Prosjektnummer
901743
Consequences of Deviating Heart morphology in farmed salmon (DeviHeart)
Background
Cardiac morphological deviations are a prevalent phenomenon in Atlantic salmon (S. salar) aquaculture facilities. The consequences of deviating heart morphology are still largely unknown although both preliminary and published data indicate that it is not beneficial for fish welfare and health. Increased prevalence of cardiac remodelling also coincides with amplified occurrence of fatal cardiac diseases, such as cardiomyopathy syndrome, pancreas disease and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation. In short, the salmon farming industry is currently facing massive challenges with insufficient cardiac health. In turn, a healthy heart is most likely associated with improved growth, survival, welfare, and flesh quality. Naturally, all of these parameters are essential for maintaining a successful industry and to keep Norwegian salmon farming at the forefront of this thriving trade.
Thus, this project aims to gather information that yield salmon farmers better fit to establish rearing conditions that ensure robust heart morphology and function and therefore improved fish health and welfare. This will be realized by utilizing gathered knowledge about smolt production protocol from the FHF funded project ‘Varige effekter av forbedret hjertehelse hos laksesmolt (HELSMOLT)’ (FHF-901586), to design experiments on a commercial scale at different locations where varying heart morphology is ensured. Further, the project will apply advanced techniques for measuring cardiac function in relation to morphology across a range of life stages. The project leader has developed a detailed protocol for echocardiographic assessment of salmon heart morphology and function (see the project Cardiomyopathy Syndrome in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Fishing for a Cure (FishCure), funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN's project number 303150)). This approach will ensure detailed information about effects of cardiac morphological deviations on heart function and blood circulation. Lastly, epidemiological examinations will be carried out to obtain additional information about growth, mortality, health status (including immune function) and flesh quality. The project is strongly anchored in FHFs’ priorities as it seeks to improve fish health and welfare by gathering novel insights into the underlying causes of cardiac morphological deviations. This will be achieved by smolt production using different rearing protocols in the freshwater phase. Successful production of more robust smolt, will also provide experience-based improvements to current rearing practice guidelines. Additionally, the longitudinal nature of the project will ensure assessment of long term health and welfare and ultimately flesh quality.
Cardiac morphological deviations are a prevalent phenomenon in Atlantic salmon (S. salar) aquaculture facilities. The consequences of deviating heart morphology are still largely unknown although both preliminary and published data indicate that it is not beneficial for fish welfare and health. Increased prevalence of cardiac remodelling also coincides with amplified occurrence of fatal cardiac diseases, such as cardiomyopathy syndrome, pancreas disease and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation. In short, the salmon farming industry is currently facing massive challenges with insufficient cardiac health. In turn, a healthy heart is most likely associated with improved growth, survival, welfare, and flesh quality. Naturally, all of these parameters are essential for maintaining a successful industry and to keep Norwegian salmon farming at the forefront of this thriving trade.
Thus, this project aims to gather information that yield salmon farmers better fit to establish rearing conditions that ensure robust heart morphology and function and therefore improved fish health and welfare. This will be realized by utilizing gathered knowledge about smolt production protocol from the FHF funded project ‘Varige effekter av forbedret hjertehelse hos laksesmolt (HELSMOLT)’ (FHF-901586), to design experiments on a commercial scale at different locations where varying heart morphology is ensured. Further, the project will apply advanced techniques for measuring cardiac function in relation to morphology across a range of life stages. The project leader has developed a detailed protocol for echocardiographic assessment of salmon heart morphology and function (see the project Cardiomyopathy Syndrome in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Fishing for a Cure (FishCure), funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN's project number 303150)). This approach will ensure detailed information about effects of cardiac morphological deviations on heart function and blood circulation. Lastly, epidemiological examinations will be carried out to obtain additional information about growth, mortality, health status (including immune function) and flesh quality. The project is strongly anchored in FHFs’ priorities as it seeks to improve fish health and welfare by gathering novel insights into the underlying causes of cardiac morphological deviations. This will be achieved by smolt production using different rearing protocols in the freshwater phase. Successful production of more robust smolt, will also provide experience-based improvements to current rearing practice guidelines. Additionally, the longitudinal nature of the project will ensure assessment of long term health and welfare and ultimately flesh quality.
Hovedmål
Å belyse kort- og langtids konsekvenser av avvikende hjerteutvikling hos oppdrettet laks.
Delmål
1. Å dokumentere kritisk utviklingsfase og langtids implikasjoner av ulike protokoller for rogn- og smoltproduksjon på hjertemorfologi.
