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.     

The protective role of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) against chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress in Oreochromis niloticus

Ability of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to attenuate oxidative damage was evaluated in liver and brain tissues of Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus) experimentally exposed to sublethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos (CPF). O. niloticus was exposed to sublethal concentrations of CPF at 12?μg/L (CPF1) and 24?μg/L (CPF2) for 96?h. The fish of vitamin C (Vit C) and CPF2?+?Vit C groups were fed with Vit C supplemented diet (200?mg Vit C/100?g feed). A significant increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level (P?相似文献   

饲料中添加红景天苷对尼罗罗非鱼血液学指标的影响

将红景天苷(Salidroside)作为免疫增强剂添加到水生生物饲料中,按0(对照组)、30、60和90μg/kg 4个梯度,添加到尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)(117.2±4.53 g)饲料中,通过测定血液生理生化指标的变化,来评估红景天苷对尼罗罗非鱼血液免疫系统的影响。试验周期为45 d,每天投喂两次。结果表明,随着饲料中红景天苷添加量的升高,罗非鱼血液中红细胞压积、红细胞平均体积、平均红细胞血红蛋白含量以及肌酐水平显著升高(0<30μg/kg<60μg/kg<90μg/kg);90μg/kg组血液中的总蛋白含量显著高于其它各饲料组,血液中其它指标(白细胞计数、红细胞计数、红细胞分布宽度、血小板计数、白蛋白、谷丙转氨酶、尿素、血糖、球蛋白和尿素/肌酐)不受饲料中添加红景天苷的影响。实验结果表明尼罗罗非鱼饲料中红景天苷的适宜添加量为30μg/kg。     

尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料的适宜脂肪需要

选用初始体质量为(46.14±4.67)g的尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis nilotica)360尾,随机分成6组(每组4重复,每重复15尾),分别饲喂添加鱼油水平为0%(对照组)、3%、6%、9%、12%和15%的纯化饲料(实测脂肪水平为0.20%、2.70%、6.11%、8.04%、11.13%和14.85%)。饲养8周后,以尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼的生长、体组成、血清生化及脂肪代谢酶活性等指标为判断依据,确定其饲料的脂肪需要量。结果表明,随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼的增重率、特定生长率以及蛋白质效率均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,饲料系数呈现先下降后上升的趋势。饲料脂肪水平的升高使尼罗罗非鱼肝体比及全鱼和肌肉的脂肪含量显著增加(P<0.05)。随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼血清总胆固醇和甘油三酯含量呈先上升后下降的趋势,各实验组显著高于对照组(P<0.05);血清高密度脂蛋白含量呈先上升后稳定的趋势;血清谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性均在饲料脂肪水平为6.11%时最小,在14.85%时达到最大。随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼脂蛋白酯酶、肝脂酶和肠道脂肪酶活性均呈先升高后下降的趋势,脂肪酸合成酶活性显著下降(P<0.05)。对增重率、蛋白质效率、饲料系数和血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇进行回归分析得出,尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料最适脂肪水平分别为8.86%,9.75%,9.40%和8.30%,因此确定尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料适宜的脂肪需要量为8.30%～9.75%。     

饲料糖水平对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长和肝代谢功能的影响

为研究饲料糖水平对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长性能和肝代谢功能的影响,实验配制等蛋白、等脂肪含量的8种不同糖水平(10％、15％、20％、25％、30％、35％、40％和45％)饲料,每个糖水平设3个重复,饲养周期49 d,结果显示:(1)饲料糖水平对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼的增重率、成活率、饲料系数和肝体比均有显著影响(P＜0.05).饲料糖水平为35％时,罗非鱼增重最快;饲料糖水平为40％时饲料系数最低.(2)随着饲料糖水平的升高,鱼体肌糖原、粗脂肪含量逐渐升高,鱼体肝糖原含量先增加后下降.(3)饲料糖水平对各组鱼血清谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶、血清磷酸果糖激酶活性、总蛋白和总胆汁酸浓度均有显著影响(P＜0.05),且随着糖水平的升高,呈上升趋势;而鱼体肝酯酶和脂蛋白脂酶活性则是先上升后下降.(4)饲料糖水平35％时,肝脏组织出现少量细胞脂滴空泡状现象;饲料糖水平40％和45％时,肝脏组织切片有明显的细胞脂滴空泡状、核偏移和细胞质消失现象.肝脏脂滴空泡状面积率与组织脂肪含量具有显著的正相关,与肝脏组织的脂肪肝病变程度成正比.结果表明,吉富罗非鱼苗种饲料以29.10％～ 35.00％的糖水平较利于吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长及后期的脂肪肝病预防.     

