Persistence and distribution of intravenously injected DNA in blood and organs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

In a recent study it was reported that DNA could be taken up from the feed and transferred to the blood of Atlantic salmon (Nielsen CR, Berdal KG, Bakke-McKellep AM, Holst-Jensen A, Eur Food Res Tech, 2005). In the present study the transport in blood and accumulation in some organs of intravenously injected DNA was studied. Intravenous injection was used as an alternative to feeding to ensure that the quantity of target DNA would permit a quantitative study of the distribution and degradation of the DNA in the fish. Three DNA fragments of different length were administered by injection to 40 salmon, each in a copy number of 10¹⁰. Blood and tissues were sampled at different time intervals after injection. To ensure the use of a sensitive and reliable detection system, real-time PCR methods with TaqMan chemistry were applied in this study. Target DNA was observed in blood and all investigated tissues, with peak levels observed at 0.5–1 h after injection. Some tissue samples were positive for the target DNA up to 24 h after injection. Results of the present study indicate that dietary DNA taken up in the blood may be transported to organs like liver and kidney, as well as muscle and gonads.     

Quality grading of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) by computer vision

ABSTRACT:  In this study, we present a promising method of computer vision-based quality grading of whole Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). Using computer vision, it was possible to differentiate among different quality grades of Atlantic salmon based on the external geometrical information contained in the fish images. Initially, before the image acquisition, the fish were subjectively graded and labeled into grading classes by a qualified human inspector in the processing plant. Prior to classification, the salmon images were segmented into binary images, and then feature extraction was performed on the geometrical parameters of the fish from the grading classes. The classification algorithm was a threshold-based classifier, which was designed using linear discriminant analysis. The performance of the classifier was tested by using the leave-one-out cross-validation method, and the classification results showed a good agreement between the classification done by human inspectors and by the computer vision. The computer vision-based method classified correctly 90% of the salmon from the data set as compared with the classification by human inspector. Overall, it was shown that computer vision can be used as a powerful tool to grade Atlantic salmon into quality grades in a fast and nondestructive manner by a relatively simple classifier algorithm. The low cost of implementation of today's advanced computer vision solutions makes this method feasible for industrial purposes in fish plants as it can replace manual labor, on which grading tasks still rely.     

Injection-salting of pre rigor fillets of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

ABSTRACT:  The effects of temperature (−1, 4, and 10 °C), brine concentration (12% and 25% NaCl), injection volumes, and needle densities were investigated on fillet weight gain (%), salt content (%), fillet contraction (%), and muscle gaping in pre rigor brine-injected fillets of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). Increased brine concentration (12% to 25%) significantly increased the initial (< 5 min after injection) and final contraction (24 h after injection) of pre rigor fillets. Increased brine concentration significantly reduced weight gain and increased salt content but had no significant effect on muscle gaping. The temperatures tested did not significantly affect weight gain, fillet contraction, or gaping score. Significant regressions ( P < 0.01) between the injection volume and weight gain (range: 2.5% to 15.5%) and salt content (range: 1.7% to 6.5%) were observed for injections of pre rigor fillets. Double injections significantly increased the weight gain and salt content compared to single injections. Initial fillet contraction measured 30 min after brine injection increased significantly ( P < 0.01) with increasing brine injection volume but no significant difference in the fillet contraction was observed 12 h after brine injection (range: 7.9% to 8.9%). Brine-injected post rigor control fillets obtained higher weight gain, higher salt content, more muscle gaping, and significantly lower fillet contraction compared to the pre rigor injected fillets.
Injection-salting is an applicable technology as a means to obtain satisfactory salt contents and homogenously distribute the salt into the muscle of pre rigor fillets of Atlantic salmon before further processing steps such as drying and smoking.     

Visible/near-infrared spectroscopy detects autolytic changes during storage of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Visible (VIS)/near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate spectroscopic changes occurring during storage of Atlantic salmon fillets with and without bacterial growth. A storage experiment was conducted for 11 d postmortem. Bacterial growth was inhibited by soaking a group of salmon fillets in 3 mM NaN3 prior to storage, while a control group retained its normal bacterial growth. Spectra were obtained by directly applying the spectroscopic probe onto the loin part of each fillet stored under conditions accelerating degradation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to monitor and compare spectroscopic development of the 2 groups and the results showed that VIS/NIR spectral changes occurred in the control as well as the treated group of samples within a single day after filleting. After 2 d of storage, stored samples were distinguishable from those fresh in both groups and it was only after the microbial spoilage became pronounced (8 to 9 log colony forming unit [CFU]/g) that the spectra of the spoiled control samples could be differentiated from spectra of the treated samples with no bacterial growth. Microbial growth is therefore not the only explanation for the spectral variations prior to microbial spoilage. Nonmicrobial, autolytic changes including possible changes in the physical properties are also contributing. Our results show that VIS/NIR spectroscopy can detect autolytic changes occurring in salmon muscle during the early stage of storage, independent of microbial growth. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Important spectroscopic changes occur even when microbial growth is not apparent. This indicates that VIS/NIR spectroscopy may be used to determine the degree of freshness before microbial spoilage becomes relevant.     

