Effects of dietary β‐glucan and glycyrrhizin on non‐specific immunity and disease resistance of white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) challenged with Vibrio alginolyticus

The white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, fed immunostimulant‐free, 0.2%β‐glucan and 0.06% glycyrrhizin diets for 18 days, respectively, were challenged with Vibrio alginolyticus at 6.4 × 10⁴ CFU shrimp^?1. The total haemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase (PO) activity, respiratory burst (RB) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity changes for a 120‐h period were investigated, and shrimp mortality was also recorded. The results showed that PO activity, RB and SOD activity were significantly higher in shrimp fed the two immunostimulant diets after 18 days than those in shrimp fed immunostimulant‐free diets. The THC and SOD activity decreased significantly from 0 to 24 h post challenge, and then reverted to normal levels at 96 and 72 h respectively. The values for PO activity and RB increased from 0 to 48 h post challenge. Compared with those fed the control diets, shrimp fed immunostimulants had significantly higher PO activity and RB values at 120 h post challenge. Mortalities after challenge with V. alginolyticus were significantly lower in shrimp fed with β‐glucan or glycyrrhizin than in those fed with a diet without immunostimulants. It was concluded that dietary β‐glucan and glycyrrhizin increased the shrimp immunity. Furthermore, β‐glucan caused an increase in some immune parameters 12 h earlier than glycyrrhizin after V. alginolyticus challenge.     

Dietary exposure to melamine and cyanuric acid induced growth reduction,oxidative stress and pathological changes of hepatopancreas in Pacific white shrimp

This study examined the effects of dietary melamine (MEL) and cyanuric acid (CYA) singly and in combination on growth, nutrient utilization, immunological responses, oxidative stress, and histological changes in Pacific white shrimp. Seven experimental isonitrogenous (35%) and isolipidic (8%) diets were formulated, namely diet 1 (a control diet without MEL and CYA); diets 2–5 (with MEL and CYA at 2.5?+?2.5, 5?+?5, 7.5?+?7.5 and 10?+?10 g kg^?1 diet); diet 6 (with only MEL at 10 g kg^?1 diet) and diet 7 (with CYA alone at 10 g kg^?1 diet). The shrimp with initial body weight 2.37?±?0.02 g were fed with these diets for 10 weeks. The results indicate that all the diets with MEL and CYA singly or in combination had adverse effects on growth and nutrient utilization relative to the control diet (p?<?0.05). Total protease and trypsin activities were significantly lowered by all diets containing MEL (p?<?0.05). Haemolymph parameters, including total hemocyte count, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, respiratory burst, and lysozyme activity, were significantly decreased (p?<?0.05) in shrimp receiving MEL alone (10 g kg^?1 diet) and at high combination dosages (10?+?10 g kg^?1 diet). Moreover, MEL and CYA induced oxidative stress, damaged hepatopancreas, decreased antioxidant responses, increased lipid peroxidation, and caused abnormality of hepatocytes.

     

The effect of vitamin E on growth, survival and hepatopancreas structure of the Argentine red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri Bate (Crustacea, Penaeidea)

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the growth, survival and hepatopancreas histology of the Argentine red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Bate, 1888) fed different levels of vitamin E and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in a semipurified diet. The diets contained 0, 100, 600 or 1500 mg vitamin E kg^?1 and 16 mg BHT kg^?1 diet (trial 1) and 0, 1250, 1500, 1750 or 2000 mg vitamin E kg^?1 diet, squid mantle and vitamin‐free diet as a control (trial 2). After 30 days (trial 1), survival ranged between 43% and 64%, and the percentage weight gain of the shrimp varied from 22% to 31% with no significant differences among treatments (P<0.05). After 40 days (trial 2), survival of shrimp fed the diet with no vitamin E and squid mantle was significantly lower (62%) than the other treatment (86–90%). Shrimp fed diets containing vitamin E from 1250 to 1750 mg kg^?1 exhibited increased weight gain (34–65%); however, a significant difference was observed for shrimp fed the diet containing 2000 mg kg^?1. Histological results yielded differences among treatments. In shrimp fed 1750 mg kg^?1 of vitamin E, the functional morphology of the organ was normal, with abundant secretion in the tubules. Signs of malnourishment such as cellular and nuclear retraction, desquamation of cells and hipertrofia, were evident in the hepatopancreas of shrimp fed the other diets. The results indicate that optimal vitamin E requirement for P. muelleri under the present experimental conditions appears to be approximately 1750 mg vitamin E kg^?1 diet.     