The effect of dietary methionine concentrations on growth performance of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets with two different digestible energy levels

A growth trial was conducted to examine the effect of dietary digestible energy (DE) content on methionine (Met) utilization and requirement in juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Ten iso‐nitrogenous (288 g kg^?1 protein) practical diets, with two DE levels (10.9 MJ kg^?1; 12.4 MJ kg^?1) and five methionine supplementation levels (0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g kg^?1), were hand‐fed twice daily to triplicate groups of Nile tilapia (initial body weight 8.95 ± 0.06 g) for 8 weeks. Weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) increased significantly with increasing dietary methionine concentration at the same DE content (P < 0.001). At the same dietary methionine level, WG and SGR of fish fed high‐DE diets were significantly higher than that of fish fed low‐DE diets (P = 0.0001), although no interaction was found between dietary DE and methionine supplementation. Based on quadratic regression analysis between dietary methionine concentration and weight gain, optimal methionine requirement for maximum growth, expressed as g Met required kg^?1 diet (low‐ versus high‐DE diets), increased as diet DE concentration increased (7.34 versus 9.90 g kg^?1 diet, respectively; with cysteine 4.70 g kg^?1 diet). The results indicated that diet DE content affects methionine utilization and requirement in juvenile Nile tilapia, fish fed high‐DE diets required more methionine for maximum growth.     

Osmoregulatory actions of growth hormone in juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Growth hormone (GH) effectively promotes seawater (SW) adaptation in salmonids, but little is known of its effect in tilapias. Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of recombinant eel GH (reGH) on osmoregulatory actions and ultrastructural features of gill chloride cells in juvenile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Tilapia showed a markedly improved SW survival, when directly transferred from freshwater (FW) to 62.5% SW 24h after a single reGH injection (0.25 or 2.5 µg g^-1) or 3 reGH injections (0.25 µg g^-1 every other day). Plasma Na+ and Mg²⁺ levels were significantly reduced by reGH (0.25 and 2.5 µg g^-1) compared with saline injections; Ca²⁺ concentrations were reduced significantly by high dose of reGH (2.5 µg g^-1) after SW transfer. However, fish failed to survive more than 24h when directly transferred to 70% SW, although the fish treated with reGH could survive longer than the controls. When examined by electron microscopy, the chloride cells were identified as mitochondrion-rich and an extensive tubular system was induced by GH treatment. The results of the present study suggest that, similar to its effect on salmonids, GH also exerts acute osmoregulatory actions and enhances SW adaptation in juvenile tilapia. GH also stimulates the differentiation of chloride cells toward SW adaptation.     

Juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus×Oreochromis aureus) requires dietary myo-inositol for maximal growth

An 8-week growth experiment was conducted to estimate the dietary requirement of myo-inositol (MI) for juvenile hybrid tilapia. MI was supplemented at 0, 150, 250, 350, 450, 600, and 1200 mg/kg diet in the basal diet providing 0, 167, 259, 367, 479, 612, and 1253 mg MI/kg diet. Basal diet without MI but with succinylsulfathiazole to suppress MI synthesis by intestinal bacteria was included for comparison. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of tilapia (mean initial weight 0.51±0.01 g, n=3). Fish fed ≥367 mg MI/kg diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher weight gain, followed by fish fed 259 mg MI/kg diet, and lowest for fish fed the unsupplemented basal diet. Fish fed ≥367 mg MI/kg diet had higher feed efficiency than fish fed the basal diet. Supplementation of dietary inositol did not affect survival of tilapia. The MI concentrations in liver were highest in fish fed the ≥479 mg MI/kg diet, followed by fish fed the 259 and 167 mg MI/kg diets, and lowest in fish fed the basal diet. Hepatic lipid concentrations were higher in fish fed 367 mg MI/kg diet than fish fed ≤259 mg MI/kg diet. Weight gain percentage and MI concentrations in the liver for the different treatments were analyzed by broken-line regression and indicated that the requirement for dietary MI in growing tilapia is about 400 mg/kg diet. Addition of an antibiotic to basal diet did not affect the growth and hepatic inositol concentration of tilapia, suggesting that the intestinal microbial synthesis was not a significant source of inositol for tilapia.     