The Effect of Stunning Methods and Season on Muscle Texture Hardness in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Commercially collected records of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) muscle texture hardness were used to evaluate the effect of slaughter procedures and seasonality on texture quality. A database collected by Marine Harvest® contained flesh hardness records of Atlantic salmon slaughtered at processing plants in Norway from summer 2010 to summer 2011. The fish were slaughtered either by (1) percussion followed by automated bleeding (“Percussive”) or (2) live chilling with exposure to carbon dioxide (CO₂) followed by manual severing gill arches and bleeding (“CO₂”) or (3) live chilling with exposure to CO₂ followed by percussive stunning and at the end automated bleeding (“CO₂·percussive”). Hardness in salmon muscle cutlets was measured in Newtons (N) by Materials Testing Machine Zwick 500N. The hardness in salmon varied significantly over the study period (P < 0.05, mixed effect model) and showed the softest value of 21.2 (± 0.7) Newton (N) in summer 2011 and hardest 24.1 (± 0.2) N in autumn 2010. Slaughter procedures had a significant effect on salmon muscle hardness (P < 0.05, mixed effect model), where percussion followed by automated bleeding resulted in the hardest value (24.0 ± 0.4 N) as compared with CO₂ stunning (21.8 ± 0.2 N) and combination of CO₂ and percussive stunning (23.1 ± 0.15 N). CO₂ is suspected as a causal factor in accelerated postmortem softening of the salmon muscle.     

Fatty acid composition in ocean-ranched Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Summary  The difference in fat content and fatty acid composition in the muscle of one-and two-year-old ocean-ranched Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) was studied and compared using spot samples. The fat content in the muscle of 1-year-old salmon was 4.8% of wet weight, and 5.0% in 2-year-old salmon. The effect was not statistically significant. The main constituents of the fat were palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1,n-9), gadoleic acid (20:1,n-9) and erucic acid (22:1,n-9). Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were predominant among the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). There was a significant difference between the groups in relation to the content of stearic acid (18:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1,n-9) and oleic acid (18:1,n-9).     

Computer vision-based sorting of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets according to their color level

ABSTRACT:  Computer vision method was used to evaluate the color of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) fillets. Computer vision-based sorting of fillets according to their color was studied on 2 separate groups of salmon fillets. The images of fillets were captured using a digital camera of high resolution. Images of salmon fillets were then segmented in the regions of interest and analyzed in red, green, and blue (RGB) and CIE Lightness, redness, and yellowness (Lab) color spaces, and classified according to the Roche color card industrial standard. Comparisons of fillet color between visual evaluations were made by a panel of human inspectors, according to the Roche Salmo Fan™ lineal standard, and the color scores generated from computer vision algorithm showed that there were no significant differences between the methods. Overall, computer vision can be used as a powerful tool to sort fillets by color in a fast and nondestructive manner. The low cost of implementing computer vision solutions creates the potential to replace manual labor in fish processing plants with automation.     

Absence of nematodes in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Norway

In the present study, a total of 1,180 samples of muscle or viscera from Norwegian-farmed salmon (Salmo salar L.) were examined for the presence of nematode larvae. The samples represented all salmon-producing counties in Norway. The method applied was based on the degradation of fish soft tissue in an acidified pepsin enzyme solution. None of the samples examined in this study contained nematodes.     

Dietary DNA in blood and organs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the uptake of dietary DNA into blood, kidney, and liver of salmon, and to determine the DNA fragment size if dietary DNA was detected. Salmon in groups of five fish were force-fed a feed containing a high copy number of three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA fragments. Tissue samples were dissected from the fish at time intervals starting at 1 h after force-feeding (AFF) and ending at 64 h AFF. Real-time PCR analyses were used to determine the presence or absence of DNA targets. Sensitive methods amplifying small fragments were used to minimise the impact of fragmentation on the detectability of DNA targets. Uptake of dietary DNA was observed and the highest concentrations of dietary DNA in liver and kidney were found 8 h AFF. The results correspond to data published for similar trials performed on other animal species. An additional experiment showed that decontamination of the liver surface by flaming has the potential to decrease DNA contamination from, for example, feed remnants by up to 90%.     

