Growth,body chemical composition and trypsin activity of South American catfish,surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) juveniles fed different dietary protein and lipid levels

To evaluate protein and lipid requirement of South American catfish surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) juveniles, nine semi‐purified diets containing three levels of protein (40%, 45% and 50%) and three levels of lipid (12%, 16% and 20%) were tested. After 8‐week feeding trial, body weight increase averaged 2124.3 ± 295.7%. Growth performance was significantly affected by dietary level of protein (P < 0.05). At the 40% protein level, increasing level of dietary lipid had a positive effect on final individual mean weight (protein sparing effect). Whole body protein and moisture contents were affected by the dietary level of lipid (P < 0.05). Whole body lipid content positively correlated with the level of dietary lipid (P < 0.05). Cannibalism related mortality was observed despite rearing fish in 24 h dark. Fatty acid composition of fish was affected by the dietary lipid level (P < 0.05). Polyunsaturated fatty acids increased with the increasing level of dietary lipid while saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased. Trypsin activity in the digestive tract of surubim was influenced by dietary levels of protein and lipid (P < 0.05). Our preliminary results suggest that the optimum protein/lipid ratio might be close to 45/16% for surubim juveniles.     

Vaccination strategies with oral booster for surubim hybrid (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × P. reticulatum) against haemorrhagic septicaemia

This study evaluated the efficiency of differently prepared vaccines against Aeromonas hydrophila in the hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × P. reticulatum). Survival and haemato‐immunological parameters were compared between the treatments: non‐vaccinated fish (C); bacterin‐vaccinated fish (B); bacterin plus oral booster vaccinated fish (B+O); bacterin and toxoid‐vaccinated fish (B+T) and bacterin, toxoid and oral booster‐vaccinated fish (B+T+O). Fourteen‐days vaccinated fish from B+O and B+T+O were fed with an oral booster for 4 days. After 1 week, the fish were intraperitoneally challenged with 2 × 10⁸ CFU mL^?1 of A. hydrophila. Fish from the treatment B+T+O showed the lowest cumulative mortality (11.36%) 96 h after challenge, compared with other treatments (22.72–44.04%), and a relative survival of 74%. Serum immunoglobulin in B+T+O fish was higher than in other treatments. All vaccinated fish showed an increased agglutination titre when compared with non‐vaccinated fish, both before and after challenge. Fish fed with oral booster showed an increase in phagocytic percentage before and after challenge. It can be inferred that the oral booster vaccination was efficient in reducing mortality in hybrid surubim by enhancing the response against haemorrhagic septicaemia due to A. hydrophila infection.     

Intestinal morphology and histology of the striped catfish Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1766) fed dry diets

This study unveils histological features of the intestinal tract of juvenile striped catfish Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1776) in three size classes (weight, standard length): I – 36.84 ± 10.19 g, 14.52 ± 1.54 cm; II – 59.03 ± 11.47 g, 17.17 ± 1.06 cm; III – 89.72 ± 18.70 g, 20.79 ± 1.55 cm, respectively. Histological organization of the juvenile speckled catfish intestine bears features common to the carnivorous fish, but the organ presents some convolutions that indicate a certain degree of dietary flexibility, a surprising trend, common only to omnivorous Siluriforms. The architecture of the mucosa of the speckled catfish intestine indicates that the species concentrates digestion and absorption of nutrients in the medium intestine, a common feature among carnivorous Teleosts.     

Induced breeding and larval rearing of Surubí, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1766), from the Bolivian Amazon

Brooders of Surubí (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) were caught in the Ichillo River (Bolivian Amazon) and adapted to captivity conditions for 1 year in the facilities of the experimental aquaculture station of ‘El Prado’ (Santa Cruz de la Sierra) under natural temperature and photoperiod conditions. Induced reproduction was obtained by means of Ovaprim^® (Syndel, Canada) injections and artificial fertilization. Sperm and ova were obtained by gentle stripping of male and female brooders. Fertilized eggs were incubated in 60 L Zug jars. A mean hatching rate of 73.7±19.0% was obtained after 24 h at 26.5 °C. For larval rearing, several protocols were tested with different settings of photoperiod, light intensity, food type and period of distribution, and stocking density. The best survival rates were obtained with Artemia nauplii feeding in total darkness. A high level of aggressiveness between larvae and precocious appearance of jumpers was observed, but these can be controlled with appropriate rearing conditions.     

