Residual 17β-Estradiol Levels in Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792)) Fry from Hormonal Sex Reversal Practices in a Small-Scale Thai Farm

Prisna Pianjing; Chongdee Thammakhet-Buranachai; Deki Deki; Thongsook  Payanan

Authors

Prisna Pianjing Public Health Program, College of Allied Health Science, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram, 75000 Thailand
Chongdee Thammakhet-Buranachai Division of Physical Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90110 Thailand
Deki Deki Center of Excellence for Trace Analysis and Biosensor, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90110 Thailand
Thongsook Payanan Bureau of Quality and Safety of Food Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, 11000 Thailand

Keywords:

17β-estradiol, Anabas testudineus, Small-scale farm, Thailand

Abstract

Several small farms in Thailand mix 17β-estradiol (E2) with fish feed and rear Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792) fry for 21–28 d to obtain the female mono-sex. It is important to study the residues of hormones in A. testudineus to monitor the hormone residues derived from real farms. This study aims to investigate the residues of E2 in A. testudineus fry grown in cement tanks on a small farm in Thailand at 3 distinct times (April, June, and November) and the different of survival, length and weight were investigated. Three tanks were set as the control groups (AC) and 3 tanks were set as hormonal treatment groups (AH). Fish in the ponds were administered the hormone by mixing it into the feed at a rate of 60 mg/kg of feed. The fish samples were collected on the last day of hormone treatments in each month which were on day 21 except in November, the fish samples were collected on day 28. After 24 h of hormone withdrawal, the fish samples were collected to investigate the survival rate, weight, length, and hormone residues. The results showed significant differences in the length and weight of fish between the hormonal treatment group and the control group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the survival rate of the hormonal treatment group and the control group. The residual hormone levels in fish samples collected on the last days in the AH groups showed high variation among rearing tanks and the hormone levels ranged from undetectable (ND) – 1575 ng/g while the hormone could not be detected in the AC groups. The highest hormone residue in a fish sample was observed in November. After hormone withdrawal for 24 h, the residual hormone could not be detected in all treatments. This research demonstrates that discontinuing the use of sex-inducing hormones at the appropriate time effectively reduces hormone residues in the fish. Appropriate reduction of hormone use in sex reversal not only lowers hormone consumption in agriculture but also minimizes residual accumulation in the environment.

References

Deki, D., Makkliang, F., Pianjing, P., Kanatharana, P., Thavarungkul, P., & Thammakhet-Buranachai, C. (2023). Natural Luffa cylindrica sponge sorbent for the solid phase extraction of estrone, 17-β-estradiol, and testosterone in aquaculture water. Microchemical Journal, 191, 108892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2023.108892

Fishery Statistics Group. (2023). Statistics of freshwater aquaculture production 2022 (No.9/2023). https://www4.fisheries.go.th/local/file_document/20230725093333_1_file.pdf

Hoga, C.A., Almeida, F.L., & Reyes, F.G.R. (2018). A review on the use of hormones in fish farming: Analytical methods to determine their residues. CyTa-Journal of Food, 16(1), 679–691. https://doi.org/10.1080/19476337.2018.1475423.

Jul-a-dung, S. & Komanpririn K. (2007). Study of 17β-estradiol hormone on feminization of climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792). Technical Paper No. 7/2007. https://www4.fisheries.go.th/local/pic_activities/201702210854015_pic.pdf.

Khatun, D., Hossain, M.Y., Rahman, M.A., Islam, M.A., Rahman, O., Kalam Azad, M.A., ... Hossain, M.A. (2019). Life-history traits of the climbing perch Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792) in a wetland ecosystem. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 12(2), 175–182.

Khatun, P., Saha, P., Islam, M.Z., Islam, A., Islam, M.A., & Islam, P. (2024). The reality of the use of growth hormones in fish (Rui (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla), and Monosex Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production. Current Research in Food Science, 8, 100709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2024.100709

Kuanha C., Payanan T. & Kaewklapanyacharoen, L. (2018). Method development and validation of hormone residues determination in meat by LC-MS/MS. Bulletin of The Department of Medical Sciences, 60(2), 54–68.

Liu, S.S., Li, Y.F., Ning, J.J., Xu, L., Wang, L.G., Huang, D.L., ... Du, F.Y. (2024). Occurrence, Bioaccumulation, and potential risks of steroid hormones in freshwater aquaculture ponds in South China. Water, 16(20), 2872. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16202872

Mustakim, M., Anggoro, S., Purwanti, F., & Haeruddin. (2020). Food habits and trophic level of Anabas testudineus in floodplain lake, Lake Semayang, East Kalimantan. E3S Web of Conferences, 147, 02024. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202014702024

Pandian, T.J., & Sheela, S.G. (1995). Hormonal induction of sex reversal in fish. Aquaculture, 138 (1–4), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/0044-8486(95)01075-0

Pianjing, P. (2021). Utilization of steroid hormones in agriculture: The residues in food and environment. Journal of Allied Health Sciences Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, 6(1), 10–28.

Popma, T., & Green, B. (1990). Sex reversal of Tilapia in earthen ponds. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub/2559/?utm_source=digitalcommons.unl.edu%2Fusdaarsfacpub%2F2559&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages

Ruangsri, W. (2020). Effect of 2 types of estrogen on sex reversal climbing perch Anabus testudineus (Bloch, 1972) seed production. 3: E-Thai Fisheries Gazette, 3(3), 37–55.

Vinarukwong, N., Lukkana, M., Ruangwises, S. & Wongtavatchai, J. (2018). Residual levels of 17α-methyldihydrotestosterone in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry following feeding supplementation. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 4, 1526436. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2018.1526436

Yenpoeng, T., Prompakdee, W., Ngamvongchon, S, & Wattanamahard, T. (2013). Study on Hormone (17 alpha methyltestosterone) residue level of sex reversal Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linn.) seed production in the water recirculation system (Technical Paper No. 5/2013). Department of Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand.