Nutrient composition and sensory evaluation of fillets from wild-type Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus) and a red hybrid (Florida red tilapia × red O. niloticus)

A comparison of composition and sensory evaluation were performed on fillets of Oreochromis niloticus (wild type) and red hybrid tilapia (RHT) (Florida red tilapia ♂× red O. niloticus♀). Fifty male tilapia, 25 O. niloticus (initial weight 159.3 g) and 25 red hybrid (initial weight 132.4 g), were placed in each of three 2.0 m³ volume tanks. The fish were fed a commercial feed containing 35.9% crude protein during the 120‐day experimental period and then killed in cold water (3°C). All the fish were filleted. Twelve fillets from each treatment were used for proximate analyses, five fillets from each treatment were used for fatty acids analyses and the remaining fillets were used for sensory evaluation. The compositional analyses showed similar moisture, true protein and ash content in both genetic groups, but a lower crude fat content was measured in the red hybrid fillets (0.70%) compared with that of O. niloticus fillets (0.97%). No differences between O. niloticus and the red hybrid were observed in their fillet profile of fatty acids. In the sensory evaluation test, a difference in fillet flavour between both genetic groups was perceived. Of the 112 consumers in the preference test, 81.2% perceived a difference in fillet flavour between the two tilapias, with a general preference for the red hybrid over the wild‐type O. niloticus. The benefits of cultivating a RHT with a low lipid content are discussed.     

Experimental evaluation of mass selection to improve red body colour in Fijian hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis mossambicus)

Mass selection was trialed on Fijian hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis mossambicus) to reduce the amount of black spots on otherwise red phenotypes. The responses of two selection intensities (low‐selection line, top 50% – L) and (high‐selection line, top 30% – H) were compared with that of a control line (no selection – C) across three generations. The relative growth performance of treatments (C, L and H) was examined in parallel in each generation to assess whether mass selection had a correlated negative effect on growth performance. The results show clearly that red phenotype can be improved significantly by applying mass selection, without affecting growth performance. We propose that black spots on an otherwise red phenotype could represent the allelic products of a second genetic locus influencing skin colour, which can be expressed in red individuals (genotype Rr) but which may be masked in black individuals (genotype rr).     

Comparison of growth, fillet yield and proximate composition between Stirling Nile tilapia (wild type) (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus) and red hybrid tilapia (Florida red tilapia×Stirling red O. niloticus) males

A comparison was made of some productive traits of Stirling Nile tilapia (wild type) (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus) and red hybrid tilapia (Florida red tilapia× Stirling red O. niloticus) males during a 98‐day grow‐out period. Twenty‐two males from each genetic group with initial weights of 139.0 g for O. niloticus and 207.3 g for the red hybrid were placed in triplicate tanks. The fish were fed with a feed containing 36.8% crude protein. Survival was 97.0% for the red hybrid and 83.3% for O. niloticus. Daily individual weight gains were 2.95 and 2.50 g and final body weights were 473.0 and 348.8 g for the red hybrid and O. niloticus respectively. Fillet yield was similar for both the species, with 33.4% for the red hybrid and 32.0% for O. niloticus. Fresh fillet lipid content was perceptibly less in the red hybrid (0.33%) than in O. niloticus (2.07%). Some benefits of a red low‐fat tilapia genotype are discussed.     

The diet of hybrid red tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) reared in the freshwater ponds of north-eastern Brazil

To assess potential competition for food with indigenous species prior to their release into reservoirs in north-eastern Brazil, the diet of hybrid red tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus O. mossambicus, maintained without supplementary feed in monocultures in freshwater ponds, was studied. The stomach contents of 160 fish (140–220 mm total length), collected monthly from February to September 1993, were analysed. Fish of all size categories were found to be phytoplanktivores. A total of 40 microalgal species were observed in the stomach contents (17 species of Chlorophyceae, 11 species of Bacillariophyceae, eight species of Cyanophyceae, three species of Chrysophyceae and one of Euglenophyceae), together with a few rotifers and some organic material. In terms of cell numbers, the overall composition of the diet was 70% Chlorophyceae, 21% Bacillariophyceae, 3% Chrysophyceae, 2% Cyanophyceae, 1% Euglenophyceae and 3% organic matter. Neither diet composition nor stomach fullness varied with fish size. However, fish had relatively fuller stomachs, with higher proportions of Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae, during the rainy season. Hybrid red tilapia appear unlikely to compete for food with a native species and so may have a role in aquaculture or for deliberate release into reservoirs in north-eastern Brazil.     

