Impact of COVID-19 on aquaculture sector in Malaysia: Findings from the first national survey

Abstract Malaysian aquaculture sector consists of 391,000 t of cultivated organisms produced per year with an economic value for over USD 700 million as estimated in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a large global human pandemic and it is currently ongoing, affecting profoundly Malaysian aquaculture, which is vital for seafood provision and security assurance. Thus, to increase our understanding about how the pandemic affects aquaculture sectors is crucial to design possible management measures both at local and national level. To do it, we designed a survey, starting in May 2020, consisting of 25 online questions to collect information about the impact of COVID-19 on the aquaculture sectors in Malaysia. A total of 105 respondents (2625 answered questions) was captured within the Movement Control Order (MCO) period and later extended to the Conditional MCO (CMCO). Almost 90 % of respondents was unanimous in answering that, and COVID-19 had a heavy effect on aquaculture-related activities in Malaysia; 80 % of them indicated the market demand and logistic bottlenecks (72 %) as major constraints on their aquaculture activities. While the major option to solve aquaculture COVID-19 related issues was the use of online market or digital platforms (76 %), a large fraction of respondents requested for specific assistance to support aquaculture activities (e.g. financial support). Most respondents (93 %) was aware about the necessity of the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) provided by the relevant agencies during the MCO / CMCO. Present data are crucial to develop policy measures both at national and international level to support seafood sectors under pandemic

Testis maturation stages of mud crab (Scylla olivacea) broodstock on different diets

The aim of this study was to investigate how various diets influence testis maturation stages in mud crab (Scylla olivacea) broodstock. Morphological and histological assessments were performed in triplicate (10 male crabs each). Daily, subject crabs were fed a squid (Loligo sp.) and a fish (Decapterus sp.) diet at 5-10% of body weight. Diets were analyzed following methods from the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC). In comparison to control (wild) crabs, the two diets generally did not cause significant differences (p>0.05) in body weight, carapace width and gonadosomatic index (GSI), except in the GSI of squid-fed crabs (p<0.05). At the end of the experiment, crabs that reached Stage 3 testis maturation included were 6 fish-fed individuals and 23 squid-fed individuals. Additionally, differences in crude protein and fat levels across diets influenced the nature of male gonadal development. In conclusion, a squid diet was sufficient to induce Stage 3 testis maturation in Scylla olivacea within 60 days of culture. Our results prove the usefulness in developing appropriate feeding regimes for male Scylla olivacea broodstock

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Ovarian maturation stages of wild and captive mud crab, Scylla olivacea fed with two diets

This study was aimed to determine the ovarian maturation stages of wild and captive orange mud crab, Scylla olivacea fed with different diets via gonadosomatic status, oocyte diameter and histological examinations. Captive crabs were fed with blood cockle, Anadara granosa, or fish, Decapterus spp. Through the histological examinations, ovarian maturation stages of wild and captive S. olivacea was classified into four stages: Immature (Stage 1), Early maturing (Stage 2), Pre-maturing (Stage 3) and Fully matured (Stage 4). Gonadosomatic Index of wild and captive crabs remained low during immature and 2 but increased significantly (p<0.05) in pre-maturing and 4 ovaries. Oocytes size were significantly different (p<0.05) in all ovarian maturation stages of wild and captive crabs. Follicle cells surround the oocyte of immature ovary and small yolk globules start to appear in early maturing ovary with large nucleus size. Oocyte size increased significantly (p<0.05) and yolk globule obviously appeared in pre-maturing ovary. Large and fused yolk globules appeared in the oocytes of fully matured ovary with nucleus was barely visible. The present study revealed that, ovarian maturation stages of S. olivacea are closely related to its morphological appearance and cellular development

Effects of various microalgae on fatty acid composition and survival rate of the blue swimming crab <i>Portunus pelagicus</i> larvae

1512-1521Present study is to examine effect of various microalgae on Fatty Acid (FA) of Portunus pelagicus larvae. Larvae were subjected to five different treatments; T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. T1: rotifer and Artemia only; T2: rotifer, Artemia and Chaetoceros sp.; T3: rotifer, Artemia and Chlorella sp.; T4: rotifer, Artemia and Isochrysis sp. and T5: rotifer, Artemia and Nannochloropsis sp. Highest FA component in Zoea 3 was saturated FA group of T2 with concentration 26.06±26.23 mg/g. For monounsaturated FA group, highest FA component in Zoea 1 was T5 with concentration 9.88±0.34 mg/g. FA component in polyunsaturated FA group in Zoea 4, T4 with concentration 9.33±0.45 mg/g was highest. For survival rate, highest survival rate obtained from T4 with 10.21%±0.45. In this study, essential FA requirement in each stage of P. pelagicus larvae can be reveal. Species of microalgae suitable for larvae can be characterized and selected for hatchery purpose