Effect of dietary supplementation of inulin and W. cibaria on haemato‐immunological parameters of hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp)

The dietary supplementation of prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotic in hybrid surubins (a Pseudoplatystoma corruscans and P. fasciatum cross) was evaluated for the effects on their autochthonous intestinal microbiota and on haematological and immunological parameters. A total of 160 fish were divided into four treatment groups with four replicates each. The treatment groups were fed with the following diets for 15 days: control diet without supplementation; 0.5% inulin (prebiotic) supplementation; Weissella cibaria (CPQBA 001‐10 DRM 02) (7.87 ± 0.2 log CFU g^?1) supplementation; or 0.5% inulin and W. cibaria supplementation (symbiotic group). The midgut intestines of the fish with the symbiotic diet supplementation had higher concentrations of lactic acid bacteria (7.07 ± 1.11 log CFU g^?1) and low levels of Vibrio spp (1.90 ± 0.60 log CFU g^?1) and Pseudomonas spp (2.23 ± 1.48 log CFU g^?1). In addition, increased erythrocytes and reduced circulating neutrophils were observed in this group. No differences in blood glucose, serum protein or lysozyme levels were detected between treatment groups. However, a higher concentration of total immunoglobulin was observed in fish fed with the probiotic and symbiotic diets. The addition of 0.5% inulin (prebiotic) thus W. cibaria (probiotic) to the diet of Pseudoplatystoma hybrid surubins reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria and stimulate the beneficial intestinal microbiota and may possibly alter their immune defence system.     

Evaluation of the Effects of Different Stunning Methods on the Stress Responses and Meat Quality of the Amazon hybrid surubim,Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum female × Leiarius marmoratus male

Different stunning methods (carbon dioxide [CO₂] and hypothermia) used in industrial fish processing were compared with asphyxia in air, which is used in traditional fishing, to evaluate the effects of these methods on the stress responses and the meat quality of the Amazon hybrid surubim, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum female × Leiarius marmoratus male. After the application, blood and behavioral indicators were evaluated. Following death by gill cutting, the fish were gutted, and analyses of muscle pH, rigor mortis, the exudation of the meat, and coloration were performed. Significantly higher levels of cortisol and glucose were exhibited by the fish subjected to asphyxia than by the fish stunned by either CO₂ or hypothermia. The fish subjected to asphyxia displayed decreasing muscle pH during the first 2 h after death and showed higher rates of rigor mortis after 3 h than the fish that were stunned by the other two methods. The asphyxia is a practice that exposes fish to suffering by causing an increase in stress responses, which affects meat quality. The immersion of fish in water and ice (hypothermia) for 5 min was more effective stunning method than the use of CO₂, resulting in higher loss of sensibility and greater welfare.     

Symbiotic supplementation on the hemato‐immunological parameters and survival of the hybrid surubim after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with two symbiotics in the hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × P. reticulatum) prior to and after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila. The fish were divided into unsupplemented fish, supplemented fish with Weissella cibaria and inulin, and supplemented fish with Lactobacillus plantarum and inulin. Twenty days after being fed symbiotics, the fish were sampled for immunological, haematological, and microbiological analysis pre‐challenge. After this period, they were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila, and after 96 h the fish were sampled for blood collection and survival. Fish fed W. cibaria and inulin from the pre‐challenge showed the highest values of lysozyme activity. Fish fed L. plantarum and inulin presented a higher number of thrombocytes and granular leukocyte PAS⁺ than the other fish. After challenge, fish fed both symbiotics presented an increased red blood cells number. Fish fed L. plantarum and inulin showed an increased total leucocyte count (WBC), neutrophils, and monocytes number as well as total immunoglobulin. The W. cibaria‐ and inulin‐supplemented fish showed improved haematological and immunological parameters and reduced cumulative mortality after the challenge.     

