Studies On Lipid Nutrition And The Expression Of Genes For Desaturase And Elongase Enzymes In Snakehead, Channa Striata (Bloch, 1793) Fingerlings

This study examined lipid nutrition in C. striata fingerlings, through a series of experimental feeding trials, including; the evaluation of lipid/protein ratio and fatty acid (FA) requirements, as well as the screening of some of its tissues for the expression of genes for fatty acyl desaturase (FAD) and fatty acyl elongase (FAE) enzymes. These preliminary studies provided some insight about lipid metabolism in the species; suggesting that snakehead fingerling requires 65/450 g k

Assessment of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) as bio-accumulator of contaminants in domestic wastewater of Makera and Chanchaga drains

Remediation of the contaminants in domestic wastewater with Bio-accumulators is gaining acceptance in most part of the world. This study analysed the bio-accumulation of the contaminants in the domestic wastewater of Makera and Chanchaga drains in Nigeria by the Eichhornia crassipes. The wastewater and the tap water (control) were subjected to treatment with Eichhornia crassipes. The Physicochemical parameters of the samples were analysed using portable YSI 556 digital multi sensor Probe, and the plant samples were digested and tested for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results obtained indicated that the pH decreased in the Makera (8.47-7.55) and Chanchaga drains (7.73-7.57) while the Control sample shows an increment (6.59-7.56). The conductivity of the samples decreases in Control samples (90-19μS/cm), Chanchaga (110- 40μS/cm) and Makera drains (1510-1170μS/cm) respectively. The temperature also decreases in Chanchaga (32-28oC), Makera (31-28oC) and Control sample (28-26oC). The Initial and Final values of the analysed metals were Lead (0.017- 0.007mg/l and 0.017 - 0.000mg/l), Iron (8.600 - 4.714mg/l and 9.000 - 6.143mg/l), Copper (7.600 - 2.350mg/l and 7.350 - 2.100mg/l), Zinc(0.614l-0.281mg/l and 0.614-0.200mg/l),Chromium(0.086 - 0.073mg/l and 0.080 - 0.067mg/l), Mn(0.024 - 2.975mg/l and 0.024 - 0.525mg/l) for Makera and Chanchanga drains. The Control sample has Zn(0.329 and 0.025mg/l), Pb(0.006 and 0.000mg/l), Cu(0.350 and 0.100mg/l), Fe(3.286 and 0.186mg/l), Cr(0.000 and 0.000mg/l), Mn(0.024 and 0.70mg/l). The roots exhibited the highest bio-accumulation of the heavy metals. Thus, Eichhornia crassipes through rhizol-filtration can be used as bio-accumulator of toxic heavy metals from wastewater sources

Dietary supplement using cockroach meal: impact on growth indices and biochemical responses in hybrid catfish

Globally the need to substitute fishmeal with other animal protein sources in the fish diet has gained more attention; which is occasioned by the increasing cost of fish. A 12-week trial was conducted to ascertain the growth indices and biochemical response of hybrid catfish (Clarias gariepinus(♀) and Heterobranchus bidorsalis (♂)) fed cockroach meal supplement. A total of 800 hybrid catfish were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments (Diet A- control feed), Diet B (50 % cockroach and 50 % fishmeal), Diet C (100 % cockroach meal) and Diet D (100 % fishmeal). Each treatment was replicated with 35 fish per experimental pond in a completely randomized design. Progressive weight gain was determined bi-weekly. At the end of the study period, fishes were randomly sacrificed for proximate compositions and plasma biochemical analyses (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, albumin) using standard protocols. The study revealed that growth parameters (Weight gain, Average weight gain, Protein efficiency ratio, Feed Conversion rate, Specific growth rate and Survival rate (SR) were influenced by the dietary treatments (p>0.05). The highest weight gain was recorded in Diet 1 (8847.73±292.65 g) > Diet 2 (7816.33±121.71 g)>Diet 3 (7811.67±566.08 g) >Diet 4 (7022.00±44.193 g). Similarly, the best feed conversion ratio was found in fish fed Diet A (10.12±0.01),>Diet B, C and D had the same values of 0.11 g respectively. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in plasma biochemical indicators measured when compared to the control (Diet A). Thus, indicating that all the fish were healthy and had normal physiological activities. Cockroach meal can therefore, be used as a feed supplement without having any adverse effect on the growth and well-being of hybrid catfish fingerling

Bacteria and fungi analyses of fish diets with grasshopper and cockroach meals: the potential replacement of fishmeal in fish diets

The need to further ascertain the quality of fishmeal with biological indicators has poised this study to determine the biological characterisation of formulated diets with supplemented insect protein (variegated grasshopper and American cockroach). The diets (A–F) were prepared with local ingredients (A, 100% grasshopper meal; B, 100% fishmeal; C, 1:1 grasshopper:fishmeal; D, 1:1 cockroach:fishmeal; E, 100% cockroach meal; F, commercial diet). Samples of prepared diets ready to be stored for use were subjected to bacteria and fungi test. Diet F recorded the highest (4.60±1.10×102 cfu g–1) total viable bacteria count. The highest (3.00±0.05×102 cfu g–1) fungi count was recorded in diet A. Six probiotics bacteria were isolated from the diets. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was only isolated in grasshopper containing diets; as Pediococcus pentosaceus, Bifidobacterium longum, Mycobacterium marinum, Bacillus subtilisand, Lactococcocus lactis were only isolated in diets F, E, D, A and B respectively. Two pathogenic bacteria isolated were Streptoccoci pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Aspergillus flavus and Penicillum sp. are the two species of fungi isolated from diet A, and diets C and E respectively. The diets with insect proteins were rich in probiotic bacteria than other diets may be considered to replace fishmeal in fish diet

Role of Prebiotic, Probiotic and Symbiotic Diets on Bacterial proliferation in Feed and Intestine of African (Clarias gariepinus) Catfish

The influence of prebiotic, probiotic and symbiotic diet on microbial proliferation was studied using an in vitro method. In the present trial, formulated diets were supplemented with prebiotic (Sargassum muticum), probiotic (Parkia biglobosa) and combination of Parkia biglobosa and Sargassum muticum (symbiotic diet). Bacteria proliferation in supplemented feeds, small and large intestine of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fed the formulated diets were evaluated. The feeding trial that lasted 12 weeks was conducted in plastic aquaria, with each treatment replicated three times. A control diet containing only the feed ingredients was also formulated and fed for the same period. The result showed bacteria proliferation was lowest in the control diet and highest in feed supplemented with prebiotic. Low bacteria proliferation was observed in the small intestine of fish fed symbiotic diet while highest proliferation was recorded in the fish fed prebiotic diet. The result also revealed the lowest bacteria proliferation in the large intestine of fish fed symbiotic diet and highest in fish fed probiotic diet. Using the cell morphology and biochemical characteristics of bacteria isolates in supplemented feed, Clarias gariepinus small and large intestine, the result indicated the presence of some Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) known to produce a variety of antimicrobial substances which are able to stop the development of foodborne diseases by inhibiting the growth of food spoilage and pathogenic organisms

Geophysical Characterisation of Native Clay Deposits in Some Parts of Niger State, Nigeria

Clay minerals are among the world’s most important and useful industrial minerals. Conductance, transmissivity and corrosity are some physical parameters for determining quality clay. Four (4) clay deposit sites in Kaffin-Koro, Dutse, Dogon-Ruwa and Kushikoko were investigated to evaluate corrosivity, the longitudinal conductance and transmissivity to determine the clay quality. Electrical resistivity method employing Schlumberger electrode array was used to determine the thicknesses and depths of the subsurface strata while Interpex 1xD software was used to interpret the data. Three (3) to four (4) layer earth models were delineated. Kaffin-Koro and Dutse showed three layer models while Dogon-Ruwa and Kushikoko revealed four layers. Moderate clay content was found in Kaffin-Koro in the second layer with longitudinal conductance value of 0.4780 siemens and thickness 0.770m at depth of 1.17m Dogon-Ruwa also had moderate clay content in the third layer with conductance value of 0.237 siemens, depth of 2.43m and thickness 1.76m. Kushikoko had low clay deposit in the second layer with conductance 0.1810 siemens and thickness 2.73 m at 4.37 m while the clay deposit in Dutse appeared to be generally poor as the longitudinal conductance values of the top two layers were less than 0.1 siemens

Brown seaweed Sargassum polycystum as dietary supplement exhibits prebiotic potentials in Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer fingerlings