Effects of supplementing bioactive compounds to a formulated diet on sensory compounds and growth of shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

Experimental diets were processed at the Oceanic Institute by adding various bioactive compounds (lutein, fucoxanthin, astaxanthins (Ax), glucosamine, carotenoid mix, phytosterol mix, bromophenol (Bp) mix or their combination) to a formulated (control) diet to examine their effects on sensory composition and growth of shrimp. These diets and a commercial feed were fed to ～1.6 g shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in four replicates in an indoor laboratory under flow‐through conditions for 8 weeks. Results indicated that all the supplementations of the bioactive compounds did not improve shrimp growth (0.79–0.97 g week^?1) compared with that (0.94 g week^?1) of the control diet (P>0.05). However, inclusion of lutein (200 mg kg^?1) or carotenoid mix (827 mg kg^?1) in the control diet (with supplemental Ax) resulted in much higher free Ax (48.3 or 46.5 mg kg^?1) and esterified Ax (6.2 or 3.9 mg kg^?1) content in shrimp tails than the control diet (28.4; 1.4 mg kg^?1 respectively) (P<0.05). Inclusion of Bp (2 mg kg^?1) in the control diet resulted in higher levels of Bp (160 μg kg^?1) in shrimp tail muscle than the control diet (81 μg kg^?1) (P<0.05). Three free amino acids, glycine, proline and alanine might be mainly responsible for the sweet taste of L. vannamei. The results suggest that the supplementation of the bioactive compounds may not affect shrimp growth performance, but some may affect the composition and taste of shrimp.     

Effect of high dietary intakes of vitamin E and n-3 HUFA on immune responses and resistance to Edwardsiella tarda challenge in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus, Temminck and Schlegel)

A feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of high dietary intake of vitamin E (supplied as dl ‐α‐tocopheryl acetate) and n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (n‐3 HUFA) on the non‐specific immune response and disease resistance in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Nine practical diets were formulated to contain one of three levels of vitamin E namely, 0, 80 or 200 mg kg^?1 (the total α‐tocopherol contents in the diets were 21, 97 and 213 mg kg^?1 based on analysis), and at each vitamin E level with one of three n‐3 HUFA levels i.e. 0.5%, 1.5% or 2.0%. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of Japanese flounder (initial body weight: 40.5±1.0 g, mean±SD) in a re‐circulation rearing system. Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation at 07:00 and 18:00 hours for 12 weeks. During the experimental period, water temperature was maintained at 18±1°C, salinity 31–35 g L^?1, and pH 7.8–8.2. Dissolved oxygen was not less than 6 mg L^?1, and there were negligible levels of free ammonia and nitrite. The results showed that the increase in dietary n‐3 HUFA from 0.5% to 1.0% significantly decreased muscle α‐tocopherol contents in fish‐fed diets with 21 and 97 mg α‐tocopherol kg^?1 diet (P<0.05). In 1.0% HUFA groups, alternative complement pathway activity (ACH₅₀) of fish fed the diet containing the 213 mg α‐tocopherol kg^?1 diet was significantly higher than noted for fish fed the diet containing 97 mg α‐tocopherol kg^?1 diet (P<0.05). Fish fed the diet with 213 mg α‐tocopherol kg^?1 and 2.0% n‐3 HUFA had the highest lysozyme activity (131.7 U mL^?1) among all the dietary treatments. Fish fed the diets containing 97 and 213 mg α‐tocopherol kg^?1 with 1.0% n‐3 HUFA had significantly higher respiratory burst activity than those fed the diets containing 21 mg α‐tocopherol kg^?1 with 0.5 and 1.0% n‐3 HUFA (P<0.05). In the disease resistance experiment, high intake of dietary vitamin E with 213 mg α‐tocopherol kg^?1 significantly decreased cumulative mortality and delayed the days to first mortality after a 7‐day Edwardsiella tarda challenge (P<0.05). In addition, under the experimental conditions, dietary vitamin E and n‐3 HUFA had a synergistic effect on the non‐specific immune responses and disease resistance in Japanese flounder (P<0.05).     