Behavioural data on instar crab movement at different thermal acclimation

This article investigated how crabs responded to different culture temperatures especially dislocation before molting using a combination of large recording files and computer software. In this novel approach of video recording portunid crab behavioral data, crab culture was recorded at five different acclimation temperatures of 20, 24, 28, 32 and 36 °C. Crabs were reared until the instar stage before being acclimatized for video recording. Large video files (MPEG-TS) were then analyzed using the latest version of Solomon Coder software developed by A. Peter and programmed with Embarcadero® Delphi® XE [1]. Recorded data was analyzed by calculating and marking movements of crabs using the time sequence tool. Additionally, a total movement was counted 30 min before crabs molted from instar stage 8 to instar stage 9. Part of the data is associated with the research article “Thermal tolerance and locomotor activity of blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus instar reared at different temperatures” (Azra et al., 2018) [2] and provided here as raw data of Supplementary materials. Keywords: Recorded video, Aquaculture, Water temperatur

Digestive enzyme profiles from foregut contents of blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus from Straits of Johor, Malaysia

This study describes the digestive enzyme profiles from foregut contents of the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus (L.), from Straits of Johor, Malaysia. Adult male (mature and immature) and female (ovarian maturation stages 1–4) blue swimming crabs were assayed for the presence of digestive enzymes (protease, trypsin, amylase and lipase) in the foregut. The results show that in some instances, significant differences in enzyme activities were observed between the sexes of P. pelagicus. Protease, trypsin, and amylase were detected in all gonad maturation stages, suggesting that crabs including immature males can readily digest dietary protein and carbohydrates, but not lipids. Trypsin (except for ovarian maturation Stage 4) and lipase (ovarian maturation Stage 4 and mature male only) activities were considerably higher than amylase, indicating that dietary proteins and lipids are more important than carbohydrates and, thus, suggests a carnivorous diet. In conclusion, the changes in enzyme activities between the different maturation stages and sexes reflect natural changes in diet and feeding abilities of P. pelagicus

Optimal Water Temperature and Salinity for Production of Blue Swimming Crab, Portunus pelagicus 1st Day Juvenile Crab

A study was carried out to determine the optimal rearing conditions of the water temperature and salinity on the survival rate and molting of larvae stage until the 1st day juvenile crab (C1) of the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758). Trials were carried out at water temperature 30ºC with water salinity 30 ppt and low salinity 20 ppt, ambient water temperature between 24-28ºC with salinity 30 ppt and low salinity 20 ppt. Results of the present study shows that both water temperature and salinity significantly affected survival of the crab larvae. Replicates treated with water temperature at 30ºC with water salinity 30 ppt produced C1 juvenile with mean survival rate 0.25% ±0.21. The larvae rearing for all the other three treatments did not survive up to C1. The study shows that the zoea reached the megalopa stage in 13-14 days and reached the C1 stage in 16-17 days for the larvae rearing batch treated with water temperature at 30ºC and water salinity at 30 ppt. The study recommended that the optimal water temperature and salinity for the larvae rearing of P. pelagicus is 30ºC and 30 ppt

Growth and survival of Blue Swimming crab (portunus pelagicus) reared on frozen and artificial foods

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two frozen organism (with and without instant Nannochloropsis oculata and with and without instant encapsulated Spirulina) and artificial diet (with and without artificial encapsulated shrimp larvae feed) with live food as continues feed in the larval rearing of blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus. The larvae were conducted with six treatments and each treatment with three replications on newly one day hatched larvae in each replication. Results showed that these larvae fed with a combination diet of instant frozen N. oculata, Artemia nauplii and rotifer give a higher survival rate till 1st day juvenile crab compared to the treatment with instant encapsulated Spirulina and artificial diet (with artificial encapsulated shrimp larvae feed). One of experiments treated with encapsulated Spirulina recorded only 16 days for the zoea to reach the C1, one day earlier as compared to previous trials treated with and without instant frozen N. oculata. One of the experiments treated with artificial encapsulated shrimp larvae feed recorded 18 days for the zoea to reach the C1, 1 to 2 days longer as compared to all the previous trials earlier. Food type influenced survival, development, and metamorphosis to megalopa and 1st day juvenile crab of P. pelagicus zoea larvae. Our findings illustrate that the best survival, the most rapid development and the highest number of 1st day juvenile crabs were obtained from larvae fed with a combination diet of frozen N. oculata, Artemia nauplii and rotifer from hatching till the 1st day juvenile crab