Seaweeds are known to contain nutrients that are essential for human nutrition, making them edible and potential resources to mine for bioactive substances. The present study was aimed to investigate the prebiotic potentials of the seaweed, Sargassum polycystum as supplement in diets for Asia sea bass fingerlings. Experimental dietary formulations were supplemented with four graded levels of powdered seaweed (0.0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 %) and fed to sea bass fingerlings (mean initial weight 2.2 g) for 55 days. Fish were evaluated for feed efficiency, growth performance and mortality. The results showed that survival, feed consumption and efficiency, and growth performance were better in fish fed the 1.5 and 3.0 % seaweed supplemented feed compared to the control. Carcass protein and Fe contents, red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts were also better in the fish fed the sargassum supplemented diets, which were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the 1.5 and 3.0 % treatments than in the control. Proliferation of pure colonies of descendant Gram positive, none-spore forming, cocci and rod-shaped, catalase and oxidase negative bacteria was observed in the intestines of fish reared with the sargassum supplemented feed. These bacteria were identified as Lactobacillus paracasei subspecies paracasei, which were earlier identified to exhibit probiotic characteristics. Taken together, these results demonstrated the prebiotic potentials of sargassum, S. polycystum for Asian sea bass fingerling when supplemented in their diets at concentrations of between 15 and 30 g/kg. The commercial cultivation of sargassum seaweed needs to be encouraged

A simple and rapid method for blood collection from walking catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linneaus, 1758)

Blood is collected from experimental animals for a wide range of scientific purposes including; hematology, clinical biochemistry parameters, immunology, studies in bacteriology, parasitology and investigations in reproductive performance and health. The number of methods employed to collect blood from fish include; the puncture of caudal vein, dorsal aorta or cardiac vessels and the severance of the caudal vein. Unfortunately, all these procedures are practically found to be slow and stressful to Clarias batrachus, including the popular caudal vein approach, likely due to the small size of caudal veins relative to the size of the species. In line with the universal ethical recommendations for taking blood from small research animals, we propose an alternative one-operator approach for C. batrachus that is simple, rapid and without the need to sacrifice the fish as with other methods. This procedure targets the dorsal aorta (a relatively larger blood vessel) in a sedated fish, punctured by inserting a needle directly from the anterior part of the anal fin about 2-5 mm behind the genital papilla, to draw the desired amount of blood. The technique is a one-operator procedure not requiring the help of an assistant or any special equipment to restrain the fish. The operation of the protocol is unique since it permits the continuous collection of blood from the same experimental fish over a varied time course and reduces the need for a large number of replicate animals. The advantages of the proposed protocol are also highlighted and discussed in detail

Probiotic Bacteria in Gastro-Intestinal Tract of Hybrid Catfish Fed Insect Protein Meal

The evaluations of insects’ protein as viable alternative protein source in fish diets are gaining more attention revealing that the protein has more comparative advantage than other protein sources. Therefore, this study was conducted to isolate and identify (using phylotypic and genotypic methods) bacteria isolates in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of African hybrid catfish fed supplemented grasshopper meal. Four feeding diets were adopted in this study; Diet A (conventional feed), Diet B (100% Grasshopper meal), Diet C (50% fishmeal and 50% Grasshopper meal) and Diet D (100% Fish meal). At the end of the 12- week experimental period, the fish were sacrificed for their GIT contents to determine bacteria diversity. In the catfish fed diet A, the bacteria isolates identified were Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterobacter aerogene, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli, Leuconostoc latis and Klebsella pneumonia. In catfish fed diet B, Bacillus subtilis, Lactococcus bulgaricus, Lysinibacillus macroides, Lysinibacillus capsici, Stenotrophomonas pavanii and Lysinibacillus sp were isolated. Similarly, the fish fed diet C recorded the presence of Bacillus subtilis, Lactococcus bulgaricus, Lysinibacillus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Lysinibacillus macroides, Stenotrophomonas pavanii and Enterobacter aerogene. The bacteria isolated in the GIT of fish fed diet D were Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pedicoccus acidilactis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Leuconostoc latis and Shigella flexneri.&nbsp; Probiotic bacteria were more in fish fed with diets B and C, an indication that the different ratio of supplemented grasshopper meal is good for the fish, as they have the potentials to boost the fish immune system and improve the microbial balance of its gastro-intestinal tract

Use of sargassum polycystum as a prebiotic agent

The present invention discloses the use of Sargassum polycystum as a prebiotic agent. Accordingly, the present invention provides feed compositions or pharmaceutical compositions with prebiotic function, which comprise Sargassum polycystum in an amount of 1-3% by weight, as well as preparation methods thereof