Immune responses of Litopenaeus vannamei to non‐ionic ammonia stress: a comparative study on shrimps in freshwater and seawater conditions

To investigate the effect of non‐ionic ammonia (NH₃‐N) stress (0.1 and 0.5 mg L^?1) on the immunity of Litopenaeus vannamei cultured in long‐term freshwater, the total haemocyte count (THC), the activity of phenoloxidase (PO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined and further compared with those of seawater shrimps. The results showed that NH₃‐N stress significantly reduced THC and the activity of PO and SOD (P < 0.05). Under 0.1 mg L^?1 NH₃‐N stress, NOS activity increased first and then decreased significantly, while it dropped dramatically under 0.5 mg L^?1 NH₃‐N stress (P < 0.05). During NH₃‐N stress, MDA content increased continuously, and the MDA content in hepatopancreas of freshwater shrimps was higher than that of seawater shrimps. It was concluded that NH₃‐N stress significantly influenced the non‐specific immunity and could also upset the balance of antioxidant system of L. vannamei in both freshwater and seawater shrimps. Compared with in seawater, the shrimps in freshwater were more vulnerable to NH₃‐N stress because of higher lipid peroxidation and lower immunity.     

Dietary selenium requirement for on‐growing gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III)

A 12‐week growth trial was conducted in a flow‐through system to determine dietary selenium (Se) requirement for on‐growing gibel carp (initial body weight: 76.2 ± 0.05 g, mean ± SEM). Selenomethionine was supplemented to the basal diet to formulate seven semi‐purified diets containing 0.26, 0.58, 0.72, 1.14, 1.34, 1.73 and 2.09 mg Se kg^?1 diet. The results showed that plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity significantly increased when fish were fed with 0.58 mg Se kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05) and then decreased at 2.09 mg Se kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). Plasma T‐AOC activity was higher in fish fed with 0.72 mg Se kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher in fish fed with 0.26 mg Se kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). When fish were fed 1.14 mg Se kg^?1 diet, hepatic GSH‐Px, T‐AOC, GSH and CAT activities were significantly higher than those fed with 0.26 mg Se kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was higher at 1.34 mg Se kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). Fish liver Se concentrations were significantly higher when fed with 0.72 mg Se kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05) and then kept constant when Se ≥ 0.72 mg kg^?1 (P > 0.05). Whole‐body and muscle Se concentrations were higher when fed with 1.34 mg Se kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05) and kept a plateau when Se ≥ 1.34 mg kg^?1 (P > 0.05). In conclusion, based on broken‐line regression of hepatic Se concentrations, hepatic SOD activity and hepatic T‐AOC activity, dietary Se requirements for on‐growing gibel carp was 0.73 mg kg^?1, 1.12 mg kg^?1 and 1.19 mg kg^?1 diet respectively.     

Vitamin C requirement of kuruma shrimp postlarvae, Marsupenaeus japonicus (Bate), using l-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate-Na/Ca

l ‐ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate‐Na/Ca (AMP‐Na/Ca) was used as a vitamin C source to investigate the ascorbic acid (AsA) requirements on growth performance and stress resistance of the post‐larval kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus. Purified carrageenan‐microbound diets with six levels of AMP‐Na/Ca, AsA equivalent to 0, 20, 56, 87, 759 and 1697 mg kg^?1 diet were fed to triplicate groups of M. japonicus (mean initial weight 16±0.3 mg) for 30 days. The diets with AsA 0, 20 and 56 mg kg^?1 showed high cumulative mortality after 10 days of feeding. After the 30‐day trial, the shrimp fed these diets had significantly lower survival and weight gain (WG, %) than those fed the 87, 759 and 1697 mg AsA kg^?1 diets. Specific growth rate and individual dry weight showed the same pattern as WG (%). There were no significant differences in growth performance among the groups fed the AsA levels at 87, 759 and 1697 mg kg^?1 at the termination of feeding trial. Broken‐line regression analysis indicated that 91.8 mg AsA kg^?1 in the diet was the optimum for post‐larval shrimp. On the other hand, dietary level of more than 800 mg AsA kg^?1 was needed to ensure high resistance to stressful conditions such as osmotic and formalin stressors.     