The effects of carbon monoxide on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Atlantic salmon were exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) before the fish were percussively killed and gill cut. The fish were compared against a control group treated identically, without CO. Salmon exposed to CO expressed no adverse reactions and were easily stunned by percussion. CO-treated salmon had an earlier onset of rigor mortis and a faster decrease in muscle pH than the control group. No significant difference in drip loss was found between salmon treated with CO and the control. A significantly deeper red colour of both gills and fillets of CO-treated salmon was observed 10 days post mortem. Significantly higher levels of plasma lactate and potassium were found in CO-treated salmon compared to control, as well as a lower level of pCO₂. Exposure to CO did not increase plasma cortisol, sodium, haematocrit or glucose; however, lactate was high. Exposure of salmon or other fish to CO could improve quality and welfare when slaughtered.     

Gelatinolytic activities in muscle of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The gelatinolytic activity in muscle from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was studied using gelatin SDS‐PAGE, gelatin affinity chromatography and enzyme inhibitors. These fish species are known to differ markedly in fillet softening and gaping post mortem. Atlantic cod, which is a promising species for cold water marine aquaculture, often shows such negative properties, particularly after being well fed. Gelatinolytic activity bands were present in all three species. Using gelatin chromatography and enzyme inhibitors, both serine proteinases and metalloproteinases were detected in wolffish and cod muscle, while only the latter were found in salmon muscle. Activation of the metalloproteinases by p‐aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) resulted in a shift in activity from higher to lower molecular weight, as is known for mammalian matrix metalloproteinases. In all three species the molecular weight of the metalloproteinases was lowered from approximately 80 to about 70 kDa by activating with APMA. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Injection‐Salting and Cold‐Smoking of Farmed Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua L.) and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) at Different Stages of Rigor Mortis: Effect on Physical Properties

ABSTRACT: Processing of fish is generally conducted postrigor, but prerigor processing is associated with some potential advantages. The aim of this study was to study how 5 processing regimes of cold‐smoked cod and salmon conducted at different stages of rigor influenced yield, fillet shrinkage, and gaping. Farmed cod and salmon was filleted, salted by brine injection of 25% NaCl, and smoked for 2 h at different stages of rigor. Filleting and salting prerigor resulted in increased fillet shrinkage and less increase in weight during brine injection, which in turn was correlated to the salt content of the fillet. These effects were more pronounced in cod fillets when compared to salmon. Early processing reduced fillet gaping and fillets were evaluated as having a firmer texture. In a follow‐up trial with cod, shrinkage and weight gain during injection was studied as an effect of processing time postmortem. No changes in weight gain were observed for fillets salted the first 24 h postmortem; however, by delaying the processing 12 h postmortem, the high and rapid shrinking of cod fillets during brine injection was halved.     

The texture of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) muscle as measured instrumentally using TPA and Warner–Brazler shear test

Muscle texture measurements were performed on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) using two different instrumental methods; The Texture Profile Analysis, which is a uniaxial compression test, and the Warner–Brazler shear test. The performances of the two tests were evaluated as to their ability to differentiate between recently killed salmon and salmon stored on ice for up to 24 days. Both tests performed well, but the shear test was slightly more sensitive than the compression test. Further, salmon were either starved or fed for two weeks prior to slaughter. The muscle from fed salmon lost its strength slightly faster than that from starved salmon, but this difference was only detectable during the first two days of chilled storage. The effects of temperature, fish size and degree and mode of deformation on the instrumental test results were studied and were found to be significant. Also, the sample geometry, ie the thickness of the fillet was found to have a very significant effect on the TPA-test results. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Temporal variation in muscle fibre area,gaping, texture,colour and collagen in triploid and diploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L)

Diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon were reared for 32 months in seawater, from October 1998 to January 2000. During this period of time, four samplings were taken to study differences in quality traits and chemical components in the flesh between diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon. Season was found to be the dominant factor explaining the variation in flesh quality traits in both triploid and diploid fish. Ploidy affected the majority of investigated variables while body size had lesser impact. Triploid Atlantic salmon had fewer small muscle fibres and up to 23% larger mean cross‐sectional muscle fibre area than diploids. Triploids also displayed more gaping, softer fillet texture, lower post mortem end pH, darker (L value) and redder (a value) flesh colour, and more soluble and less insoluble collagen compared with diploid fish. No effect of ploidy was found on crude chemical composition. Furthermore, a negative relationship was found between gaping score and muscle fibre area, and a weak positive correlation was found between fibre density and texture firmness. However, when body size and sampling time was included in the statistical model, this relationship between gaping and fibre area became very weak, and the relationship between texture and fibre area was completely negated. This suggests that intra‐species variation in both texture and gaping is more related to season and body size than to average muscle fibre area size. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry