Effect of dietary chitosan on growth performance,haematology, immune response,intestine morphology,intestine microbiota and disease resistance in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

A 75‐day experiment was conducted with juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) (4.80 ± 0.01 g) to evaluate effects of dietary chitosan on fish growth performance, haematology, intestine morphology and immune response. Six isonitrogenous (crude protein: 383 g kg^?1), isolipid (97.5 g kg^?1) and isocaloric (gross energy: 16.7 kJ g^?1) diets were formulated to contain 0, 1800, 4000, 7500, 10 000, 20 000 mg kg^?1 chitosan, respectively. The results showed that the growth was depressed when the fish fed with 10 000 mg kg^?1 chitosan. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride and low‐density lipoprotein decreased in 10 000 and 20 000 mg kg^?1 chitosan. On day 75, blood leucocyte phagocytic activity respiratory burst and alternative pathway of complement haemolytic activity were enhanced in 4000 mg kg^?1 chitosan. The number of goblet cell, intraepithelial lymphocyte of mid‐intestine and microvilli height of distal intestine increased at 4000 mg kg^?1 dietary chitosan. Dietary chitosan modulated intestine microbiota, depressed pathogen bacteria Aeromonas veronii‐like and improved Cellulomonas hominis‐like, Bacillus oceanisediminis‐like and two uncultured bacterium‐like species on day 75. Dietary 7500 and 10 000 mg kg^?1 chitosan enhanced the protection against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. In conclusion, oral administration of dietary 7500 mg kg^?1 chitosan for 75 days is recommended for the survival of gibel carp.     

Effects of dietary betaine in allogynogenetic gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio): Enhanced growth,reduced lipid deposition and depressed lipogenic gene expression

A 10‐week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental betaine on growth performance, body composition and lipid deposition in allogynogenetic gibel carp. Four isoproteic (37% crude protein) and isolipidic (5% crude lipid) artificial diets with 0%, 0.08%, 0.4% and 2% betaine supplementation were formulated, and named VB₀, VB_0.08, VB_0.4 and VB₂, respectively. Each diet was fed in triplicate to fish about 10 g in weight. The results showed that 0.4% betaine supplementation significantly improved growth performance and reduced lipid content in the hepatopancreas, muscle and the whole body compared with the control group. Moreover, both fatty acid synthase and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase, two important lipogenic genes, showed significantly lower expression in the VB_0.4 group than in the control group, and a strong correlation was detected between lipid content and mRNA expression levels for FAS and ACC in the hepatopancreas. Taken together, appropriate (0.4%) betaine supplementation in the diet not only improved growth, but also reduced lipid deposition in allogynogenetic gibel carp, probably by diminishing lipogenic gene expression.     

Effect of dietary magnesium supplementation on the growth performance of juvenile gibel carp,Carassius auratus gibelio

Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) of mean initial weight 3.1 g were fed one of seven casein‐dextrin‐based diets containing graded levels of magnesium (Mg) (39, 120, 220, 380, 700, 1600 and 2900 mg kg^?1) for 3 months with the waterborne Mg concentration of 10.6–12.7 mg L^?1. Magnesium sulphate was used as the supplementation Mg source in the diets. The experiment was carried out in a flow‐through system. Growth, survival rate, Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase, Mg²⁺‐ATPase and tissue mineral contents were measured to investigate the effect of dietary magnesium in gibel carp. At the end of the experiment, the hepatopancreas of fish were collected for enzyme determination. The hepatopancreas, vertebrae and whole body were collected for tissue magnesium content analysis. After 3 months, dietary magnesium supplementation did not improve the growth performance, including feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of juvenile gibel carp. On the contrary, negative impacts on survival, reduced growth performance and dramatically decreased Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase, Mg²⁺‐ATPase and superoxide dismutase activities were observed in gibel carp fed a high Mg diet of 2900 mg kg^?1. Although serum and hepatopancreas Mg and Ca contents were not affected by dietary Mg supplementation, vertebrae and whole‐body Mg contents increased significantly with the increasing dietary Mg concentrations. Based on the relationship between whole‐body Mg retention and dietary Mg concentration, a suitable dietary Mg level of 745 mg kg^?1 could be estimated for gibel carp. It could be concluded that dietary Mg supplementation did not improve the growth performance, but could increase vertebrae Mg contents of gibel carp. Considering the adverse effects, a dietary Mg concentration of above 2900 mg kg^?1 is not recommended and it should be careful to supplement magnesium in practical diets for gibel carp as most feed ingredients contain high magnesium concentrations.     