2. Å dokumentere langtids implikasjoner av avvikende hjertemorfologi for hjertefunksjon og blodsirkulasjon gjennom en produksjonssyklus.
3. Å dokumentere kort- og langtids konsekvenser av ulike smoltproduksjonsprotokoller for fiskehelse, velferd og produksjon.
Objectives
Main objective
To elucidate short- and long-term consequences of deviating cardiac remodelling in farmed salmon.
Sub-objectives
1. To determine the critical developmental phase and long-term implications of egg and smolt protocol on heart morphology.
2. To determine long-term implications of deviating heart morphology for cardiac function and blood circulation during a production cycle.
3. To determine short- and long-term consequences of differing smolt protocol for fish health, welfare and performance.
Å belyse kort- og langtids konsekvenser av avvikende hjerteutvikling hos oppdrettet laks.
Delmål
1. Å dokumentere kritisk utviklingsfase og langtids implikasjoner av ulike protokoller for rogn- og smoltproduksjon på hjertemorfologi.
2. Å dokumentere langtids implikasjoner av avvikende hjertemorfologi for hjertefunksjon og blodsirkulasjon gjennom en produksjonssyklus.
3. Å dokumentere kort- og langtids konsekvenser av ulike smoltproduksjonsprotokoller for fiskehelse, velferd og produksjon.
Objectives
Main objective
To elucidate short- and long-term consequences of deviating cardiac remodelling in farmed salmon.
Sub-objectives
1. To determine the critical developmental phase and long-term implications of egg and smolt protocol on heart morphology.
2. To determine long-term implications of deviating heart morphology for cardiac function and blood circulation during a production cycle.
3. To determine short- and long-term consequences of differing smolt protocol for fish health, welfare and performance.
Expected project impact
The consequences of deviating heart morphology are still largely unknown although both preliminary and published data indicate that it is not beneficial for fish welfare, health or performance. Increased prevalence of cardiac deviations also coincide with amplified occurrence of fatal cardiac diseases, such as cardiomyopathy syndrome, pancreas disease and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation. In short, the salmon farming industry is currently facing massive challenges with insufficient cardiac health. In turn, a healthy heart is most likely associated with improved growth, survival, welfare, and flesh quality. Naturally, all of these parameters are essential for maintaining a successful industry and to keep Norwegian salmon farming at the forefront of this thriving trade. Thus, the current project aims to gather information that yield salmon farmers better fit to establish rearing conditions that ensure robust heart morphology and function and therefore improved health and welfare.
The consequences of deviating heart morphology are still largely unknown although both preliminary and published data indicate that it is not beneficial for fish welfare, health or performance. Increased prevalence of cardiac deviations also coincide with amplified occurrence of fatal cardiac diseases, such as cardiomyopathy syndrome, pancreas disease and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation. In short, the salmon farming industry is currently facing massive challenges with insufficient cardiac health. In turn, a healthy heart is most likely associated with improved growth, survival, welfare, and flesh quality. Naturally, all of these parameters are essential for maintaining a successful industry and to keep Norwegian salmon farming at the forefront of this thriving trade. Thus, the current project aims to gather information that yield salmon farmers better fit to establish rearing conditions that ensure robust heart morphology and function and therefore improved health and welfare.
Av biologiske årsaker vil oppstart av prosjektet være først 1.12.2022.
Project design and implementation
Due to biological reasons the project will not start until 1 December 2022.
Different groups of smolt will be created through collaboration with Flatanger Settefisk A/S and will include:
1. long smoltification protocol (15 months) under natural temperature (low) and light regime (varying day-length);
2. commercial smolt protocol resembling common rearing conditions in Norwegian salmon aquaculture, eg. relatively high temperatures and continuous light;
3. long (cold) egg incubation time mimicking the natural time period before hatching;
4. short (warm) egg incubation time resembling the most frequently occurring protocols in the current industry.
The project consists of the following work packages (WPs):
WP1: Does egg incubation and smolt protocol determine heart morphology throughout the life cycle?
Responsible: Ida Beitnes Johansen, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)/ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Samples will be retrieved from all groups during the freshwater phase to evaluate heart development and morphology. Groups with clear differences will in addition be monitored throughout the entire production cycle to gather longitudinal knowledge about how cardiac morphological deviations in early life affect health during the entire lifetime. A subset of individuals will in addition be pit-tagged and undergo thorough non-invasive examinations to evaluate their health status before sea transfer. Groups will be transferred to several sea locations. Following sea transfer, further samplings will occur in about six months intervals. Examinations will include assessment of gross heart morphology, histology, magnetic resonance imaging and advanced microscopy. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) will provide data about muscle fiber orientation, which is important for proper contractile function of the myocardium, and detailed information about internal chamber dimensions i.e. wall thickness and ratio between compact and spongious myocardium. Advanced microscopy will be applied to assess information about cardiomyocyte and extracellular matrix remodeling in the different rearing groups.
