Total and available tryptophan requirement of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,fingerlings

The dietary total and available requirement of tryptophan of Nile tilapia fingerlings was determined using linear regression analysis. Six hundred fish (3.4 ± 0.0 g) were fed diets containing 296.4 g/kg of crude protein and 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy. Five extruded diets containing 2.5, 3.0, 3.4, 3.8 and 4.2 g/kg of total tryptophan were evaluated. Fish were fed four times a day during 45 days. Final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and net protein utilization of fish fed Trp 3.4 and Trp 3.8 diets were improved compared to fish fed Trp 2.5 and Trp 4.2 diets. No significant differences in survival rate, whole‐body moisture and ash were observed. Whole‐body amino acid profile of fish fed different diets did not differ statistically (p > .05). Fish fed Trp 3.0 and Trp 3.4 diets showed higher tryptophan retention compared to fish fed Trp 2.5 and Trp 4.2 diets. Excepting blood glucose, no effects of dietary tryptophan on haematological parameters were observed. The dietary total tryptophan requirement of Nile tilapia fingerlings based on weight gain was estimated to be 3.4 g/kg (11.0 g/kg of dietary crude protein) or 3.0 g/kg of available tryptophan (11.0 g/kg of dietary digestible protein).     

Brown propolis extract in feed as a growth promoter of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus 1758) fingerlings

This study assessed the use of increasing levels of brown propolis extract (BPE) as a growth promoter in Nile tilapia fingerling feeds. In a complete randomized design, 75 Nile tilapia fingerlings with 60 days on average and weighing 4.1±0.1 g were assigned to 25 aquaria (60 L) and subjected to 5 treatments in 5 repetitions for 30 days. Propolis from Serra do Araripe, Cariri Region, South Ceará State – Brazil was used to produce the BPE. The treatments involved the addition of BPE to feed samples (0.91, 1.83, 2.74 and 3.65 g kg⁻¹) and feed control (without BPE). The final mean weight and the percentage of weight gain varied quadratically with the increase in BPE ( P <0.01), with a maximum of 2.22 g kg⁻¹. The other evaluated parameters were not affected by the treatments ( P >0.05). The level of best performance parameters was 2.22 g kg⁻¹, between the levels of 1.83 and 2.74 g BPE kg⁻¹ feed inclusion. These results indicate the potential to use the brown propolis extract as a growth promoter to Nile tilapia fingerlings.     

Depletion of stored nutrients during fasting in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles

We evaluated growth performance and metabolic responses in Nile tilapia (Oreochromic niloticus) juveniles (30.2 ± 0.9 g) subjected to 1 (F1), 2 (F2), or 3 weeks (F3) of fasting and then refed for 10 weeks (10WR) compared to controls (FC), which were fed for the full 13-week trial. Weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) during fasting were lower in all treatments compared to the FC. However, during refeeding, feed intake/body mass and SGR increased in F1, F2, and F3, inducing partial compensatory growth. The hepatosomatic index (HSI), visceral fat index (VFI), liver glycogen (LG), and carcass lipid levels dropped in all fasted fish compared to FC (P < 0.05), showing a depletion of stored nutrients such as fat and LG. Along with LG, fat reserves were mobilized during fasting to maintain basal metabolism and survival, but these energy constituents returned to control levels at 10WR, at which time HSI was higher in all refed fish compared to FC. Additionally, the variables VFI, LG, and lipid in carcass increased in all refed fish, equaling those of FC at 10WR. The results showed that, in contrast with other protocols that used smaller tilapia juveniles, the feeding strategies utilized for Nile tilapia juveniles in this study (1 to 3 weeks of fasting and 10WR) were able to induce only partial compensatory growth. It can be concluded that in situations that require complete food restriction in juvenile Nile tilapia (30 g), an acceptable strategy is to limit the period of fasting to 1 week or less to minimize losses and to achieve partial compensatory growth.     

Establishing the optimal essential amino acid ratios in juveniles of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by the deletion method

One of the strategies used to improve fish production is lowering the feed costs and the environmental impact by reducing dietary protein content. Using the deletion method, we determined the optimal amino acid (AA) ratio for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (body weight 20 g). Eleven experimental diets and four replications, taken two at a time, distributed in a randomized block design were used. For this trial, a balanced diet (BD) was formulated. Ten other diets were formulated by the deletion method, in which the BD diet was adjusted to result in a reduction of 45% of the test amino acid. Fish were fed three times a day for 57 days. Groups of fish at the beginning and at the end of the experiment were euthanized for further determination of the carcass nitrogen (N) composition. The optimal ratio of each AA was derived by dividing the requirement for each AA by the requirements for lysine. The essential AA ratios, expressed relative to lysine (=100), were methionine 64, threonine 93, tryptophan 24, arginine 125, histidine 34, isoleucine 57, leucine 96, valine 76 and phenylalanine 101. Our findings might be used to design strategies aimed at reducing the production costs of Oreochromis niloticus.     