生物絮团技术对异育银鲫生长性能和抗性的影响

为研究生物絮团技术(Biofloc Technology,BFT)在沿海滩涂鱼类养殖中的应用效果,本实验以滩涂主要养殖种类——异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)为研究对象,按照BFT养殖模式(BFT组,不换水,只补存蒸发掉或取样部分的水分)和一般养殖模式(对照组,每日换水1次,每次换水1/4~1/3)分别饲养,测定各处理组异育银鲫的生长指标、消化酶活性和免疫相关酶活性,应用实时荧光定量PCR法定量分析热休克蛋白HSP70的相对表达,人工感染试验对比分析BFT养殖模式组和一般养殖模式组异育银鲫生长性能和抗性的变化。结果显示:(1)BFT组异育银鲫增重率、特定生长率和存活率均高于对照组(P0.01),肥满度、脏体比和肝体比与对照组间无显著差异(P0.05);(2)BFT组异育银鲫肠道中淀粉酶、脂肪酶和胃蛋白酶活性显著高于对照组(P0.05),分别提高了53.10%、28.10%和17.99%;(3)BFT组异育银鲫体表黏液中超氧化物歧化酶活性、血清中总抗氧化能力和溶菌酶活性高于对照组(P0.01);(4)BFT组脾、肾、肝和鳃中热休克蛋白HSP70的表达量分别上调了1.29倍、1.34倍、1.87倍和1.68倍;(5)嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophilia)人工感染试验证实,BFT组异育银鲫抗细菌感染能力显著增强。研究表明,BFT养殖模式适于异育银鲫养殖,可促进鱼体生长,增强其应激能力和抗病力。     

Dietary myo‐inositol requirement for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

An 11‐week growth trial was conducted to determine dietary myo‐inositol (MI) requirement for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Myo‐inositol was supplemented to the basal diet to formulate six purified diets containing 1, 56, 107, 146, 194 and 247 mg MI kg^?1 diet, respectively. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of juvenile gibel carp (initial body weight 3.38 ± 0.27 g, mean ± SD) in a flow‐through system. The diets were randomly assigned to different fish tanks. Fish fed ≥ 107 mg MI kg^?1 diet had significantly higher weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio than those fed 1 mg MI kg^?1 diet. Fish fed ≥ 56 mg MI kg^?1 diet had higher feeding rate and survival compared with fish fed 1 mg MI kg^?1 diet. Dietary supplemental inositol did not affect fish liver inositol concentration. Fish fed ≥ 56 mg MI kg^?1 diet had higher body dry matter, crude protein and gross energy and lower hepatosomatic index than fish fed 1 mg MI kg^?1 diet. Dietary inositol supplementation decreased fish body ash. Quadratic regression of weight gain indicated that the myo‐inositol requirement to maximum growth for juvenile gibel carp was 165.3 mg MI kg^?1 diet.     

Comparative studies on dietary protein requirements of juvenile and on‐growing gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) based on fishmeal‐free diets

Two trials were conducted to investigate protein requirements of juvenile (3.18 g in Trial 1) and on‐growing (87.1 g in Trial 2) gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III. Six isoenergetic diets containing 250–500 g kg^?1 dietary protein were formulated using soy protein concentrate (SPC) and casein as protein sources. The results showed that weight gain (WG) increased when dietary protein increased from 250 to 400 g kg^?1 and decreased at 400 to 500 g kg^?1 CP in Trial 1, while WG increased when dietary protein increased from 250 to 350 g kg^?1 and kept constant at 350 to 500 g kg^?1 CP in Trial 2. With increasing dietary protein, feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased, while protein retention efficiency (PRE) decreased in Trial 1 and was not affected in Trial 2. Apparent digestibility coefficient of protein (ADC_p) increased with increasing dietary protein in two trails. Trypsin activity increased with dietary protein in the juveniles and was not affected in on‐growing fish. Hepatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities increased with dietary protein. Broken‐line and quadratic regression of WG estimated that dietary protein requirements for maximum growth were about 402–427 g kg^?1 for the juvenile and 337–418 g kg^?1 for on‐growing gibel carp.     