Effects of dietary chitosan on growth,survival and stress tolerance of postlarval shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

The effect of chitosan, a polymer of glucosamine obtained by the deacetylation of chitin, on growth, survival and stress tolerance was studied in postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei. An experiment was performed with postlarval shrimp (mean initial wet weight 1.2 mg) fed five isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets containing five supplemented levels of chitosan (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 g kg^?1 diet, respectively). The five compound diets (C0, C0.5, C1, C2 and C4) sustained shrimp growth throughout the experiment. Growth performance (final body weights; weight gain; SGR: specific growth rate) in shrimp fed diet C2 was significantly higher than that in shrimp fed diets C0, C0.5 and C1 (P < 0.05), diet C4 treatment provided intermediate growth result. The survival in shrimp fed diet C1 was significantly higher than that in shrimp fed C0 diet (P < 0.05), other diets treatments gave the intermediate survival results. No significant differences were found in growth and survival between diet C2 and C4 treatments. After 9 days of a stress tolerance test, survival in shrimp fed diets C1, C2 and C4 was significantly higher than that in shrimp fed diets C0 and C0.5. We concluded from this experiment that the incorporation of a moderate dietary chitosan was beneficial to the development of postlarval L. vannamei. Considering the effect of chitosan on both growth and survival of postlarval L. vannamei, second‐degree polynomial regression of SGR and survival indicated optimum supplement of dietary chitosan at 2.67 and 2.13 g kg^?1, respectively, so the level of chitosan supplemented in the diet should be between 2.13 and 2.67 g kg^?1.     

Enhancement of non‐specific immune responses in common carp,Cyprinus carpio,by dietary carotenoids obtained from shrimp exoskeleton

The immunostimulatory role of carotenoid extract from shrimp processing discards was evaluated by feeding common carp fingerlings with a diet containing carotenoid extract for 21 weeks at 100 and 200 mg kg^?1 astaxanthin levels. Haemoglobin content was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the blood of fish fed with carotenoid diet (>8.1 g dL^?1) compared with that from fish fed with carotenoid deficient diet (6.86 g dL^?1) and also leukocyte counts were higher (P < 0.05). No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in total serum protein, globulin level and albumin‐globulin ratio, but albumin content was higher (P < 0.05). Respiratory burst activity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher, the serum lysozyme activity almost doubled and the serum bactericidal activity was significantly increased when the fish were fed with diet containing 200 mg kg^?1 of astaxanthin but no significant differences were observed in serum trypsin inhibitory activity. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in leukocyte myeloperoxidase activity due to dietary carotenoids. Challenging fish with Aeromonas hydrophila after the feeding period resulted in 50% mortality in the control group while in the group fed with diet containing 100 mg kg^?1 astaxanthin, the mortality rate was 15%. No mortality and even symptoms of infection was not observed in the group fed with diet containing 200 mg kg^?1 of astaxanthin. The study indicated that carotenoid extract from shrimp processing discards can effectively be used as immunostimulants in aquaculture of carps and dietary carotenoids were found to enhance various immune defence mechanisms and also provide protection against the infection of pathogen A. hydrophila.     

Comparative study on the effects of chelated or inorganic manganese in diets containing tricalcium phosphate and phytate on the growth performance and physiological responses of turbot Scophthalmus maximus

A growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of chelated (Mintrex^? Mn, Mn‐M) or inorganic (MnSO₄·H₂O, Mn‐S) manganese (Mn) on growth, feed utilization, tissue Mn deposition and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in turbot Scophthalmus maximus. A semi‐purified basal diet was formulated to be deficient in Mn (3.7 mg kg^?1) and contained tricalcium phosphate and sodium phytate at levels of 20 and 5 g kg^?1, respectively. Ten other diets were made by adding five levels (5, 10, 20, 35 and 55 mg Mn kg^?1 diet) of either the Mn‐M or Mn‐S to the basal diet, respectively. The 11 experimental diets were fed to groups of turbot (mean initial weight: 4.6 g) for 8 weeks. Results showed that the specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake, whole body Mn/vertebra Mn concentration and Mn‐SOD activity in liver were significantly improved by Mn supplementation (P < 0.05). On the basis of SGR, vertebra Mn concentration or liver Mn‐SOD activity data, dietary Mn requirement was estimated to be 10.5, 46.3 or 12.9 mg kg^?1 for turbot fed Mn‐S, and the same was estimated to be 7.6, 43.0 or 22.5 mg kg^?1 for turbot fed Mn‐M, respectively. There was no significant difference in growth, feed intake, whole body Mn concentration or vertebra Mn concentration between the two dietary Mn sources (P > 0.05).     

