 2 ). After 7 days of incubation, the eggs hatched with the following hatching rates: sterile water (65.29 ± 6.20)%, 75% alcohol (88.11 ± 2.76)%, 2000 ppm formaldehyde (89.16 ± 5.08)%. The hatching rates of the eggs disinfected with 2000 ppm formaldehyde and 75% alcohol were significantly higher than that of the eggs disinfected with sterile water (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between 2000 ppm formaldehyde and 75% alcohol (P>0.05) (Fig. 2) . The results showed that 75% alcohol for 60 s and 90 s had better antibacterial effects than the other disinfectants (Fig. 3) . After 7 days of incubation, the eggs hatched with the following The hatching rate of the eggs disinfected with 75% alcohol for 60 s was significantly higher than that for the eggs disinfected with 75% alcohol for 10 s (P<0.05), and there were no significant differences between the other groups (P>0.05) (Fig. 3) . The results showed that eggs hatched after 7 days of incubation and that the eggs developed to stage 3 juveniles after 16 days. The hatching rates were as follows: 900 eggs/incubator ( between the densities of 300 and 600 eggs/incubator (P>0.05) (Fig. 4) . The results showed that eggs hatched after 7 days of incubation and that the eggs developed to stage 3 juveniles after 16 days. The hatching rates were as follows: 0 net pieces ( the groups with 15, 20 and 25 net pieces (P>0.05), but the rates were significantly higher for all of those groups compared to that with 0 net pieces (P<0.05). The hatching and survival rates of the group with 20 net pieces were highest when the density was 600 eggs/incubator (Fig. 5) On the basis of previous experiments, we carried out large-scale experiments. The eggs were sterilized with 75% alcohol for 60 s, washed with sterile oxygen-rich water and placed in the incubator. During incubation, the water was disinfected with ozone, and the eggs were disinfected with 75% alcohol for 60 s every other day. The results showed that the eggs developed to be stage 3 juveniles after 12-16 days. The hatching and survival rates were 82.05±4.09% and 55.12±7.51%, respectively, and a total of 129,200 SPF seedlings were cultivated (Fig. 6) . The results of SPF detection showed that in the process of hatching in vitro, the water, eggs and juvenile crayfish were all close to an aseptic state and did not carry white spot virus, iridovirus, Vibrio and ciliates, indicating that the measures of disinfection and isolation of external bacteria were appropriate. There are four key components to the process of artificial incubation: the disinfectant, egg density, incubator, and incubation management. Saprolegnia and other related oomycetes are serious problems for incubated crayfish eggs and can result in 100% mortality . The principle means of addressing this problem in previous reports were chemical antifungal baths or removal of dead and infected eggs (Kouba et al., 2010) . Although the periodic removal of dead eggs had a positive effect on the hatching rate J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Journal Pre-proof by reducing fungal growth, it was laborious, and manipulation could cause damage to healthy eggs (Celada et al. 2004; González et al, 2011) . Thus, the antifungal treatments used in this study were combinations of chemical antifungal baths, disinfection of incubation water and periodic removal of dead eggs. We used 75% alcohol for 60 s as the chemical antifungal bath every other day up to the beginning of hatching, and the water for incubation was disinfected with ozone. We took advantage of the small s ize, light weight and easy operation of the incubator to regularly gently pour off the dead eggs floating on the upper layer of the water surface of the incubator. In contrast, most prior studies used formaldehyde for chemical antifungal baths (Celada et al., 2004; Melendre et al., 2006; Melendre et al., 2007; Royuela et al., 2009; Antonín et al., 2010) . Furthermore, Lio-Po et al. (1982) reported that alcohol was mycostatic at very high concentrations. The results of this study showed that 75% alcohol for 60 s is an effective alternative chemical antifungal bath to formaldehyde. Second, we examined egg density. Celada et al. (2004) reported that the efficiency rates obtained in their experiments were greatly affected by egg density. Royuela et al. (2009) reported that dead crayfish eggs were a good substrate for Saprolegnia spp. and other oomycetes. Hyphae were capable of spreading from infected eggs to surrounding healthy ones, and this was a greater issue at higher egg densities. In agreement with the results of Celada et al. (2004) and Royuela et al. (2009) , this study showed that the hatching and survival rates using egg densities of 300 and "fan" the eggs; this provides a constant source of freshwater and associated oxygen to the eggs. Therefore, we used a suspension system to suspend the eggs within a column of moving water. We considered this system to be effective because it allowed for good provisioning of freshwater and oxygen to the eggs and separated the eggs from surfaces that could encourage bacterial or parasitic infections. Additionally, the incubation system used in this study kept the eggs in a continuous rolling state with controllable dynamic water flow through the principle of gravity. Last, incubation management was another important factor for the success of incubation. We focused on the two following points. First, disinfection of eggs and incubation water and periodic removal of dead eggs guaranteed successful incubation. Second, infected eggs consistently became core areas of clusters of freshly hatched juveniles, which is the most likely explanation for their consequent deaths. Crayfish hatchlings naturally tend to attach to the setae of maternal pleopods (Vogt & Tolley 2004) , but this substrate is not available under artificial incubation. Therefore, utilizing an appropriate number of net pieces is critical. In this study, there were moldy eggs in the core areas of clusters of freshly hatched juveniles only found in 0 net pieces groups. Besides, the survival rates of 15, 20 and 25 net pieces groups were significantly higher than 0 net pieces group (P<0.05). We speculate that this was because the aggregation of stage 1 juveniles after hatching, resulting in the anoxic death of other eggs or juveniles, or the hatching was not freshly hatched juveniles, Fungal (i.e., Psorospermum) and bacterial infections along with protozoan (i.e., Epistylis) and metazoan parasites are restricted to the outside of the egg. Therefore, if eggs are stripped from the female and their outer surfaces are sterilized, they can be incubated separately from the mother to produce juveniles that are specific pathogen-free (SPF) (Rudge et al. 2007) . Rudge et al. (2007) reported that female crayfish did not pass viruses to their eggs; rather, the viruses were transferred after the eggs hatched or, more specifically, once the juveniles began to feed. Therefore, the production of SPF seedlings can control the spread of disease from the seedling source, which can improve the safety of germplasm conservation and improve seedling quality. In view of this, we examined artific ial incubation technology for C. quadricarinatus eggs and applied this technology in the large-scale production of SPF seedlings with positive results. We also discovered that the incubation synchronization of SPF seedlings cultured with the incubation technology was high. This is beneficial for production because all the juveniles can easily be released into the ponds at the same weight and age, resulting in less cannibalism and precise knowledge of the number of juveniles being stocked in each pond. The market for redclaw is growing, so better hatchery management are required (Ghanawi et al., 2012) . Future research needs to scale up the approach to a commercial level. We should combine aquatic knowledge with physical and mechanical knowledge, Besides, it is better to effectively simulate the wafting of the egg-bearing pleopods of the female crayfish. The AquaVerde Incubator described in the Jones et al.(2020) paper may be a good choice. J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f In this study, we determined a reasonable disinfection method (75% alcohol for 60 s every other day up to the beginning of hatching), egg density (600 eggs/incubator), incubation method (disinfecting the water for incubation with ozone for 2 h every other day; exchanging the water in the tank every other day; and using 20 net pieces/incubator for attachment) and incubation system (with a ZISS incubator as the core component). We also achieved SPF detection and pathogen isolation (close to an aseptic state and free of white spot virus, iridovirus, Vibrio and ciliates), and a total of 129,200 SPF seedlings were cultivated. This is the first application of this artificial incubation system in the breeding of the redclaw crayfish and the preservation of new germplasm. 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