108
6.3 Conclusions
While the study of pathologies has been performed since cephalopods are kept in
captivity, welfare is a new growing line of research that started in the twenty-first
century. Both are, however, in need of more attention in the years to come, not only
because of welfare legislations arising in most countries but also because they have
an intrinsic importance in cephalopod culture. In fact, the existing knowledge is
poor when compared with what exists in fish. In terms of welfare, while several
agents for anaesthesia and euthanasia have been tested, there is not a single study on
the physiology behind it (anaesthetic site of action). Therefore, we cannot be sure
that when we are suggesting a given agent, this is in fact an anaesthetic. In addition,
the existing methods used to assess anaesthesia and euthanasia need revision and a
common methodology for assessment needs to be developed.
Regarding pathologies of cephalopods in captivity, with the development of culture technology, these animals will be subjected to different conditions than those
observed in small-scale culture. Although the methods under development consider
the practice of good welfare, diseases will be predictably more common in industrial culture. Several pathologies have been identified in the laboratory and these have
been used as a basis to gather information regarding healing, antibiotics application
and changes to culture setups. Nonetheless, further research is needed.
References
Abollo E, Gestal C, Pascual S (2001) Anisakis infestation in marine fish and cephalopods from
Galician waters: an updated perspective. Parasitol Res 87:492–499
Alpuche J, Pereyra A, Mendoza-Hernández G et al (2010) Purification and partial characterization
of an agglutinin from Octopus maya serum. Comp Biochem Physiol B: Biochem Mol Biol
156:1–5
Anderson RC, Wood JB, Byrne RA (2002) Octopus senescence: the beginning of the end. J Appl
Anim Welf Sci 5:275–283
Ashley PJ (2007) Fish welfare: current issues in aquaculture. Appl Anim Behav Sci 104:199–235
Australian Capital Territory (2012) Animal welfare act 1992. In: Australian capital territory parliamentary counsel, p 123
Bennett O (2005) The animal welfare bill, bill no 58 of 2005–06. In: House of commons, p 90
Beuerlein K, Schipp R (1998) Cytomorphological aspects on the response of the branchial heart
complex of Sepia officinalis L. (Cephalopoda) to xenobiotics and bacterial infection. Tissue
Cell 30:662–671
Beuerlein K, Schimmelpfennig R, Westermann B et al (1998) Cytobiological studies on hemocyanin metabolism in the branchial heart complex of the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis
(Cephalopoda, Dibranchiata). Cell Tissue Res 292:587–595
Beuerlein K, Lohr S, Westermann B et al (2002a) Components of the cellular defense and detoxification system of the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Mollusca, Cephalopoda). Tissue
Cell 34:390–396
Beuerlein K, Ruth P, Westermann B et al (2002b) Hemocyanin and the branchial heart complex of
Sepia officinalis: are the hemocytes involved in hemocyanin metabolism of coleoid cephalopods? Cell Tissue Res 310:373–381
A. V. Sykes and C. Gestal
6.3 Conclusions
While the study of pathologies has been performed since cephalopods are kept in
captivity, welfare is a new growing line of research that started in the twenty-first
century. Both are, however, in need of more attention in the years to come, not only
because of welfare legislations arising in most countries but also because they have
an intrinsic importance in cephalopod culture. In fact, the existing knowledge is
poor when compared with what exists in fish. In terms of welfare, while several
agents for anaesthesia and euthanasia have been tested, there is not a single study on
the physiology behind it (anaesthetic site of action). Therefore, we cannot be sure
that when we are suggesting a given agent, this is in fact an anaesthetic. In addition,
the existing methods used to assess anaesthesia and euthanasia need revision and a
common methodology for assessment needs to be developed.
Regarding pathologies of cephalopods in captivity, with the development of culture technology, these animals will be subjected to different conditions than those
observed in small-scale culture. Although the methods under development consider
the practice of good welfare, diseases will be predictably more common in industrial culture. Several pathologies have been identified in the laboratory and these have
been used as a basis to gather information regarding healing, antibiotics application
and changes to culture setups. Nonetheless, further research is needed.
References
Abollo E, Gestal C, Pascual S (2001) Anisakis infestation in marine fish and cephalopods from
Galician waters: an updated perspective. Parasitol Res 87:492–499
Alpuche J, Pereyra A, Mendoza-Hernández G et al (2010) Purification and partial characterization
of an agglutinin from Octopus maya serum. Comp Biochem Physiol B: Biochem Mol Biol
156:1–5
Anderson RC, Wood JB, Byrne RA (2002) Octopus senescence: the beginning of the end. J Appl
Anim Welf Sci 5:275–283
Ashley PJ (2007) Fish welfare: current issues in aquaculture. Appl Anim Behav Sci 104:199–235
Australian Capital Territory (2012) Animal welfare act 1992. In: Australian capital territory parliamentary counsel, p 123
Bennett O (2005) The animal welfare bill, bill no 58 of 2005–06. In: House of commons, p 90
Beuerlein K, Schipp R (1998) Cytomorphological aspects on the response of the branchial heart
complex of Sepia officinalis L. (Cephalopoda) to xenobiotics and bacterial infection. Tissue
Cell 30:662–671
Beuerlein K, Schimmelpfennig R, Westermann B et al (1998) Cytobiological studies on hemocyanin metabolism in the branchial heart complex of the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis
(Cephalopoda, Dibranchiata). Cell Tissue Res 292:587–595
Beuerlein K, Lohr S, Westermann B et al (2002a) Components of the cellular defense and detoxification system of the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Mollusca, Cephalopoda). Tissue
Cell 34:390–396
Beuerlein K, Ruth P, Westermann B et al (2002b) Hemocyanin and the branchial heart complex of
Sepia officinalis: are the hemocytes involved in hemocyanin metabolism of coleoid cephalopods? Cell Tissue Res 310:373–381
A. V. Sykes and C. Gestal