Protection of crucian carp (Carassius auratus Gibelio) against septicaemia caused by Aeromonas hydrophila using specific egg yolk immunoglobulins

Egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) were obtained from laying hens immunized with inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila. The purified IgY was shown to inhibit the growth of A. hydrophila in vitro and the optimum concentration for inhibition of A. hydrophila‐specific IgY was 75 mg mL^?1. In a subsequent challenge trial, 100 carp (200~250 g) were assigned to one of ten tanks with ten carp per tank. The fish in one tank were unchallenged whereas the remaining 90 fish were injected intraperitoneally with 100 μL of A. hydrophila at a concentration of 10⁸ cfu mL^?1. For the next 21 days, all fish were moved in their respective groups to a clean tank for 20 min day^?1. The fish in four tanks (one unchallenged tank and three challenged tanks) received no treatment whereas the fish in the remaining six tanks were immersed in either 0.5 g L^?1 aqueous nonspecific IgY (N = 3) or 0.5 g L^?1 aqueous specific IgY (N = 3). Haemoglobin concentrations, white and red blood cell numbers as well as the mortality of specific IgY‐treated fish were significantly different from those of the control. These results suggest that passive immunization by immersion with pathogen‐specific IgY may provide a valuable treatment for A. hydrophila infection in carp.     

The in vitro efficacy of oxytetracycline against re‐isolated pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila carrying the cytolytic enterotoxin gene through hybrid catfish,Clarias macrocephalus (Günther, 1864) × Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) in Thailand

Aeromonas hydrophila is a pathogen infecting farmed hybrid catfish, Clarias macrocephalus (Günther, 1864) × Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) which incurs substantial economic losses in Thailand. The study aimed at a genetic tracking of A. hydrophila infection and the in vitro assessment of the efficacy of antibiotics against its virulent strains. Five clinical strains from catfishes and Nile tilapia were employed. They were 3‐passage re‐isolated through healthy hybrid catfish and the cytolytic enterotoxin gene (AHCYTOEN) of individuals was traced. Each of the re‐isolates at a dose of ~6.67 × 10⁵ CFU/g was intraperitoneally injected into ~15 g‐healthy hybrid catfish and their pathogenicity were observed for 7 days. It was found that AHCYTOEN was carried over whereas typical signs of motile aeromonas septicaemia were found in the specimens. The bacterial strains of Nile tilapia origin did not induce mortality but those of catfish origins (80%–100% rate of mortality). The strains were susceptible to the tetracycline antibiotics, and oxytetracycline produced MIC₅₀ and MBC as low as 0.007–0.031 μg/ml and 1–8 μg/ml respectively. As oxytetracycline specifically inhibited pathogenic A. hydrophila in vitro, it is recommended that an appropriate dosage regimen of the drug should be established.     

Liver histology and histomorphometry in hybrid sorubim (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) reared on intensive fish farming

This study aimed to characterize the liver histology and histomorphometry in sorubim hybrid of different categories (nursery, growth and grow‐out) reared on fish farming. The categories were defined considering body weight (BW): nursery category (n = 5): BW = 37.06 ± 6.00 g (31.6–45.3 g); growth category (n = 5): BW = 310.40 ± 53.80 g (242.1–376.4 g) and grow‐out category (n = 5): BW = 874.28 ± 27.59 g (846.2–913.1 g). Liver fragments were processed to paraffin inclusion, and sections were stained by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), PAS (Periodic Acid Schiff) and Perl's staining to histology, histomorphometry and density volumetric of liver structures; glycogen analysis and to detect ferric irons (Fe³⁺) respectively. The hepatosomatic index decreased between the categories (P < 0.01). The percentage of PAS‐positive hepatocytes in the nursery category was higher (P < 0.05) in relation to the growth and grow‐out categories. The hepatocytes from all fish were positive to Perl's staining. The density volumetric of liver structures did not differ among categories except to blood vessels were higher (P < 0.01) in the nursery and growth. The area (μm²) and perimeter (μm) of hepatocytes, and the area (μm²), perimeter (μm) and volume (μm³) of the nuclei from grow‐out fish were lower (P < 0.01) than those from the nursery and growth categories. Changes in morphometric characteristics of hepatocytes may result from metabolic changes associated with body growth surubins; therefore, these morphometric characteristics of liver tissue can be used as functional biomarkers for the assessment of fish health and nutrition status.     

