Canola meal in the diets of pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg 1887): effects on growth and body composition

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da inclusão de farelo de canola em dietas de juvenis de pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) sobre parâmetros de crescimento e composição corporal. Um total de 192 alevinos (9 a 15g) foram estocados em 24 tanques de cimento, de 100l de capacidade, durante 103 dias. O farelo de canola foi utilizado em quatro proporções: zero; 9,5%; 19% e 38% da dieta, com ou sem farinha de peixe (12%/dieta), totalizando oito tratamentos. A presença de farinha de peixe não afetou os parâmetros de crescimento avaliados. A inclusão de 38% de farelo de canola na dieta diminuiu o ganho de peso dos peixes, valores médios de 28,74g a 50,70g, e piorou a conversão alimentar aparente, de 1,66 para 2,85. A taxa de eficiência protéica também foi menor nos peixes alimentados com 38% de farelo de canola. As várias proporções de farelo de canola das dietas alteraram os teores de umidade, proteína bruta e lipídios dos peixes. A presença da farinha de peixe, nas dietas, somente influiu no teor de lipídios dos peixes alimentados com dietas contendo 9,5% de farelo de canola. Conclui-se que até 19% de farelo de canola pode ser adicionado às dietas de juvenis de pacu, sem que seu desenvolvimento seja prejudicado.The effects of adding canola meal in the diet of pacu juveniles (Piaractus mesopotamicus) on growth parameters and body composition were evaluated. A total of 192 fingerlings (9 to 15g) were stocked in twenty-four, 100l cement tanks during 103 days. Canola meal was used at four levels (zero, 9.5%, 19%, and 38% of the diet) with (12% of the diet) or without fish meal, totalizing eight treatments. The fish meal did not affect the growth parameters. The inclusion of 38% canola meal decreased the body weigh gain (mean values of 28.74g to 50.70g) and negatively affected the apparent feed conversion (1.66 to 2.85). The protein efficiency ratio was lower in fish fed the highest level of canola meal. The several levels of canola meal in the diets changed the fish moisture and contents of crude protein and lipids. Fish meal in the diets only influenced the lipid content in fish fed 9.5% canola meal. The results suggest that the inclusion of up to 19% of canola meal in diets of pacu juveniles did not impair the fish growth

Levamisole promotes an adjuvant effect on the immunity of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) when immunized with Aeromonas hydrophila, even when provided in the diet

AbstractDietary immunomodulators can help to defend against disease, but their dosage and time of administration are not always clear in aquaculture. In this study, we analyzed the amount of dietary levamisole required to induce an adjuvant effect. Because immunostimulants and immunization can improve the fish immune system, this study evaluated the effects of dietary levamisole administration (at 0, 125, 250 and 500mg/kg diet) and immunization with A. hydrophila (1×109 CFU) on the acquired and innate immune systems of pacu (mean initial weight 176.03±15.73g). The results showed that levamisole can act as an adjuvant for vaccination, even when administered through the diet. Immunization and levamisole administration increased the antibody titer, serum bactericidal activity, and hematocrit as well as the numbers of red blood cells, leukocytes and thrombocytes in pacu (P<0.05). However, the lysozyme activity; leukocyte respiratory activity; total protein, albumin, and globulin levels; A:G index; corpuscular hemoglobin volume; and other white blood cells showed no differences when compared with the control fish. As the immunostimulant improved, certain parameters of the acquired and innate immune systems of pacu increased, and the administration of levamisole in the diet (125 or 250mg/kg) for seven days may be used to promote adjuvant effects during immunization with A. hydrophila and thus constitutes a feed protocol strategy to be used prior to immunization

DL5o da bactéria Aeromonas hydrophila para o matrinxã, Brycon amazonicus

In order to determine the lethal dose (96-h LD50) of the bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila to matrinxã, Brycon amazonicus, to be applied in challenge tests, 90 fish (63.23 ± 6.39 g) were divided into five treatments, with different bacterial solutionsT1 - Control (0.9% NaCl saline solution); T2 (4 x 10(11) cells/ mL); T3 (5 x 10(11) cells/ mL); T4 (1.36 x 10(12) cells/ mL) and T5 (3.06 x 10(12) cells/ mL). Fish were previously anesthetized with benzocaine (60 mg L-1), inoculated in the peritoneal cavity with the bacterial suspensions and then distributed into fifteen 80-L test chambers, where the water variables were monitored and fish mortality was observed. The experiment was randomly designed in three replicates and the 96-h LD50 was estimated according to the trimmed Spearman-Karber method. Water quality variables remained within adequate ranges for fish health and performance. Fish mortality rate increased with the bacterial concentrations of A. hydrophila (T1 = 0%; T2 = 16.66%; T3 = 44.44%; T4 = 72.22% and T5 = 100%), and the first mortalities were observed after 57 h, although the signs of the bacterial infection were already observed 24 h after the inoculation. The results indicate that the 96-h LD50 value of A. hydrophila to matrinxã is 6.66 x 10(11) cells/ mL.Para determinar a dose letal (DL50 96-h) da bactéria Aeromonas hydrophila para o matrinxã, Brycon amazonicus, com aplicabilidade para testes de desafio, foram utilizados 90 peixes (63,23 ± 6,39 g), divididos em cinco tratamentos, com diferentes soluções bacterianas: T1 - Controle (solução salina 0,9% NaCl); T2 (4 x 10(11) células/ mL); T3 (5 x 10(11) células/ mL-1); T4 (1,36 x 10(12) células/mL-1) e T5 (3,06 x 10(12) células/ mL-1). Os peixes foram previamente anestesiados com benzocaína (60 mg L-1), inoculados na cavidade peritoneal com as suspensões bacterianas e distribuídos em 15 aquários de vidro de 80 L de capacidade, com aeração constante. O experimento teve duração de 96 h, no qual foram monitoradas a mortalidade e a qualidade da água. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualisado com três réplicas e a DL50 96-h foi estimada de acordo com o método Spearman-Karber. Durante o experimento os parâmetros físico-químicos da água permaneceram dentro das condições consideradas adequadas para o desenvolvimento e saúde dos organismos aquáticos. A mortalidade dos peixes aumentou nas concentrações crescentes de A. hydrophila (T1 = 0%; T2 = 16,66%; T3 = 44,44%; T4 = 72,22% e T5 = 100%), contudo, as primeiras mortalidades ocorreram em 57 h após a inoculação das concentrações bacterianas, sendo observados os primeiros sinais de infecção em 24 h após a inoculação. Os resultados indicam que o valor da DL50 96-h da bactéria A. hydrophila para o matrinxã foi igual a 6,66 x 10(11) células/mL de solução salina