Detection of transgenic DNA in tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus, GIFT strain) fed genetically modified soybeans (Roundup Ready)

We used nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Roundup Ready soybean in aquatic feeds and feeding tilapias. A template concentration of 10⁻¹⁰ g μL⁻¹ DNA solution could be detected with a dilute degree of 0.01%. Most (90.6%) of the aquatic feeds containing soybean byproduct included exogenous DNA segments. We also compared genetically modified (GM) soybean with non-GM soybean diets in feeding tilapias ( Oreochromis niloticus , GIFT strain) and examined the residual fragments (254 bp) of GM soybeans. Tilapias receiving GM soybean diets had DNA fragments in different tissues and organs, indicating that exogenous GM genes were absorbed systemically and not completely degraded by the tilapia's alimentary canal.     

β-葡聚糖对奥尼罗非鱼生长性能及抗嗜水气单胞菌感染的影响

本实验采用初始体质量(1.84±0.02)g的全雄奥尼罗非鱼(Oreochromis aureus♂×Oreochromis niloticus♀)作为饲养对象,在饲料中分别添加不同水平的β-葡聚糖(添加量分别为0、0.5%、1.0%、1.5%、2%和4%),共设6个处理,饲养8周,研究β-葡聚糖对奥尼罗非鱼增重率、特定生长率和成活率等生长指标的影响。8周后注射嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)进行感染实验,研究β-葡聚糖对奥尼罗非鱼存活率和免疫调节的影响。观察7天,计算存活率,测定头肾的酸性磷酸酶(ACP)和溶菌酶(LSZ)活性。结果显示,饲养8周后各组成活率为96.67%~100%,添加β-葡聚糖对增重率、特定生长率、饵料转化率和蛋白质效率影响不显著,1.5%添加组的肥满度显著高于其他各组(P<0.05),2.0%添加组奥尼罗非鱼肌肉蛋白含量显著高出对照组和0.5%组分别为3.76和3.02个百分点(P<0.05);注射嗜水气单胞菌7天后,对照组的存活率仅为25%,β-葡聚糖添加组的存活率在60%~70%,1.5%的β-葡聚糖添加组可以显著提高(P<0.05)奥尼罗非鱼头肾组织ACP和LSZ的活性。结论,全雄奥尼罗非鱼饲料中β-葡聚糖的适宜添加量在1.0%~1.5%时,可以明显改善其生长性能和抗嗜水气单胞菌感染的能力。     

Metabolic responses of juvenile GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to dietary L‐tryptophan supplementation

A 60‐day indoor feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary tryptophan supplementation on growth performances, whole‐body chemical composition, expression of muscle growth‐related genes (MyoD, myogenin and myostatin), and haematological and biochemical responses of juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT). Five corn–soy‐based isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain graded levels of dietary tryptophan (2.6, 3.2, 3.7, 4.2 and 4.8 g/kg of diet). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 fish (5.3 ± 0.1 g) per experimental unit, which were fed thrice a day (9:00, 13:00 and 17:00 hr). Maximum growth performances and feed utilization were observed in fish fed tryptophan at 3.7 g/kg of diet. There was no significant (p > .05) effect on whole‐body composition and amino acid profile by dietary tryptophan supplementation. However, significant (p < .05) differences were observed in plasma metabolites and the mRNA expression of MyoD, myogenin and myostatin. Serum cortisol level was found significantly lowest in fish fed tryptophan at 3.7 g/kg of diet. Second‐order polynomial regression analysis of weight gain and nitrogen gain against dietary tryptophan levels indicated that the optimum dietary tryptophan requirement for maximum growth and feed utilization of juvenile GIFT tilapia was 3.8 g/kg of diet.     

The effects of varying dietary protein level on the growth,food conversion,protein utilization and body composition of juvenile tilapias (Sarotherodon mossambicus)

The effects of varying dietary protein level on several nutritional parameters of Sarotherodon mossambicus were studied. Eight approximately isoenergetic diets were formulated with protein levels ranging from 0% to 56% in increments of 8%. A zero protein diet was included so that true digestibility, Net Protein Utilization (NPU) and Biological Values (BV) were determined.Specific growth rates (%/day) were: 40% protein (3.85) > 48% protein (3.49), 56% protein (3.51) > 32% protein (3.04), 24% protein (3.10) > 16% protein (2.46) > 8% protein (1.32) > 0% protein (?0.16). Food conversion decreased with increasing dietary protein levels, although not significantly above 40%. Protein efficiency ratio, NPU and BV all decreased with increasing dietary protein level whilst carcass analysis and protein digestibility were little affected. The minimum dietary protein level producing maximum growth of S. mossambicus was found to be 40%, with a dietary protein to energy ratio (P : E) of 116.6 mg protein per kilocalorie of calculated metabolizable energy.     