Dietary protein:lipid ratio changes growth,digestive enzyme activity,metabolic profile and haematological parameters in hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum × Leiarius marmoratus)

Studies investigating improved protein:lipid ratios based on their effects on growth, nutrient utilization, digestive enzyme activities, blood metabolites and erythogram in tropical carnivorous fish are very scarce. This study evaluated the effect of different protein:lipid ratios on these parameters in the hybrid surubim Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × Leiarius marmoratus. Juvenile fish (8.90 ± 0.94 g initial weight) were fed 3% of total biomass for 60 days using four isoenergetic experimental diets with different protein:lipid ratios (9.00, 4.60, 3.54 and 1.78). Higher growth performance parameters were observed at higher protein:lipid ratios. The activities of intestine total alkaline protease, trypsin and lipase (U/mg protein) were not affected by dietary treatments. Chymotrypsin (U/mg protein) was higher in the 4.60 protein:lipid ratio group. Amylase (U/mg protein) was higher in intermediate groups. Blood glucose, total plasma protein, triglycerides, cholesterol and free amino acids decreased as the protein:lipid ratio decreased. Haematocrit was higher at the 9.00 and 4.60 protein:lipid ratios. Hybrid surubim showed metabolic adaptation to the different protein:lipid ratios tested. These results suggest that the 4.60 protein:lipid ratio showed the best protein‐sparing effect of lipids.     

Dietary lipid level and source affect metabolic responses in hybrid catfish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Leiarius marmoratus)

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of dietary lipid source [linseed oil (LO, rich in 18:3 n?3); corn oil (CO, rich in 18:2 n?6); olive oil (OO, rich in 18:1n?9); and fish oil (FO, rich in LC‐PUFA)] and level (9% L and 18% L) on growth, body composition and selected plasma biochemistry parameters in hybrid catfish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Leiarius marmoratus) juveniles. Moreover, liver histology (lipids, glycogen, cell vacuolization) and key metabolic enzyme activities were also evaluated. After 8 weeks of feeding, there were no differences in growth performance and whole‐body composition between groups. Plasma lipoprotein, muscle and liver composition, and G6PD and ME activity were affected by lipid level and source. No differences were observed between groups in hepatic ALT activity; however, AST activity was lower in fish fed the 9% L diets. Overall, liver and muscle fatty acid composition reflected that of diet FA composition, with increased n3/n6 ratio, high HUFA and low MUFA in fish fed FO compared with the VO diets. Higher liver glycogen content was observed in fish fed the 18% L than the 9% L diets, except for fish fed FO diet. Considering the experimental diets used, these results indicate that hybrid catfish can efficiently utilize VO supplementation as an energy source, without affecting growth performance and fillet composition.     

香鱼嗜水气单胞菌人工染病后血液生理生化指标变化

从患病香鱼的体腔液中分离获得嗜水气单胞菌病原,经培养稀释的菌液,腹腔注射人工感染健康香鱼,出现典型的出血症后,进行血液生理生化指标的测定。结果发现,病鱼红细胞数量为(1.21±0.08)×1012个/L,血栓细胞数量(189.00±5.19)×1012个/L,较健康香鱼红细胞[(2.41±0.16)×1012个/L]、血栓细胞[(380.0±20.00)×1012个/L]呈极显著降低(P0.01),血红蛋白含量呈显著减少(P0.05),而白细胞数量却显著增加(P0.05)。染病香鱼总蛋白为(47.56±2.63)g/L,健康鱼为(49.23±3.06)g/L,经检验无显著差异;而碱性磷酸酶、Cl-、Ca2+等3项血液生化指标值均呈极显著减少(P0.01),乳酸脱氢酶呈极显著增加(P0.01)。     

The garlic component,allicin, prevents disease caused by Aeromonas hydrophila in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Allicin was fed at 0 (= control), 0.5 and 1.0 mL of Allimed^® liquid 100 g^?1 of feed for 14 days to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), fingerlings before infection with Aeromonas hydrophila with a resultant reduction in mortalities from 80% in the controls to 8% [relative percentage survival (RPS) = 90%] and 0% (RPS = 100%) among the treated fish. Allicin was strongly antibacterial compared to the control, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of >400 μL mL^?1 of Allimed^® liquid. Use of allicin led to a lower number of white blood cells (132.0 ± 0.4 × 10³) compared to 175.0 ± 0.1 × 10³ in the controls, but elicited increased phagocytic activity, i.e. a phagocytic value of 39.2% compared to 13.6% in the controls, and serum lysozyme activity, which showed significant (P > 0.05) differences compared to the control at 15 and 30 min after the first reading at 0 min of incubation.     

