Biochemical composition of the hepatopancreas from the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis with different signs of hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (Brachyura, Varunidae)

Abstract

Abstract The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis is an important aquaculture species in China. Recently, hepatopancreatic albinism and necrosis have become important issues that affect the crab farming industry. In this study, live crab samples were collected from a local farm, which were further classified into four groups based on their hepatopancreatic colour, i.e., I, yellow; II, yellow-white; III, white; and, IV, shrunken and necrotic. The four groups were compared with respect to hepatosomatic index (HSI), hepatopancreas histology, as well as proximate and fatty acid compositions in the hepatopancreas. The results showed that the severity of hepatopancreatic lesions was gradually aggravated, and the HSI of Eriocheir sinensis gradually decreased as the colour of the hepatopancreas changed from normal yellow to necrosis. With changes of the hepatopancreatic colour from normal yellow to necrotic, also, the contents of total lipid, carbohydrate and some fatty acids (14:0, 16:0 and 16:1) decreased significantly, especially in group III and group IV. Also, with the increase of vacuolarization and atrophy in the hepatopancreas, the water content and the percentages of highly unsaturated fatty acids (20:5n3, 20:4n6 and 22:6n3) increased significantly. These results suggest that hepatopancreatic necrosis is closely related to the HSI, histology and biochemical composition in the hepatopancreas, which might become important indicators for the prediction of hepatopancreatic albinism and necrosis in E. sinensis.