Effect of short-term storage on sperm quality and microbiome dynamics in blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus

Authors: LIYANAGE, SAMITHA - Auburn University; BANDARA, KASUN - University Of Ruhuna; MARTIN, KAYLAN - Auburn University; WOOD, KYLE - Auburn University; Abernathy, Jason; Beck, Benjamin; BRUCE, TIMOTHY - Auburn University; ROY, LUKE - Auburn University; WANG, XU - Auburn University; DUNHAM, REX - Auburn University; BUTTS, IAN - Auburn University

Submitted to: Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/2025
Publication Date: 7/6/2025
Citation: Liyanage, S.S., Bandara, K.A., Martin, K.A., Wood, K.R., Abernathy, J.W., Beck, B.H., Bruce, T.J., Roy, L.A., Wang, X., Dunham, R.A., Butts, I.A. 2025. Effect of short-term storage on sperm quality and microbiome dynamics in blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus. Aquaculture. 610(2025): Article 742883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742883.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742883

Interpretive Summary: Hybrid catfish aquaculture, which constitutes over 50% of US catfish harvest, depends on the success of artificial fertilization between channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus and blue catfish, I. furcatus. Unfortunately, this requires blue catfish males to be sacrificed to extract their valuable sperm, and, therefore, paternal resources must be used efficiently. Storing sperm at low temperatures (4C) is a simple and inexpensive method to facilitate hatchery production. Here, we examined the effect of low temperature short-term storage on sperm quality and microbiome in blue catfish at multiple time-points up to 72 h in storage. Sperm swimming kinematics (swimming characteristics) and oxidative stress were quantified in conjunction with microbial community composition. Sperm kinematics and viability declined during low temperature storage, while malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, significantly increased within the first 24 h. Time-specific microbiome changes were also observed. Altogether, our results show detrimental changes in sperm quality and microbial communities during low temperature storage. These data can be used to improve sperm storage techniques for hybrid catfish hatchery facilities.

Technical Abstract: Supplying high-quality sperm from blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus is a requirement for channel catfish, I. punctatus × blue catfish hybrid production. Storing sperm at low temperatures (4C) is a simple and inexpensive method to facilitate hatchery production. Our objective was to determine the effect of low temperature short-term storage on sperm quality and microbiome dynamics in blue catfish. Mature males (n = 8) were selected, testes dissected, sperm extracted and stored at 4C. Sperm swimming kinematics [motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), and progressive VCL], viability, and oxidative stress were quantified in conjunction with microbial community composition at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h post-sperm collection. Sperm kinematics and viability declined during low temperature storage, while malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress significantly increased within the first 24 h. Time-specific microbiome changes were observed in sperm during low temperature storage. Amplicon sequence variant (ASV) richness was significantly decreased at 72 h. Evenness and Shannon index of microbial communities significantly decreased at 24 h and remained unchanged from 48 to 72 h. The ASVs belonging to potentially harmful bacterial genera, Pseudomonas and Aeromonas showed significantly higher abundances in 48 and 72 h. Together, our results show changes in sperm quality and microbial communities during low temperature storage. These data can be used to improve sperm storage techniques for hybrid catfish hatchery facilities.