Effects of dietary levels of essential oil (EO) extract from bitter lemon (Citrus limon) fruit peels on growth,biochemical, haemato‐immunological parameters and disease resistance in Juvenile Labeo victorianus fingerlings challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila

Essential oils (EOs) are used in the food industry because of their biological activity. We evaluated the effects of administration of essential oil (EO) extracted from bitter lemon (Citrus limon) fruit peels on the growth performance, biochemical, haemato‐immunological parameters and possible disease resistance in fingerlings (4 weeks old) Labeo victorianus challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish were divided into five groups and fed diets supplemented with C. limon fruit peels EO extract at 1%, 2%, 5% and 8% [as fed basis] and treatment compared with control group fed diet without C. limon fruit peels EO extract. The experiment was executed in triplicate. Concentration of plasma cortisol, glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol decreased while that of total protein and albumin increased as dietary inclusion of the EO extract of C. limon fruit peels was increased from 2% to 5%. Meanwhile haemato‐immunological parameters including red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC) counts, haematocrit (Htc), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and neutrophiles increased with increasing dietary inclusion from 1% to 5% inclusion of C. limon fruit peels EO extract. Serum immunoglobulins, lysozyme activity and respiratory burst increased with increasing dietary levels up to 5% inclusion of EO extract of C. limon fruit peels. We demonstrate that formulation of feeds by incorporating upto 5% the EO extract from C. limon fruit peels significantly improved biochemical, haematological and immunological response in juvenile fish resulting to lower mortality than the untreated groups and appear to be effective antibacterial against A. hydrophila.     

Dietary fish oil replacement with lard and soybean oil affects triacylglycerol and phospholipid muscle and liver docosahexaenoic acid content but not in the brain and eyes of surubim juveniles Pseudoplatystoma sp.

Triplicate groups of juvenile suribim were fed for 183 days one of four different isonitrogenous (47.6% crude protein) and isolipidic (18.7% lipid) diets formulated using three different lipid sources: 100% fish oil (FO, diet 1); 100% pig lard (L, diet 2); 100% soybean oil (SO, diet 3), and FO/L/SO (1:1:1, w/w/w; diet 4). The tissue levels of fatty acids 18:2n − 6 and 18:3n − 3 decreased relative to corresponding dietary fatty acid values. The 20:5n − 3 and 22:6n − 3 composition of muscle and liver neutral lipids were linearly correlated with corresponding dietary fatty acid composition. In contrast, the 22:6n − 3 composition of the brain and eye were similar among treatments. The 22:6n − 3 level was enriched in all tissues, particularly in the neural tissues. Similar results were observed for tissue polar lipids: fatty acids content reflected dietary composition, with the exception of the 22:6n − 3 level, which showed enrichment and no differences between groups. Given these results, the importance of the biochemical functions (transport and/or metabolism) of 22:6n − 3 in the development of the neural system of surubim warrants further investigation. M.D. Noffs and R.C. Martino dedicate this study to the memory of Prof. Dr. Luiz Carlos Trugo.     

First report of signs of infection by Coccomyxa-like algae in wild blue mussels,Mytilus spp., in the Gulf of Maine (USA,Maine)

In August 2019, visual inspection of intertidal zones of the Gulf of Maine (ME, USA) revealed young and adult wild blue mussels, Mytilus spp., in Alley Bay (Jonesport area) with the distinctive L-shaped shell deformity (LSSD) and green spots (GS) in the mantle and adductor muscle. LSSD is a characteristic sign of current or previous mussel infection by photosynthetic unicellular alga from the group Coccomyxa, while GS are algal colonies. Based on these findings, this study represents the first report of infection signs by pathogenic Coccomyxa-like algae in mussels from the coastal waters of the Northeastern United States, providing a base for future large scale monitoring of the alga in the region.     

The Use of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) in Practical Diets for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Growth Performance and Challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of American ginseng (AG), Panax quinquefolium, on growth and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Ginseng was included in practical test diets at rates of 0.0 (control), 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, or 5.0 g/kg diet. Fish (9.1 ± 0.3 g) were distributed into quadricated 100-L aquaria at a density of 20 fish per aquarium. Fish in all treatments were fed up to satiation twice daily for 8 weeks. After the feeding trial, fish of each treatment were intraperitoneally injected with pathogenic A. hydrophila and kept under observation for 10 days. Highest growth was obtained at 1.0 – 5.0 g AG/kg diet. The survival of fish challenged by A. hydrophila increased with increasing AG levels in fish diets. Cost-benefit analysis indicated that ginseng supplementation could reduce per kg costs by 15% with an optimum inclusion level of 2.0 g/kg.