Buprofezin toxication implicates health hazards in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The objective of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of buprofezin insecticide on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The fish were exposed to buprofezin at 100 mg/L for 28 days. Compared to control, activity of serum transferases and levels of urea and creatinine showed significant increases. Oxidative stress was recorded manifested by elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and inhibition of activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in liver and kidney. Examination of peripheral RBCs revealed elevated frequency of micronucleated cell. Interleukin 1 beta (IL‐1β) gene was upregulated in liver, muscle and brain, while that of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2) gene increased in liver and muscle, but not in brain. Histopathological alterations were recorded in liver, kidneys, brain, gills, pancreas, spleen, intestine, muscle and ovaries. The immunohistochemical detection of caspase‐3 in the liver revealed no differences between treated and control groups; however, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was demonstrated in hepatocytes and hepatopancreas in buprofezin‐treated group compared to control. It has been concluded that the tissue damage induced by buprofezin in Nile tilapia is mediated by oxidative stress and inflammatory response but not by apoptosis.     

A new approach to fishery waste revalorization to enhance Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) digestion process

The main goal of this research was to analyse in vitro compatibility of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) digestive proteinases and enzymes recovered from species comprising fishery waste as Pleoticus muelleri, Artemesia longinaris and Patagonotothen ramsayi. It evaluated the use of exogenous enzymes as feed supplements to increase digestion efficiency in tilapia fingerlings and juveniles (3.5 ± 0.11 g and 11.6 ± 1.5 g, respectively). We successfully have obtained proteinases from fishery waste as source of exogenous enzymes. P. muelleri and A. longinaris enzymes had more activity of acid and alkaline proteinases than P. ramsayi. SDS‐PAGE gels demonstrated that Nile tilapia digestive proteinases keep their activity when combined with each exogenous proteinase. Exogenous enzymes varied in their ability to enhance hydrolysis of different feed ingredients. P. muelleri by‐products are the best candidates to be employed as feed supplements for tilapia juveniles. Enzymes from this by‐product did not affect the activity and integrity of fish digestive enzymes, improved the hydrolysis of different protein sources (fish meal, squid meal, shrimp meal and soybean meal), and maintained its activity after being exposed to high temperatures and acid pHs. Our findings are applicable to other places where O. niloticus is raised utilizing local fishery waste, and also to different cultured species.     

Economic profitability of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) production in Kenya

Economic profitability of Nile tilapia production in Kenya was analysed using a model that simulated individual fish growth and took fish population dynamics in the pond into account. The results suggest that the currently practiced mixed‐sex tilapia culture is economically unsustainable. It is suggested that research and extension efforts be geared towards developing monosex Nile tilapia production systems. Nile tilapia culture with African catfish predation should be viewed as an intermediate step towards all‐male Nile tilapia culture. This will allow accumulation of both physical and human capital to support all‐male tilapia culture. Under all‐male culture, economic returns are high enough to justify investment in Nile tilapia culture using borrowed capital. However, the success of monosex culture will depend on the availability and affordability of quality fingerlings and low‐cost fish feeds. The results have a wide application in Sub‐Saharan Africa where mixed‐sex Nile tilapia culture is common.     

Stable isotope analysis to quantify contributions of supplementary feed in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (GIFT strain) aquaculture

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is currently one of the most farmed freshwater fish and contributes significantly to total global aquaculture production. The genetically improved strain of O. niloticus (GIFT) was introduced to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1999 to improve food and income security. The high cost and low availability of commercial fish feed hinder the growth of GIFT farming in PNG. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were used to determine the role of supplementary and natural food sources in the diet of GIFT in pond‐based aquaculture. Two treatments were used: treatment 1 was daily feeding, and treatment 2 was weekly feeding, each with three replicates. Isotopic analysis of muscle tissue and all potential food sources showed that pellet feed contributed 7% to the growth of GIFT in daily‐fed ponds and 33% in the weekly‐fed ponds. Highly enriched δ¹⁵N values for chicken manure, compared to depleted values for GIFT and other natural food sources in both treatments, clearly indicate insignificant contributions of this input to production. After 90 days of cultivation, the average final body weight of GIFT receiving daily feed inputs was 134 g (average 19 cm), while for weekly‐fed it was 92 g (17 cm). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was poor (6.4:1) in the daily‐fed GIFT ponds compared to a better, and preferable, FCR (1:1) in the weekly‐fed ponds. The findings of this study show that pelleted feed was not the major contributor to the growth of GIFT. Genetically improved farmed tilapia aquaculture should focus on enhancing natural food availability for fish production.     

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.     

