Objective: To determine and compare biochemical reference intervals for sunshine bass (hybrid striped bass) from 3 culture systems.
Design: Observational comparison study.
Animals: Clinically normal sunshine bass (reciprocal hybrid striped bass, female Morone chrysops x male M saxatilis raised in high-density recirculating systems (80 g/L), low-density tanks (5 g/L) with biofilters, and cages (70 g/L) in a fresh water pond.
Procedure: Biochemical reference intervals were determined for fish from the different production systems following the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. Reference intervals from the 3 groups were compared.
Results: Reference intervals were significantly different between sunshine bass in the various culture systems. Though most of the differences in reference intervals were minor, fish in the high-density recirculating system had higher concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, and phosphorus, and lower chloride values. There were no significant differences in glucose concentrations among the 3 groups of fish, and no differences in cortisol concentrations between fish in tanks and cages.
Conclusions: Separate reference intervals should be developed for hybrid striped bass in different culture systems.
Clinical relevance: Determining biochemical reference intervals for hybrid striped bass provides a tool to assess the health status of these fish.