CiteScore: 2.2
SCOPUS 2024
UN SDG
Aquaculture Studies 2026, Vol 26, Num, 2     (Pages: AQUAST2753)
Abstract Full Text:PDF Recommended articles Mail to Author How to Cite

The Sample Method Matters When Studying Fish Intestinal Contents of Microeukaryotic Communities

Jesús Salvador Olivier Guirado-Flores 1 ,Marcel Martínez-Porchas 1 ,Isidro Méndez-Romero 1 ,Rocío Aracely Valenzuela-Gutiérrez 2 ,Francisco Vargas-Albores 1 ,Luis Rafael Martínez-Córdova 3 ,Francesco Cicala 4 ,Estefanía Garibay-Valdez 1

1 Coordinación de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Animal, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. Hermosillo, Sonora, México
2 Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Estatal de Sonora. Hermosillo, Sonora, México
3 Departamento de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad de Sonora. Hermosillo, Sonora, México
4 Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. Verbania, Italy DOI : 10.4194/AQUAST2753 Viewed : 101 - Downloaded : 91 Research on gut microbiota has primarily focused on bacteria, though eukaryotic microorganisms also play important roles in their host. In fish, the suitability of fecal sampling methods for studying these gut microorganisms remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate two fecal sampling methods, intestinal scraping and aquarium-bottom sampling, on the diversity and composition of gut microeukaryotes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), highlighting the importance of methodological choices in microeukaryotic studies. Results showed that intestinal scraping provides a more accurate representation of the stable, resident community, avoiding potential bias and emphasizing the critical importance of methodological choices in microeukaryotic research. Keywords : Gut Eukaryome 18S ARNr Sampling methods Gut sampling