Influence of dietary phospholipids level on growth performance,body composition and lipid class of early postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei

One experiment was conducted to determine the nutritive value of phospholipids on growth performance of early postlarval shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Five isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets with five supplemented levels of phospholipids (P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 with 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 g kg^?1 diet, respectively) were fed to triplicate groups of L. vannamei (mean initial wet weight 0.8 mg) for 27 days. After the 27‐day feeding trial, the lowest weight gain (WG, %) and specific growth rate (SGR, % day^?1) was found in P1 treatment, the highest WG and SGR was found in P3, P4 and P5 treatments, P2 treatment provided intermediate result and showed significant difference compared to P1, P3, P4 and P5 treatments. Shrimp fed the P1 diet had significantly lower survival than shrimp fed other diets, while no significant difference was found in survival among P2, P3, P4 and P5 treatments. Broken‐line analysis on WG indicated that the optimum dietary phospholipids for early postlarval shrimp, L. vannamei, is 45.96 g kg^?1 diet.     

The effect of vitamin A supplementation in broodstock feed on reproductive performance and larval quality in Penaeus chinensis

The effect of feeding four semi‐purified diets A1, A2, A3, A4, containing different vitamin A acetate levels 0, 20, 40, 60 mg kg^?1 diet, respectively, on fecundity, egg hatching rate, larval survival rate and vitamin A content in eggs of Chinese shrimp (Penaeus chinensis) broodstock was compared with a fresh clam diet (control) in a 60‐day feeding trial. The broodstock shrimp fed the diet with 60 mg kg^?1 vitamin A acetate added exhibited significantly higher fecundity (P < 0.01). Hatching rate was highest with diet A4 (P < 0.05), whereas hatching rates were similar fed diets A1, A2, A3. Increasing levels of vitamin A in broodstock diet resulted in improvement in larval quality. The vitamin A levels in shrimp eggs from broodstock fed with diet A4 were higher compared with those from broodstock fed with diet A1, A2 (P < 0.01). The fecundity and hatching percentages were positively correlated with the vitamin A content in eggs in the present study. The results of this study showed that higher level of vitamin A in broodstock diet may have positive effects on fecundity and larval quality in P. chinensis.     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth and energy productive value of pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,at different salinities

A 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dietary protein and lipid levels on growth and energy productive value of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei, at 30 and 2 ppt, respectively. Nine practical diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (380, 410 and 440 g kg^?1) and three lipid levels (60, 80 and 100 g kg^?1). Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of 30 shrimps per tank (260 L). The effects of salinity and an interaction between dietary protein level and lipid level on growth and energy productive value of shrimp were observed under the experimental conditions of this study. At 30 ppt seawater, shrimp fed with 440 g kg^?1protein diets had significantly higher weight gain (WG) than those fed with 380 g kg^?1 protein diets at the same dietary lipid level, and the 60 g kg^?1 lipid group showed higher growth than 80 g kg^?1and 100 g kg^?1 lipid groups at the same dietary protein level. At 2 ppt seawater, the growth of shrimp was little affected by dietary protein treatments when shrimp fed the 80 and 100 g kg^?1 lipid, shrimp fed the 80 g kg^?1 lipid diets had only slightly higher growth than that fed 60and 100 g kg^?1 lipid diets when fed 380 and 410 g kg^?1 dietary protein diets. A significant effect of salinity on growth of shrimp was detected with the growth responses at 30 ppt > 2ppt (P < 0.05). Final body lipid content, body protein content and energy productive value of shrimp was significantly higher in animals exposed to 30 ppt than in shrimp held at 2 ppt.     

