ACUTE STRESS ASSESSMENT METHOD IN CANTANG GROUPERS (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × Epinephelus lanceolatus) BASED ON COMPARISON OF BLOOD AND MUCUS CORTISOL LEVELS IN SALINITY VARIATIONS

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for assessing acute stress in cantang grouper fish through comparative analysis of cortisol levels in blood and mucus due to different salinity treatments. Stress due to changes in salinity causes an increase in cortisol as a physiological response, but measurements using blood are invasive and less efficient for field monitoring. This invention provides a non-invasive method that utilizes mucus as an alternative matrix by analyzing the relationship pattern between mucus and blood cortisol levels. The procedure includes salinity treatments of 28, 32, and 36 ppt for 24 hours, mucus and blood sampling at certain time intervals, and cortisol analysis using ELISA. The results show a significant regression correlation with a high coefficient of determination in all treatments, so that mucus is proven to be able to be used as a predictor of blood cortisol levels.This method provides a safer, more efficient, and more accurate way to detect acute stress, and supports the application of non-invasive stress detection technology in cantang grouper cultivation.