Potential of the use of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) leaf meal as a partial replacement for fish meal in diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

The rapid growth of tilapia culture has stimulated the expansion of tilapia feed production and a search for novel protein sources to replace fish meal. Vegetable or plant sources are promising alternatives and legumes are both naturally abundant and high in protein content. A study was carried out to evaluate the effects of replacing the protein from fish meal with peanut ( Arachis hypogaea ) leaf meal (PLM) in diets for male tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus , initial body weight 75.3 g). Four isonitrogenous (35% CP) and isocaloric (18.834 kJ g⁻¹) diets were prepared to include 0% (CON), 10% (PLM10), 20% (PLM20) and 30% (PLM30) of PLM protein. Average fish weights at the end of the 126-day experiment were not statistically different among the fish fed CON, PLM10 and PLM20 diets. The PLM30 diet produced the poorest growth performance. Organic matter and protein contents of fish were similar in the CON, PLM10 and PLM20 diets. Carcass chemical composition showed a decrease in body fat content as PLM replacement levels increased. The high survival ratio in all dietary groups (>97%) suggests that PLM can be used in O. niloticus feeds for long periods without affecting fish growth performance or health.     

Apparent digestibility coefficient of protein and amino acids of acid, biological and enzymatic silage for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Using the fish silage to partially replace proteic feedstuff in aquafeeds is an alternative to mitigate sanitary and environmental problems caused by the lack of adequate destination for fisheries residues. It would also lower feed costs, consequently improving fish culture profitability. However, using fish silages in aquafeeds depends on determination of its apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC). This work aimed to determining the ADC of crude protein and amino acids of acid silage (AS), biological silage (BS) and enzymatic silage (ES) for juvenile Nile tilapia (94.5 ± 12.7 g). The ADC_CP was: 92.0%, 89.1% and 93.7% for AS, BS and SE respectively. The average ADC of amino acids was: 91.8%, 90.8% and 94.6% for AS, BS and ES respectively. Results encourage the use of AS, BS and ES to partially replace protein sources in balanced diets for neotropical fish.     

Evaluation of replacing fish meal with corn protein concentrate in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings commercial diet

Four isocaloric‐isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 50, 100 and 190 g/kg corn protein concentrate (CPC) as replacement for dietary fish meal were fed to Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings for 8 weeks. Tilapia growth parameters were not significantly (p > .05) different in fish fed diets with 0, 50 and 100 g/kg CPC and found to be superior compared to those fed on 190 g/kg CPC. Fish dressing ratios and body composition were similar among all treatments. The electron microscope indicated that the stomach size of control fish was slightly smaller and the wall was thinner while the stomach of the fish fed all other levels of CPC undergone a remarkable size increase and their walls were thicker after feeding diets with CPC. Total aerobic bacterial and coliform counts were significantly decreased in fish intestine when fed diets with 100 and 190 g/kg CPC compared with fish fed diets with 0 g/kg or 50 g/kg CPC. This study indicates that it is possible to replace up to 534 g/kg of dietary fish meal in tilapia fingerlings using 100 g/kg of CPC without any negative effect on fish growth and proximate body composition.     

Different utilization of plant sources by the omnivores jundiá catfish (Rhamdia quelen) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Plant sources are receiving special attention as feedstuffs in aquafeeds because of fish meal and oil shortage. However, studies about the effects of dietary fibre in fish are scarce. The inclusion of plant ingredients containing different levels of dietary fibre – broken rice (BR), ground corn (GC), wheat bran (WB), citrus pulp (CP) and soybean hulls (SH) were evaluated for the omnivores jundiá catfish and Nile tilapia. Tilapia is a typical omnivore with long intestines, whereas jundiá has short intestines and no pyloric ceca. Fibrous sources (CP, WB and SH) were less digestible for both species than the starchy ones (BR and GC). However, jundiá presented less ability to utilize the starch and protein from plant sources than tilapia. Growth of tilapia followed plant sources digestibility but no significant differences were detected for jundiá, probably because of its slower growth rate. Muscle layer was thicker in the distal intestine of jundiá fed CP diet, which possibly indicates an adaptation to propel the large volume of viscous digesta along the intestine. Therefore, despite its lower ability to utilize starchy plant sources, jundiá showed an adaptive capacity to utilize fibrous diets, which is in agreement with its omnivorous feeding habit.     