Ultraviolet-induced androgenesis in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), and hybrid Nile × blue tilapia, O. aureus (Steindachner)

Fertilization of ultraviolet (UV) irradiated oocytes of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), with sperm from O, niloticus or blue tilapia, O, aureus (Steindachner), and subsequent suppression of the first cleavage of fertilized eggs successfully induced androgenesis in Nile and blue tilapia. The optimal doses of UV irradiation to denucleate a female genome of Nile tilapia prior to androgenesis ranged from 5940 to 6930 erg mm^?2 for 54-63 s at a fixed intensity of 110 erg mm^?2 s^?1. Putative androgenetic fish were created from eggs which were irradiated at various times and several durations of heat-shock. Eggs which were treated for 5 min at 41.6 ^oC at 2 7.5 min after fertilization were the most successful at suppressing the first cleavage and producing viable androgenetic diploids in Nile or hybrid Nile X blue tilapia. The maximal survivals of putative androgenetic diploids in relation to the control were 1.60% and 0.90% in Nile and hybrid Nile X blue tilapia, respectively. The androgenetic offspring established exhibited active feeding and normal growth.     

盐酸土霉素在奥尼罗非鱼体内的药代动力学及残留研究

在水温(25±2)℃条件下,以15 mg/kg鱼体重的剂量给奥尼罗非鱼单次口灌盐酸土霉素,采用高效液相色谱法测定血浆和肌肉组织中的药物浓度,研究盐酸土霉素在奥尼罗非鱼体内的代谢及消除规律。结果显示:血药时间数据符合一级吸收二室开放模型,半衰期(T1/2Ka、T1/2α、T1/2β)分别为4.79、4.10、45.20 h,最大血药浓度为1.50μg/m L,达峰时间为7.30 h,药时曲线下面积(AUC)为42.35μg·h/m L。肌肉作为可食性组织,选取肌肉组织作为残留检测的靶组织,以0.1 mg/kg为最高残留限量,在本试验条件下,建议休药期不低于10 d。     

Effects of incubation water hardness and salinity on egg hatch and fry survival of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus)

This study examined the effects of water hardness and salinity on yolk sac larvae and swim‐up fry survival of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Chitralada strain), eggs during artificial incubation. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of hardness, salinity and the sources of saline incubation water. High water hardness treatments (500–4200 mg L^?1 as CaCO₃) resulted in higher yolk sac larvae and swim‐up fry survival than low water hardness treatments (50.0 and 132 mg L^?1 as CaCO₃); although yolk sac larvae and swim‐up fry survival did not differ among the high or low hardness treatments. Salinity of 4.0 g L^?1 using seawater, and 4.0 and 8.0 g L^?1 using unprocessed common salt resulted in the higher survival rate of yolk sac larvae and swim‐up fry than other salinity treatments. Yolk sac larvae and swim‐up fry survival was found to decrease with the increase in salinity and increase with the increase in water hardness. The present study demonstrated the positive effects of increased water hardness level (>132 mg L^?1) on yolk sac larvae and swim‐up fry survival. The study also showed that seawater salinity of 4 g L^?1 was the most appropriate salinity level for incubating Nile tilapia eggs.     

Effects of dietary protein on growth and body composition of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L.

The effects of dietary protein (25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and 45%) on growth, survival, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and body composition were investigated for four sizes (0.51, 45, 96 and 264 g) of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. In all four experiments, there was a progressive increase in growth with increasing dietary protein. In fry (0.51 g), significantly higher growth, survival and feed conversion were recorded for fish fed 40–45% rather than 25–35% protein diets. Similar trends for growth and FCR were also noted in 45 g fish. For larger (96 and 264 g) tilapia, significant differences in growth and FCR were found only between fish fed 25% and 30–45% protein diets. FCR and PER decreased with increasing weight of fish, and both were found to be negatively correlated with dietary protein level. Whole-body composition of the smallest fish was significantly influenced by dietary protein content. Percentage body protein of the fish fed 40–45% protein was higher than that of fish fed 25–35% protein diets, whereas lipid content decreased with increasing dietary protein level. In 45 g fish, both protein and lipid contents were higher in fish fed 25% and 30% protein diets than in those fed 35–45% protein diets. In larger tilapia, no significant influence of dietary protein level on body protein content was found. Percentage lipid decreased with increasing dietary protein level, and no definite trends in ash content were found. The results of these studies indicate that O. niloticus fry (0.51 g) should be reared on a practical diet containing 40% protein, and larger tilapia (96–264 g) on a diet containing 30% protein.     

Effects of water temperatures and dietary protein levels on growth,body composition and blood biochemistry of juvenile GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of water temperature (WT) and dietary protein levels on growth, body composition and blood biochemistry of GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus; initial average body weight: 38.75 ± 0.61g, n = 20). The fish were fed with six diets contained graded levels of protein (209.6, 251.0, 302.4, 354.3, 401.9 and 456.8 g/kg) and raised in each of WT (22°C, 28°C and 34°C) for 8 weeks. Results showed that the growth, feed utilization and protein efficiency were significantly increased with the increase of dietary protein level and followed by the latter platform at each WT. The fish raised at 28 and 34°C showed similar growth performance, and their values were significantly higher than the fish raised at 22°C (p < 0.05). The lipid contents in whole body were decreases with the increase of dietary protein level at each WT. However, the whole‐body protein, ash and moisture contents were not affected by dietary protein level or WT (p > 0.05). The values of serum biochemical indices (ALP, ALT, AST and TCHO) were all decreased with the increase of dietary protein. The optimal dietary protein requirement for GIFT tilapia to achieve maximal growth performance is 374.4, 301.7 and 304.9 g protein/kg diet at 22, 28 and 34°C, respectively.     