Effect of dietary protein and lipid levels and protein–energy ratio on growth indices, feed utilization and body composition of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man 1879) post larvae

A grow‐out experiment was designed to determine the effect of different dietary protein, lipid levels and protein–energy (P:E) ratio on growth performance and feed utilization of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii post larvae (PL) culture in pond net enclosures (hapa, 3.75 m^?3 each) for 12 weeks (84 days). The experimental treatments were assigned in triplicate. Six test diets were formulated to contain three different protein levels (300, 350 and 400 g kg^?1 diet) and two lipid levels (100 and 140 g kg^?1 diet) in a factorial manner (3 × 2) to provided six different dietary P:E ratio: 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 mg CP kJ^?1 g^?1). The result showed that the highest significant (P≤0.05) survival rate, growth indices and feed utilization were observed for M. rosenbergii PL fed a diet with a P:E ratio of 17 mg CP kJ^?1 g¹, whereas, the lowest value was recorded for prawns fed a diet with a P:E ratio of 20 mg CP kJ^?1 g^?1. Whole body contents of protein and lipid were highest (P≤0.05) when fed diets with 21 and 17 mg CP kJ^?1 g^?1 respectively. Concerning dietary protein levels, the highest (P≤0.05) values for survival and growth indices were observed for PL fed a diet containing 300 g kg^?1 diet protein. The same trend was observed for PL fed a diet with 100 g kg^?1 diet lipid level, irrespective of dietary protein levels. A diet containing 300 g kg^?1 protein and 100 g kg^?1 lipid with a dietary P:E ratio of 17 mg CP kJ g^?1 is recommended to stimulate growth performance and nutrients utilization efficiency of M. rosenbergii PL.     

The effect of vitamin C on stress withstanding capability in the juvenile soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

The study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin C on anti‐acid stress ability in juvenile soft‐shelled turtle. The soft‐shelled turtles were fed vitamin C supplemented diets at levels of 0, 250, 500, 2500, 5000 and 10 000 mg kg^?1 for 4 weeks. The results showed that the phagocytic rate of blood cell in the group fed vitamin C deficient diets, the serum bacteriolytic activity in the two groups fed vitamin C supplemented diet at 0 and 250 mg kg^?1 and the serum bactericidal activity in all groups after acid stress significantly decreased compared with those of before stress (P < 0.1). The phagocytic rate of blood cells in the two groups fed vitamin C supplemented diet at 2500 and 5000 mg kg^?1 were significantly higher than those of the four groups fed at 0, 250, 500 and 10 000 mg kg^?1 (P < 0.01). The serum bacteriolytic activity in the groups fed vitamin C supplemented diet at 500, 2500, 5000 and 10 000 mg kg^?1 were significantly higher than that of the group fed vitamin C deficient diets (P < 0.05), and the two groups fed vitamin C at 2500 and 5000 mg kg^?1 were significantly higher than those of the groups fed at 250 and 10 000 mg kg^?1 (P < 0.05). The serum bactericidal activities in the four groups fed vitamin C supplemented diet at 500, 2500, 5000 and 10 000 mg kg^?1 were significantly higher than those of the two groups fed at 0 and 250 mg kg^?1 diet (P < 0.01), and the two groups fed vitamin C at 2500 and 5000 mg kg^?1 were significantly higher than those of the two groups fed at 500 and 10 000 mg kg^?1 (P < 0.1). These results suggest that supplementation of vitamin C higher than 250 mg kg^?1 is necessary to reduce the adverse effects of acid stress.     

Effect of practical diets with different protein levels on the performance of Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles nursed in a zero exchange suspended microbial flocs intensive system

Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles (72 ± 24 mg), were reared in a suspended microbial flocs system and fed practical diets containing increasing amounts of crude protein (250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 g kg^?1 CP). Development of microbial flocs was promoted by high aeration rates and fertilization with wheat bran and molasses. Flocs were composed of detritus in the form of flocculated matter colonized by heterotrophic bacteria, cocoid and filamentous cyanobacteria, flagellate and ciliate protozoa and rotifers. Proximate composition analysis of the suspended microbial floc showed CP levels of 304 g kg^?1. After 45 days, mean shrimp survival were above 89%, with no significant differences between treatments. Shrimp fed diets with 350 g kg^?1 or higher CP content achieved significant higher (P < 0.05) final weight (0.66–0.68 g), weight gain (0.58–0.61 g) and instantaneous growth rate (0.049–0.050), with feed conversion rates (2.17–2.30) significantly lower (P < 0.05). Results show that, when rearing is carried out in a suspended microbial flocs system, dietary CP levels can be kept at 350 g kg^?1. Furthermore, results confirm that microbial‐based systems allow shrimp culture without compromising the surrounding environment and shows the possible reduction of production costs and fish meal dependence.     