Amino acid availability and protein digestibility of several protein sources for Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Apparent amino acid availability coefficients and protein digestibility of four animal products [fish meal (FM), meat and bone meal (MBM), poultry by‐product and feather meal] and four plant protein‐rich products [soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal‐28, cottonseed meal‐38 and corn gluten meal (CGM)] were determined for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Ingredients were incorporated to a practical reference diet at a 7 : 3 ratio (70% of reference diet and 30% of test ingredient). Chromic oxide was used as external digestibility marker. Among animal products poultry by‐product meal (PBM; 89.7%) and FM (88.6%) presented the highest apparent protein digestibility (APD) while MBM (78.4%) and feather meal (78.5%) presented the lowest APD. Among plant protein‐rich products CGM (91.4%) and SBM (92.4%) presented the highest APD values while cottonseed meal‐28 presented the lowest APD (78.6%). Average apparent amino acid availability of feed ingredients was similar to protein digestibility with 92.3%, 89.6%, 73.4%, 80.7%, 88.9%, 84.4%, 91.2% and 79.7% values for SBM, CGM, cottonseed meal‐28 and 38, FM, MBM, PBM and feather meal respectively. These results indicate that O. niloticus is able to utilize efficiently different feedstuffs.     

Cage‐pond integration of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with carps

Cage‐pond integration system is a new model for enhancing productivity of pond aquaculture system. A field trial was conducted using African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in cages and carps in earthen ponds. There were four treatments replicated five times: (1) carps in ponds without cage, (2) tilapia at 30 fish m^?3 in cage and carps in open pond, (3) catfish at 100 fish m^?3 in cage and carps in open pond, (4) tilapia and catfish at 30 and 100 fish m^?3, respectively, in separate cages and carps in open pond. The carps were stocked at 1 fish m^?2. The cage occupied about 3% of the pond area. The caged tilapia and catfish were fed and the control ponds were fertilized. Results showed that the combined extrapolated net yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the catfish, tilapia and carps integration system (9.4 ± 1.6 t ha^?1 year^?1) than in the carp polyculture (3.3 ± 0.7 t ha^?1 year^?1). The net return from the tilapia and carps (6860 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) and catfish, tilapia and carps integration systems (6668 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) was significantly higher than in the carp polyculture (1709 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) (P < 0.05). This experiment demonstrated that the cage‐pond integration of African catfish and Nile tilapia with carps is the best technology to increase production; whereas integration of tilapia and carp for profitability.     

温度与盐度对吉富品系尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼能量代谢的联合效应

在实验室条件下采用中心复合设计和响应曲面法,以影响能量代谢的2个重要环境因子(温度和盐度)为自变量,以耗氧率、排氨率与CO2排泄率为响应值,研究并探讨了温度(13~36℃)与盐度(0~20)对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼能量代谢的联合影响。结果表明,温度与盐度的一次效应、盐度的二次效应及其互作效应对耗氧率、排氨率与CO2排泄率均有显著影响(P>0.05);温度的二次效应对耗氧率和CO2排泄率没有显著影响(P>0.05);所考察因子与耗氧率、排氨率与CO2排泄率间二次多项回归方程的决定系数分别达到0.958 1、0.977 8和0.979 5(P<0.01),可用于预测。温度效应较盐度明显,盐度较低时,能量消耗对温度变化较为敏感;在等渗点附近,耗氧率、排氨率和CO2排泄率较高;盐度超过等渗点时,低温和高盐环境对幼鱼的能量代谢有抑制作用。氧氮比(O∶N)随盐度变化而变化,温度对其没有显著影响(P>0.05)。当温度与盐度分别为13~36℃与0~10时,罗非鱼幼鱼主要依靠蛋白质和脂肪氧化供能;盐度为20时,脂肪成为主要供能物质;本实验条件下呼吸商的均值为0.752。本研究有助于更好地解释温度与盐度对罗非鱼新陈代谢的影响,同时可以为研究环境因子对能量的时空分配模式的改变提供生物能量学依据。     

Elevated temperature affects growth and hemato‐biochemical parameters,inducing morphological abnormalities of erythrocytes in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Temperature is considered as an important environmental factor, and the increasing water temperature resulting from global warming is a great concern. The present study was conducted to examine the effects of elevated water temperature on growth, hemato‐biochemical parameters in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus acclimatized to three temperatures (31°C, 34°C and 37°C) for 60 days. Additionally, erythrocytic cellular abnormalities (ECA) and erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENA) tests were assayed using peripheral erythrocytes after exposure to the three temperatures. Fish were sacrificed on days 7, 15, 30 and 60 of exposure. Growth performances viz., weight gain, % weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) showed decreasing tendency at 34°C but significantly declined at 37°C compared to 31°C. The abundance of haemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cells (RBCs) significantly decreased in response to temperature increases, while white blood cells (WBCs) displayed the opposite response. At days 7 and 15, blood glucose levels significantly increased in response to the temperature increase, while at days 30 and 60 glucose declined. Frequencies of ECA and ENA were significantly enhanced at the highest temperature throughout the experimental period. Dissolved oxygen decreased and free CO₂ increased significantly with increasing temperature throughout the study period. The present study revealed that temperatures higher than 34°C may be hazardous to O. niloticus.