Immuomodulatory effect of dietary turmeric supplementation on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study aimed to assess the immunomodulatory effect of dietary turmeric (TUM) in Oreochromis niloticus juveniles. A total of 240 Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings were divided into four equal groups (n = 60), three replicates (n = 20) for each: control and TUM‐treated groups at 2 (T1), 4 (T2) and 8 (T3) g kg^?1 diets for 8 weeks. Body weight gain, leucocytes counts, plasma levels of interleukin 2 (IL‐2), interleukin 4 (IL‐4), lymphocyte proliferation index to pokeweed mitogen (PWM), nitric oxide (NO) and lysozyme enzyme activities were measured. Histopathology of spleen was performed. TUM at 2 g kg^?1 significantly (p < .05) improved weight gain, leucocytes, NO and lysozyme activity than control and other treatment groups. IL‐2 level was significantly lower (p < .05) in T2 and T3 than in control and T1, while IL‐4 and lymphocyte proliferation index were significantly (p < .05) elevated in T3 than control, T1 and T2. Spleens of T2 showed improvement in white pulp, while spleen of T3 and T4 revealed white pulp depletion. In conclusion, TUM supplementation exerted immunomodulatory effect in Oreochromis niloticus through manipulation of lymphocyte count, IL‐2, IL‐4 and antibacterial enzymatic activity (NO and lysozyme) that resulted in higher weight gain. Increasing TUM supplementation of fish diets beyond 2 g kg^?1 was not beneficial.     

奥尼罗非鱼壬基酚慢性中毒的病理学研究

采用换水式毒性试验法进行了壬基酚(Nonylphenol,NP)对奥尼罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus×O.aureus)的慢性毒性试验和鱼体慢性中毒的病理组织学研究。结果表明,壬基酚对奥尼罗非鱼的鳃、肾脏、脾、肝脏均造成不同程度的病理损伤。主要表现为鳃小片上皮细胞增生;肾小球毛细血管萎缩,肾组织中出现嗜曙红物质,严重者出现坏死灶;脾组织淤血,变性,组织中出现大量血铁黄素沉淀,严重者脾组织大面积坏死;肝细胞变性,小叶中央静脉充血,严重者发生大面积肝组织的严重坏死。     

Combined effects of temperature and salinity on yolk utilization in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The combined effects of temperature and salinity on the yolk utilization of sac fry in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were investigated using central composite experimental design and response surface approach. Based on the preliminary trials, temperature was determined to range from 22 to 34°C, and salinity ranging from 2 ppt to 10 ppt. The utilization was mensurated in terms of yolk sac volume. Results showed that the linear effects of temperature and salinity on the yolk utilization was significant (P < 0.01); the quadratic effects of and the interaction between the two factors were significant (P < 0.05); temperature was more important than salinity in influencing the yolk utilization. The model equation of yolk sac volume towards temperature and salinity was established. From those high R² values, the model had excellent goodness of fit to experimental data and could be applied for predictive purpose. What with the production cost, it is suggested that the temperature/salinity combination, i.e. 28–30°C/4–6 ppt, be employed during the period of sac fry rearing, in which the yolk utilization was on average 98.6%.     

Effect of protein to energy ratio in purified diets on growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)

A 3 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted with Mozambique tilapia. Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters), using satiate feeding with 25%, 30% or 35% dietary protein concentrations each with three energy concentrations 10.5,12.6 or 14.7 kJ per g of purified diets. Protein-to-energy ratios (P/DE ratio) ranged from 17 to 33.4 mg protein kJ^?1 of digestible energy (DE). Diets were fed to triplicate random groups of 15 fingerlings for 62 days in glass aquaria. Improvement in both weight gain and feed conversion rate (FCR) was achieved when dietary protein increased (P < 0.05), while increasing dietary energy concentration reduced feed consumption and increased mortality (P < 0.05). Protein efficiency ratio (PER) increased as dietary protein decreased and as dietary energy increased (P < 0.05). P/DE ratio correlated positively with gain, energy retention (ER) and feed consumption (r= 0.96,0.96 and 0.73 respectively) and negatively with feed conversion rate (FCR), protein productive value (PPV), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and mortality (r= -0.93, -0.95. -0.91 and -0.84 respectively). Weight gain had a positive relation with feed consumption (r= 0.82). The optimum P/DE ratio in purified diets for Mozambique tilapia for rapid growth, efficient feed conversion and maximum retention of protein and energy appears to be approximately 23.8 mg of protein kJ^?1 of DE.