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.     

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

A nine‐week feeding experiment was conducted in flow‐through system with gibel carp (43.8 ± 0.2 g) to study the effects of dietary available phosphorus (P) on growth, phosphorous digestibility and intestinal enzyme activities. Seven semipurified diets were formulated to contain 0.8 (the basal), 2.4, 3.6, 6.1, 7.4, 10.1 and 15.8 g available phosphorus kg^?1 diet. The results showed that specific growth rate and feed efficiency increased with increasing dietary available P from 0.8 to 7.4 g P kg^?1. Fish body ash increased with increasing dietary available P, while moisture, protein content or energy content had no difference. Total phosphorus waste discharging (TPW) increased with increased dietary phosphorous. Plasma glucose was higher in the fish fed with 7.4 g kg^?1 P. Plasma triglycerides was lower in fish fed diets containing 6.1–10.1 g kg^?1 P. No significant effects were observed in plasma P and Ca (p > .05). The activities of intestinal amylase, lipase and trypsin showed no difference, while AKP and Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase activities decreased with increasing dietary available P. In conclusion, based on the regression between specific growth rate (SGR), P retention efficiency, feed efficiency (FE) and dietary available P, the available P requirements for on‐growing gibel carp were 10.69, 8.22 and 6.72 g kg^?1, respectively.     

Effects of dietary coated protease on growth performance,feed utilization,nutrient apparent digestibility,intestinal and hepatopancreas structure in juvenile Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary protease on growth performance, feed utilization, whole‐body proximate composition, nutrient digestibility, intestinal and hepatopancreas structure of juvenile Gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio (mean weight 8.08 ± 0.18 g). Six diets were prepared, including a positive control diet (dietary protein 350 g/kg, PC), one negative control diet (dietary protein 33 g/kg, NC) and four protease supplementations diets, which were 75, 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg protease NC diet. After 12 weeks of diet feeding in indoor recycle aquarium tanks, no significant difference (p > .05) was found on growth performance between fish fed diet with 75–600 mg/kg protease and the PC group. Compared with the fish fed the NC diet, the specific growth rate of fish fed 300 mg/kg protease increased significantly (p < .05), as well as protein efficiency ratios (p < .05), while feed conversion was the opposite (p < .05). The nutrient digestibility of crude protein and lipid was higher (p < .05) in fish fed 150 mg/kg protease diet than the PC diet. Whole‐body proximate composition of fish was not affected (p > .05) by the dietary treatment. Serum alkaline phosphatase and albumin were significantly affected by dietary protease (p < .05), while the content of total protein, glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities in serum was not affected (p > .05). Foregut muscular thickness was thinner (p < .05), when the fish fed diets supplementation of protease in 150 or 600 mg/kg diet than the NC diet. Protease activities in hepatopancreas and foregut were higher (p < .05), in the fish fed 150 or 300 mg/kg protease diet than the fish fed the PC diet, but those in the mid‐ and hindgut were not significantly affected (p > .05) by the dietary treatments. Based on the regression analysis of weight gain rate, the optimal dietary inclusion level of protease was 400 mg/kg in the diet for juvenile Carassius auratus gibelio.     

Comparative study on dietary protein requirements for juvenile and pre‐adult gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III)

Two 8‐week growth trials were conducted in indoor recirculation system to evaluate the protein requirements for juvenile (3.70 ± 0.20 g) and pre‐adult (85.2 ± 0.70 g) gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III. Six isoenergetic diets were formulated for each trial using fish meal and casein as protein sources, and protein level was 250–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 200–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2. With the increasing dietary protein, feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Weight gain (WG) increased first and then reached a plateau in 330–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 (P > 0.05), while decreased after the maximum value in 350 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Productive protein values (PPVs) were lower in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 400–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Increasing dietary protein level increased protein content and decreased lipid content in whole fish body and white muscle (P < 0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matters (ADC_d) decreased, while apparent digestibility coefficient of protein (ADC_p) increased in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 250–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Trypsin activity significantly increased in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 (P < 0.05) and was not affected in Trial 2 (P > 0.05). Hepatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in both trials increased when dietary protein was above 400 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05). Based on quadratic regression of WG, it was estimated that dietary protein requirement for maximum growth was 414 g kg^?1 (digestible protein of 376 g kg^?1) and 365 g kg^?1 (digestible protein of 324 g kg^?1) for juvenile (3.70 g) and pre‐adult gibel carp (85.2 g).     