The effects of a dietary protease‐complex on performance,digestive and immune enzyme activity,and disease resistance of Litopenaeus vannamei fed high plant protein diets

The effects of a dietary protease‐complex on growth performance, body composition, digestive and immune enzyme activity of Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance to a pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus were assessed in a 9‐week trial. A high fish meal diet (HF) containing 200 g kg^?1 fish meal and a low fish meal diet (LF) containing 100 g kg^?1 fish meal were designed as a positive and negative control respectively. Three other diets (LF+125P, LF+150P, and LF+175P) were manufactured by supplementing graded level of a protease‐complex (125, 150 and 175 mg kg^?1, respectively) to the LF diet. All diets were formulated to be iso‐proteic and iso‐energetic. Most performance indices of shrimp fed the LF+175P diets were similar to the HF diet. Among the digestive enzymes, trypsin, lipase and amylase activity in hepatopancreas of shrimp fed LF+175P diets (4576 U mg^?1 protein and 16, 32 U g^?1 protein, respectively) were higher than those fed the LF diets but lower than the HF diets (P < 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase and polyphenol oxidase contents in both serum and hepatopancreas were higher and serum malondialdehyde content and the cumulative mortality during disease challenge tests were lower for the diets containing the protease‐complex than those fed the LF diets (P < 0.05) with no difference with those fed the HF diets.     

Beneficial effects of Oral Allspice,Pimenta dioica powder supplementation on the hemato‐immunological and serum biochemical responses of Oreochromis mossambicus

The present study investigated the effects of dietary allspice powder supplementation on welfare status of Tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus assessed by hemato‐immunological and serum biochemical parameters. Five diets were formulated to contain 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 or 20 g of allspice kg^?1 of fish feed. Fish were fed experimental diets for 60 days. Supplementation of allspice powder at 10 g kg^?1 positively influenced the serum glucose, plasma lysozyme activity and myeloperoxidase activity. Dietary allspice powder at 15 g kg^?1 also positively influenced the serum biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin and globulin) and plasma lysozyme activity. However, 20 g kg^?1 allspice powder group had significantly lower values of respiratory burst activity and red blood cell count than other experimental groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that supplementation of allspice powder at 10 or 15 g kg^?1 for 60 days, had beneficial effects on improvement of some immunological and serum biochemical status of O. mossambicus. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation of allspice powder might further improve the resistance to fish pathogens.     

Effect of dietary cornstarch levels on growth performance, digestibility and microscopic structure in the white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei reared in brackish water

The ability of Litopenaeus vannamei (initial mean weight: 0.96 ± 0.02 g) to utilize different levels of cornstarch was examined in terms of growth indices, body composition, digestibility and microscopic structure of the hepatopancreas. Six isonitrogenous semipurified diets were fed to satiation to shrimp for 8 weeks in triplicate tanks (30 shrimps per tank) connected to a natural brackish water (6–8 g L^?1) recirculating system. Diets contained different levels of cornstarch (100, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 350 g kg^?1) as the source of carbohydrate and were balanced using cellulose. Weight gain (WG), survival rate and feed conversion rate (FCR) were considerably affected by cornstarch levels of diets. The highest WG (453.6 g kg^?1) and best FCR was observed in shrimp fed the 150 g kg^?1 (cornstarch level) diet and was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those fed diets containing 250–350 g kg^?1 cornstarch. However, the survival rate reached maximum in shrimp fed the 100 g kg^?1 diet (96.7), some 30% higher than the lowest rate, which was found in shrimp fed the 250 g kg^?1 diet. Body lipid tended to be higher in shrimp fed diets with higher cornstarch levels. The apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude fat increased with increasing levels of cornstarch and, hence, decreasing levels of cellulose. In addition, histological study on shrimp fed 10–350 g kg^?1 diets exhibited histological changes. The overall conclusion was that the optimum cornstarch level may be set at 100–200 g kg^?1 when the diets contain 380 g kg^?1 protein.