饲料中海洋红酵母对尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼生长性能、消化酶及免疫酶活性的影响

为了研究海洋红酵母(Rhodotorula mucilaginosa)对尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)幼鱼生长性能、消化酶及免疫酶活性的影响,配制6组饲料,分别为对照组、添加1 gkg-1、2 gkg-1、3 gkg-1、4 gkg-1和5 gkg-1的海洋红酵母组,投喂初始均质量为(5.220.01) g的尼罗罗非鱼,实验56 d。结果显示,与对照组相比,2 gkg-1和4 gkg-1组的饲料系数显著降低(P0.05),1 gkg-1、3 gkg -1和5 gkg-1组则没有显著性差异(P0.05)。5 gkg-1组鱼体粗蛋白含量显著低于1 gkg-1和2 gkg-1组(P0.05),1 gkg-1、3 gkg-1和5 gkg-1组鱼体粗灰分含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。与对照组相比,1 gkg-1组胃蛋白酶活性显著升高(P0.05),3 gkg-1、4 gkg-1和5 gkg-1组胃蛋白酶活性显著降低(P0.05)。2 gkg-1和3 gkg-1组前肠和中肠淀粉酶和脂肪酶,以及肝脏溶菌酶和一氧化氮合酶活性均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。根据尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼的消化酶和免疫酶活性等指标综合分析得出,海洋红酵母在罗非鱼饲料中的建议添加量为2～3 gkg-1。     

Water-soluble vitamin requirements of tilapia: ascorbic acid (vitamin C) requirement of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Abstract. The quantitative dietary ascorbic acid requirements of fingerling Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L., were assessed by feeding seven diets containing graded supplements of this vitamin (0, 50, 75, 100, 125, 300 and 400mg/100g dry diet) to triplicate groups of fish for 12 weeks. Fish fed the diet devoid of ascorbic acid exhibited significantly ( P < 0·01) poorer growth and higher condition factor. Food conversion and protein efficiency ratios were improved with increasing dietary ascorbic acid level up to 125mg/100g of dry diet. Protein utilization, haematocrit, haemoglobin level and tissue ascorbate concentrations were depressed in fish fed the ascorbic-acid-free diet. Tissue ascorbate concentrations, especially for liver, were highly correlated with dietary ascorbic acid level. Fish fed the ascorbic-acid-free diet exhibited deficiency signs including erratic and convulsive swimming, anorexia, lethargy, caudal fin erosion, skin haemorrhages and mortality. Based on the nutritional and pathological parameters investigated, the recommended dietary inclusion level is 125mg/100g dry diet, which is equivalent to a net requirement (after processing and storage) of 42mg/100g diet.     

The autochthonous microbiota of the freshwater omnivores jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the effect of dietary carbohydrates

Previous studies have shown that the gut microbiota of fish differs depending on host feeding habits and these populations may also be influenced by dietary ingredients. In this study, the bacterial populations of the intestinal tract of the opportunistic omnivore jundiá Rhamdia quelen and the typical omnivore tilapia Oreochromis niloticus were investigated in two experiments. In experiment I, the levels of amylolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic, proteolytic and total culturable bacteria were compared in the proximal, mid and distal intestine using selective agar. Higher levels of amylolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic, proteolytic and total culturable bacteria were observed in the tilapia than jundiá, in all intestinal regions. Jundiá contained higher levels of proteolytic bacteria and lipid digesting bacteria in the distal intestinal portion as compared with the mid intestine; both fish species also presented more amylolytic bacteria in the distal intestine. In experiment II, the amylolytic intestinal microbiota between the two species was compared after administration of diets containing different carbohydrate sources. Jundiá fed broken rice presented higher total culturable bacterial levels; however, dietary cassava bagasse and ground corn significantly elevated the population of amylolytic bacteria in tilapia (P > 0.05). PCR‐DGGE was also used to assess the bacterial communities in experiment II. A Cetobacterium spp. was detected in jundiá fed diets containing broken rice, and tilapia fed cassava bagasse, dextrin, broken rice and ground corn. Microbial differentiation was further demonstrated between jundiá and tilapia, because an uncultured bacterium was unique in tilapia and an uncultured spirochete was observed only in jundiá; the presence of these bacterial species was also influenced by dietary carbohydrate sources.     