生物絮团养殖模式下益生菌添加对异育银鲫生长、消化酶活性及肠道组织结构的影响

前期研究表明,生物絮团技术(biofloc technology,BFT)适于异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)养殖。为进一步优化BFT养殖模式,本研究设置3个实验组:BFT模式下EM菌添加组(BB组)、枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)添加组(BI组)和BFT对照组(B组),以均体重(1.60±0.50)g的异育银鲫为研究对象,探讨BFT模式下外源添加益生菌对养殖动物生长、消化酶活性及肠道组织结构的影响。结果表明:(1)益生菌添加组异育银鲫增重率和特定生长率显著高于对照组(P0.05),BB和BI组的增重率分别提高了216.70%和184.04%,特定生长率分别提高了141.18%和125.49%,BB和BI组间差异不显著(P0.05);(2)益生菌添加组(BB组和BI组)的消化酶(淀粉酶、脂肪酶和胃蛋白酶)活性均显著高于对照组(B组)(P0.05)。益生菌添加组间,BB组淀粉酶活性显著高于BI组(P0.05),脂肪酶和胃蛋白酶活性亦高于BI组,但差异不显著(P0.05);(3)益生菌添加组肠道肌层厚度和黏膜下层厚度显著高于对照组(B组)(P0.05),BB组异育银鲫肠道黏膜皱襞高度和皱襞间质宽度与BI和对照组相比,均无显著差异(P0.05)。研究表明,BFT养殖模式下外源添加益生菌可以更好地促进异育银鲫生长。     

Comparative effects of dietary supplementation with maggot meal and soybean meal in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and darkbarbel catfish (Pelteobagrus vachelli): growth performance and antioxidant responses

A 6‐week growth trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with maggot meal (MGM) and soybean meal (SBM) on the growth performance and antioxidant responses of gibel carp (GC) and darkbarbel catfish (DC). The basal diet was formulated to contain 114 g kg⁻¹ fish meal (FM) and 200 g kg⁻¹ SBM. The basal diet was supplemented with either 280 g kg⁻¹ FM (Control), 390 g kg⁻¹ MGM or 450 g kg⁻¹ SBM to obtain three isonitrogenous (crude protein: 380 g kg⁻¹) and isocaloric (gross energy: 16 kJ g⁻¹) diets. For GC, a significant decrease in specific growth rate (SGR) was only observed in fish fed the SBM diet compared with the control (P < 0.05). Principal components analysis (PCA) of GC showed a higher similarity in antioxidant response to dietary supplementation with MGM and SBM proteins between liver and intestine, but the DC did not. The present results suggest that supplementing 390 g kg⁻¹ MGM protein to basal diet cause an enhancement of the antioxidant capacity in GC, but supplementing 390 g kg⁻¹ MGM and 450 g kg⁻¹ SBM proteins to basal diets resulted in a significant attenuation of the antioxidant capacity in DC.     

Thelohanellus testudineus n. sp. (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) infecting the skin of allogynogenetic gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch) in China

A Thelohanellus species was encountered during a survey on Thelohanellus diversity of Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch) in China. The infection is characterized by the presence of large cysts of 1.4–3.2 cm in diameter in the skin of host. Mature spores were ampullaceous in frontal view and testudinate in lateral view, measuring 19.7 ± 0.7 (18.6–20.8) μm long, 7.6 ± 0.4 (6.6–8.4) μm wide and 7.3 ± 0.5 (6.6–8.8) μm thick. The single polar capsule was elongated pyriform, with 11.1 ± 0.5 (10.0–11.9) μm long and 5.3 ± 0.3 (4.3–5.8) μm wide. Polar filaments coiled with 7–8 turns. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a smooth spore surface with flat side and convex side. The sutural line was straight or ‘S’ like, running near the middle of the valves. Histologically, the large cysts consisting of numerous small plasmodia developed in the dermis of the skin. The BLAST search indicated that the newly obtained ssrRNA gene sequences did not match any available sequences in GenBank and phylogenetic analysis placed it in the Thelohanellus clade. Based on morphology and molecular differences with reported Thelohanellus spp., this parasite was described as a new species of genus Thelohanellus.     