WP2: Does deviating heart morphology affect cardiac function and blood circulation?
Responsible: Michael Frisk, Oslo University Hospital (OUS)/ Institute for Experimental Medical Research
WP2 will focus on linking cardiac morphology and function using echocardiography. Protocols comprise detailed morphological assessment of cardiac dimensions in 2D and M(motion)-mode. In addition, the protocols enable detailed functional analysis of both systolic (contractile) and diastolic (relaxation) characteristics. Functional analyses include M-mode, blood flow velocity and strain measurements. To obtain population data, echocardiography will be performed in the majority of all individuals sampled at sea for WP1. In addition, approximately 100 fish from each of the selected experimental groups in WP1 will be screened and pit-tagged immediately prior to sea transfer. At this stage they are large enough to tolerate pit-tagging (enables re-identification at slaughter (at the latest)) and for assessment of how cardiac function in early life influences growth, health status, blood circulation, and flesh quality at an individual level.
WP3: What are the long-term consequences of different egg and smolt protocols for fish welfare, health and performance?
Responsible: Marit Stormoen, NMBU/ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
The perhaps most important parameters concerning fish performance will be addressed in this WP, namely fish welfare and health. Production data (stocking numbers, feed conversion, biomass, cause-specific mortality, environmental information etc., routinely collected by Bjørøya and Emilsen Fisk) will be retrieved and coupled with information from all sampling points in WP1 and WP2. Information from fish health registrations about diseases and treatments will also be incorporated together with assessments of prevalence and severity of wounds (Per A. Andersen and Aofie Westgård). Wound assessment will be performed at mandatory veterinary health inspections and during all sampling points in coordination with the project ‘Biologisk prøvetaking. Kjønnsmodning hos oppdrettslaks’ coordinated by Marin Konsulent AS on behalf of local salmon farming companies.
Lastly, flesh quality will be examined in all fish sampled during the seawater stage and in a subset of slaughtered individuals. Marin Konsulent and Emilsen Fisk will perform this task and coordinate sampling at slaughter with the project mentioned above. The combined epidemiological data will be analyzed by multilevel regression models developed by Marit Stormoen with the aim to evaluate associations between cardiac morphology and function and production parameters such as mortality, wounds/skin health and slaughter quality.
Project design and implementation
Due to biological reasons the project will not start until 1 December 2022.
Different groups of smolt will be created through collaboration with Flatanger Settefisk A/S and will include:
1. long smoltification protocol (15 months) under natural temperature (low) and light regime (varying day-length);
2. commercial smolt protocol resembling common rearing conditions in Norwegian salmon aquaculture, eg. relatively high temperatures and continuous light;
3. long (cold) egg incubation time mimicking the natural time period before hatching;
4. short (warm) egg incubation time resembling the most frequently occurring protocols in the current industry.
The project consists of the following work packages (WPs):
WP1: Does egg incubation and smolt protocol determine heart morphology throughout the life cycle?
Responsible: Ida Beitnes Johansen, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)/ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Samples will be retrieved from all groups during the freshwater phase to evaluate heart development and morphology. Groups with clear differences will in addition be monitored throughout the entire production cycle to gather longitudinal knowledge about how cardiac morphological deviations in early life affect health during the entire lifetime. A subset of individuals will in addition be pit-tagged and undergo thorough non-invasive examinations to evaluate their health status before sea transfer. Groups will be transferred to several sea locations. Following sea transfer, further samplings will occur in about six months intervals. Examinations will include assessment of gross heart morphology, histology, magnetic resonance imaging and advanced microscopy. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) will provide data about muscle fiber orientation, which is important for proper contractile function of the myocardium, and detailed information about internal chamber dimensions i.e. wall thickness and ratio between compact and spongious myocardium. Advanced microscopy will be applied to assess information about cardiomyocyte and extracellular matrix remodeling in the different rearing groups.
WP2: Does deviating heart morphology affect cardiac function and blood circulation?