Digestive enzyme activity in juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, L) submitted to different dietary levels of shrimp protein hydrolysate

The effect of different dietary concentrations of shrimp protein hydrolysate (SPH) on digestive enzyme activity of Nile tilapia juveniles was evaluated. SPH concentrations in diets were 0, 15, 30 and 60 g kg^?1 (treatments SPH0, SPH15, SPH30 and SPH60, respectively). Hemoglobin, azocasein, BApNA (Nα-benzoyl-dl-arginine-p-nitroanilide), SApNA (Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe p-nitroanilide), aminoacyl of β-naphthylamide and starch were used as substrates for enzyme activity determinations. The activity of total alkaline protease was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in fish under SPH15 and SPH60 treatments than in the control (SPH0). However, the effect was not dose-dependent. Substrate-SDS-PAGE was also performed to evaluate changes in the profile of Nile tilapia digestive proteases caused by SPH. Substrate-SDS-PAGE revealed 12 active proteolytic bands, eight of which responded to SPH dietary incorporation. Inhibition substrate-SDS-PAGE indicated a decrease in the activity of three enzymes, with trypsin activity decreasing with the increase of SPH concentration, whereas the opposite occurred for two aminopeptidases. Distinct protease profiles were also found for each treatment, suggesting adaptability of digestive proteases from Nile tilapia to the different diets.     

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.     

Effects of putative dietary probiotics from the gut of milkfish (Chanos chanos) on the growth performance and intestinal enzymatic activities of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Enzymes synthesized by the gut microbiome are recognized as vital for assisting host metabolism. This study was conducted to screen and identify bacterial isolates with enzyme-producing abilities from the intestine of milkfish Chanos chanos. Overall, 114 isolates were collected, of which 58% showed clear zones indicating various enzyme activities via plate-based assays. Specifically, 65 isolates were amylolytic, 1 isolate was cellulolytic, and 18 isolates exhibited both activities. The two most promising isolates—CC8 and CC27—were further subjected to spectrophotometric enzyme assays to determine their amylase, cellulase and protease activities. Results showed that amylase, cellulase and protease activities (6.00 ± 0.01, 0.52 ± 0.02 and 18.62 ± 0.16 U mg^?1 protein, respectively) were higher in CC8 than in CC27. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates were putatively identified as Vibrio sp. and Bacillus cereus respectively. At a suspension (mL) to feed (g) ratio of 3:25, dietary supplementation of putative probiotics was carried out to evaluate the growth performance, survival and enzymatic activities of juvenile Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Results revealed that probiotic-supplemented fish exhibited better growth performance—final average body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio—along with increased intestinal enzymatic activities compared with the control (p < 0.05). Survival rates ranged from 80% to 90% and were statistically similar in all treatments (p > 0.05). This study concludes that the application of Vibrio sp. CC8 and Bacillus cereus CC27, supplemented either in monostrain or multistrain preparation, can promote growth and enzymatic activities in juvenile Nile tilapia.     

Environmental conditions alter the effect of organic acid salts on digestibility and intestinal morphology in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The impact of two dietary organic acids (OAs) on nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology was determined in Nile tilapia under conditions of dissolved oxygen in the water: normoxia and hypoxia. Four diets designated as control (0 g/kg organic acid salt), KDF (2 g/kg potassium diformate), CAB (2 g/kg calcium butyrate) and their combination (4 g/kg of a mixture of KDF and CAB, ration 1:1) were formulated with 520 g/kg of soybean meal in order to produce soybean meal enteritis‐like symptoms. The four diets were tested first under normoxic conditions (6 mg/L) for a period of 5 weeks, followed by a test period under hypoxic conditions (3 mg/L). The results showed that OAs were unable to significantly improve growth and nutrient digestibility under normoxic conditions but under hypoxic conditions, there was a significant enhancement of the growth and nutrient digestibility. Fish fed OA‐supplemented diets showed improvements in the intestinal morphology under the normoxic conditions, and these effects were more pronounced under the hypoxic conditions. Experimental findings suggest that OAs can improve the nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology under hypoxic conditions. A synergistic effect by the combination of formic and butyric acid on growth, digestibility and intestinal morphology was not found.