Effect of biofloc technology on water quality and feed utilization in the cultivation of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III)

This study was designed to use sucrose as carbon source to investigate the effect of biofloc technology on water quality and feed utilization in the cultivation of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III). Three isolipidic and isoenergetic diets were formulated containing graded levels of dietary protein (257.4, 300.7 and 353.4 g/kg). The control group (P34) was fed with 353.4 g/kg protein diet without biofloc. Three biofloc treatments (P24 + B, P29 + B and P34 + B) were fed with the three diets with daily sucrose supplementation and continuous air inflation. The results found that the sucrose supplementation could generate biofloc and increased biofloc volume (BFV, p < 0.05). The concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃‐N) and the total phosphorus (TP) of all tanks decreased in biofloc groups, and the total nitrogen (TN) of P24 + B treatment tanks was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The growth of P24 + B and P29 + B group was similar with that of control group (p > 0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of P29 + B was lower than P24 + B and P34 + B (p < 0.05). Protein retention efficiency (PRE) of P24 + B group was significantly higher than other treatments (p < 0.05). Phosphorus retention efficiency (PhRE) of P24 + B group was the highest among all treatments. Compared with the control group, P29 + B group had an improved total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and contained the lowest malondialdehyde level (MDA). The present results indicated that low‐protein diet is more suitable for gibel carp in zero‐water exchange biofloc system compared with high‐protein diet.     

Chlorella additive increased growth performance,improved appetite and immune response of juvenile crucian carp Carassius auratus

This study was designed to investigate effects of dietary Chlorella meal (CM) additive on growth performance, immune responses and appetite regulation of juvenile crucian carp Carassius auratus (initial body weight: 1.27 ± 0.03 g). Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 0% (CM0), 1% (CM1), 2% (CM2) and 4% Chlorella meal (CM4), respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups with 40 juvenile fish per fibreglass tank for 8 weeks. Weight gain rate, specific growth rate and feed intake increased with increasing dietary CM levels. In contrast, FCR (feed conversion rate) declined with dietary CM levels. No significant differences were observed in moisture, crude protein, crude lipid and ash contents of muscle and liver tissues. Dietary CM addition increased activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase in liver and kidney. Dietary CM up‐regulated the mRNA expression levels of NKEF‐B, MCHII and IgM in kidney, and increased the mRNA levels of NPY and agouti gene‐related protein in the brain, but down‐regulated mRNA levels of MC4R, LEP, LEPR, CART1, CART2 and CCK8 genes. Based on these observations above, this study indicated that dietary CM additive increased growth performance, immune responses and appetite of crucian carp. The results, for the first time, demonstrate a role for the central nervous system in the control of food intake in fish fed dietary Chlorella meal.     

Effect of replacement of dietary fish meal by meat and bone meal and poultry by-product meal on growth and feed utilization of gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio

Triplicate groups of gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio (initial body weight: 5.25 ± 0.02 g) were fed for 8 weeks at 20–25 °C on five isonitrogenous (crude protein: 400 g kg^?1) and isoenergetic diets (gross energy: 17 kJ g^?1). Meat and bone meal (MBM) or poultry by‐product meal (PBM) were used to replace fish meal at different levels of protein. The control diet contained fish meal as the sole protein source. In the other four diets, 150 or 500 g kg^?1 of fish meal protein was substituted by MBM (MBM₁₅, MBM₅₀) or PBM (PBM₁₅, PBM₅₀). The results showed that feeding rate for the MBM₅₀ group was significantly higher than for other groups except the PBM₅₀ group (P < 0.05). Growth rate in the MBM₁₅ group was significantly higher than that in the control (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in growth between the control and other groups (P > 0.05). Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio in MBM₅₀ was significantly lower while that in MBM₁₅ was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Replacement of fish meal by MBM at 500 g kg^?1 protein significantly decreased apparent dry matter digestibility (ADC_D) and gross energy (ADC_E) while apparent protein digestibility (ADC_P) was significantly decreased by the replacement of MBM or PBM (P < 0.05). The results suggest that MBM and PBM could replace up to 500 g kg^?1 of fish meal protein in diets for gibel carp without negative effects on growth while 150 g kg^?1 replacement by MBM protein improved feed utilization.     