Responsible: Michael Frisk, Oslo University Hospital (OUS)/ Institute for Experimental Medical Research
WP2 will focus on linking cardiac morphology and function using echocardiography. Protocols comprise detailed morphological assessment of cardiac dimensions in 2D and M(motion)-mode. In addition, the protocols enable detailed functional analysis of both systolic (contractile) and diastolic (relaxation) characteristics. Functional analyses include M-mode, blood flow velocity and strain measurements. To obtain population data, echocardiography will be performed in the majority of all individuals sampled at sea for WP1. In addition, approximately 100 fish from each of the selected experimental groups in WP1 will be screened and pit-tagged immediately prior to sea transfer. At this stage they are large enough to tolerate pit-tagging (enables re-identification at slaughter (at the latest)) and for assessment of how cardiac function in early life influences growth, health status, blood circulation, and flesh quality at an individual level.
WP3: What are the long-term consequences of different egg and smolt protocols for fish welfare, health and performance?
Responsible: Marit Stormoen, NMBU/ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
The perhaps most important parameters concerning fish performance will be addressed in this WP, namely fish welfare and health. Production data (stocking numbers, feed conversion, biomass, cause-specific mortality, environmental information etc., routinely collected by Bjørøya and Emilsen Fisk) will be retrieved and coupled with information from all sampling points in WP1 and WP2. Information from fish health registrations about diseases and treatments will also be incorporated together with assessments of prevalence and severity of wounds (Per A. Andersen and Aofie Westgård). Wound assessment will be performed at mandatory veterinary health inspections and during all sampling points in coordination with the project ‘Biologisk prøvetaking. Kjønnsmodning hos oppdrettslaks’ coordinated by Marin Konsulent AS on behalf of local salmon farming companies.
Lastly, flesh quality will be examined in all fish sampled during the seawater stage and in a subset of slaughtered individuals. Marin Konsulent and Emilsen Fisk will perform this task and coordinate sampling at slaughter with the project mentioned above. The combined epidemiological data will be analyzed by multilevel regression models developed by Marit Stormoen with the aim to evaluate associations between cardiac morphology and function and production parameters such as mortality, wounds/skin health and slaughter quality.
Dissemination of project results
Workshops with collaborators and users involved in the project will be organized. In particular, the extensive portfolio of related on-going projects among the consortium participants calls for a joint workshop on cardiac morphology and health to gather stakeholders and the research community for knowledge transfer and networking. The ultimate beneficiaries of the project results are the salmon farmers who have the best prerequisites to implement the project results and solutions as they see fit. The output is anticipated to reach a wide range of potential users, including aquaculture veterinarians and all aquaculture facilities from hatchery to sea cage. Project results will be shared with the scientific community and the aquaculture industry at national and international meeting places for fish health and welfare. The project group has previously attended and presented their research at such arenas, including the Tekna Frisk Fisk conference and the HAVBRUK conference. In addition to these national conferences, project results will be presented at the Aquaculture Europe conference to reach a broader scientific and user audience. Moreover, the results should not only attract aquaculture researchers, but also comparative physiologists, cardiologists, immunologists, endocrinologists and even researchers in biomedicine. To influence relevant scientific communities, the results will also be presented at conferences organized by for example The Scandinavian Physiological Society and The Society for Experimental Biology that are already heavily featuring researchers from a broad range of disciplines. Importantly, results will be published in both general and specialized scientific journals, preferably full open access journals.
Workshops with collaborators and users involved in the project will be organized. In particular, the extensive portfolio of related on-going projects among the consortium participants calls for a joint workshop on cardiac morphology and health to gather stakeholders and the research community for knowledge transfer and networking. The ultimate beneficiaries of the project results are the salmon farmers who have the best prerequisites to implement the project results and solutions as they see fit. The output is anticipated to reach a wide range of potential users, including aquaculture veterinarians and all aquaculture facilities from hatchery to sea cage. Project results will be shared with the scientific community and the aquaculture industry at national and international meeting places for fish health and welfare. The project group has previously attended and presented their research at such arenas, including the Tekna Frisk Fisk conference and the HAVBRUK conference. In addition to these national conferences, project results will be presented at the Aquaculture Europe conference to reach a broader scientific and user audience. Moreover, the results should not only attract aquaculture researchers, but also comparative physiologists, cardiologists, immunologists, endocrinologists and even researchers in biomedicine. To influence relevant scientific communities, the results will also be presented at conferences organized by for example The Scandinavian Physiological Society and The Society for Experimental Biology that are already heavily featuring researchers from a broad range of disciplines. Importantly, results will be published in both general and specialized scientific journals, preferably full open access journals.