Effect of dietary lysozyme on growth,immune response,intestine microbiota,intestine morphology and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophilia in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

A 75 days experiment was conducted in a flow‐through system on juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) (3.43 ± 0.01 g) to evaluate the effects of dietary lysozyme on growth performance, intestine morphology, microbiota and immune response. Four isonitrogenous (crude protein: 367 g kg^?1) isolipid (62 g kg^?1) and isocaloric (gross energy: 17.92 kJ g^?1) diets were formulated to contain 0, 100, 500 and 1000 mg kg^?1 lysozyme, respectively. The results showed that specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency (FE) increased at 1000 mg kg^?1 lysozyme. Blood leucocyte phagocytic activity (PA) and serum lysozyme (LZM) decreased with dietary lysozyme on day 25, 50 and 75. There were no significant differences in alternative complement pathway (ACP), respiratory burst (ROS), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) or malonaldehyde (MDA). After Aeromonas hydrophilia challenge, higher survival was obtained at 500 mg kg^?1 group. PA, ROS, SOD, LZM and ACP increased with increasing dietary lysozyme, while MDA reversed. Goblet cells in mid‐intestine and microvilli height in distal intestine increased with dietary lysozyme on day 75. Dietary lysozyme reduced the diversity of intestine microbiota. In conclusion, oral administration of 500 mg kg^?1 dietary lysozyme for 75 days is recommended for the survival of gibel carp and 1000 mg kg^?1 dietary lysozyme for fast growth.     

Effect of different biofloc system on water quality,biofloc composition and growth performance in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

The experiment was conducted with three biofloc treatments and one control in triplicate in 500 L capacity indoor tanks. Biofloc tanks, filled with 350 L of water, were fed with sugarcane molasses (BFT_S), tapioca flour (BFT_T), wheat flour (BFT_W) and clean water as control without biofloc and allowed to stand for 30 days. The postlarvae of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) with an Average body weight of 0.15 ± 0.02 g were stocked at the rate of 130 PL m^?2 and cultured for a period of 60 days fed with pelleted feed at the rate of 1.5% of biomass. The total suspended solids (TSS) level was maintained at around 500 mg L^?1 in BFT tanks. The addition of carbohydrate significantly reduced the total ammonia‐N (TAN), nitrite‐N and nitrate‐N in water and it significantly increased the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) population in the biofloc treatments. There was a significant difference in the final average body weight (8.49 ± 0.09 g) in the wheat flour treatment (BFT_W) than those treatment and control group of the shrimp. Survival of the shrimps was not affected by the treatments and ranged between 82.02% and 90.3%. The proximate and chemical composition of biofloc and proximate composition of the shrimp was significantly different between the biofloc treatments and control. Tintinids, ciliates, copepods, cyanobacteria and nematodes were identified in all the biofloc treatments, nematodes being the most dominant group of organisms in the biofloc. It could be concluded that the use of wheat flour (BFT_W) effectively enhanced the biofloc production and contributed towards better water quality which resulted in higher production of shrimp.     

A tolerance and safety assessment of daidzein in a female fish (Carassius auratus gibelio)

Daidzein is widely used in farmed animals as a dietary additive. However, limited information is available about its use in aquaculture. The effects of daidzein inclusion in the diet of gibel carp was assessed in terms of growth performance, immune response, disease resistance, antioxidant activity, hormone levels, daidzein tissue residues, as well as intestinal and liver morphology. The dietary daidzein inclusion levels were 0, 40, 200 and 400 mg kg^?1 and six replicates of 30 fish were used for each group. No mortality was observed during the 80‐day feeding trial. The growth performance of experimental fish was not significantly affected by dietary daidzein supplementation. However, the non‐specific immune responses, resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila, antioxidant activities, 17β‐oestradiol level, vitellogenin concentration, gonadosomatic index (GSI) and intestinal morphology were significantly affected by dietary daidzein. A dietary dose of 400 mg kg^?1 daidzein significantly decreased the GSI, increased 17β‐oestradiol and vitellogenin concentrations, and impaired the intestinal structure. The daidzein residue in muscle of gibel carp was increased by the high level (400 mg kg^?1) of dietary daidzein. Equol was not detected in fish muscle among all treatments. The present study proved that 40 mg kg^?1 daidzein was safe to be included in diets of gibel carp, and a safety margin of 5 folds of the use‐level (40 mg kg^?1) was determined.