The in‐vitro antibacterial effects of organic salts,chemical disinfectants and antibiotics against pathogens of black disease in fairy shrimp of Thailand

The antibacterial effects of organic salts, chemical disinfectants and antibiotics were evaluated on cultures of Aeromonas hydrophila C03, Aeromonas sobria C26, A. sobria C29, Aeromonas caviae C24 and Acinetobacter sp. SH‐94B, the pathogens that cause black disease found in fairy shrimps (Streptocephalus sirindhornae Sanoamuang et al. (2000) and Branchinella thailandensis Sanoamuang, Saengphan & Murugan) of Thailand. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of organic salts (sodium chloride and potassium chloride) and antibiotics (oxytetracycline dihydrate, streptomycin sulphate, kanamycin monosulphate, chloramphenicol and ampicillin) were determined using the agar‐dilution method. The effect of chemical disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide) was evaluated by exposing bacteria to different concentrations of these chemicals for different periods of time. Interestingly, all strains were intrinsically resistant to 0.25–3% sodium chloride and potassium chloride. The effect of sodium hypochlorite was greater than that of chlorine dioxide, and 5–20 μg mL^?1 of sodium hypochlorite was sufficient to inhibit the growth of these bacteria, but the exposure time varied, depending on the bacterial species. Of the antibiotics tested, chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline dihydrate completely inhibited the selected strains. Chloramphenicol showed the highest antibacterial effect against all pathogenic species – the MIC and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) ranged from 0.8 to 3.1 μg mL^?1 from 3.1 to 6.25 μg mL^?1, respectively. To achieve control of black disease during cultivation of fairy shrimp, data derived from this study can be used as a basis for further toxicity tests in vivo.     

Antibiotic treatment of zebrafish mycobacteriosis: tolerance and efficacy of treatments with tigecycline and clarithromycin

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a popular model organism used in a growing number of research fields. Maintaining healthy, disease‐free laboratory fish is important for the integrity of many of these studies. Mycobacteriosis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by several Mycobacterium spp. and is the second most common disease found in laboratory zebrafish. Current mycobacteriosis control measures recommend the removal of infected fish and in severe outbreaks, depopulation. These measures can be effective, but less disruptive measures should be assessed for controlling mycobacteriosis, particularly when valuable and rare lines of fish are affected. Here, the in vivo efficacy of two drug candidates, tigecycline (1 μg g^?1) and clarithromycin (4 μg g^?1), was tested in adult zebrafish experimentally infected with Mycobacterium chelonae. We assessed both short (14 day)‐ and long‐term (30 day) treatments and evaluated fecundity and pathological endpoints. Fecundity and histology results show that zebrafish tolerated antibiotics. Antibiotic treatments did not significantly impact the prevalence of acid‐fast granulomas; however, the severity of infections (acid‐fast granuloma intensity) was significantly decreased following treatments.     

Depletion of florfenicol amine in tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) maintained in a recirculating aquaculture system following Aquaflor®‐medicated feed therapy

Aquaflor^® [50% w w^?1 florfenicol (FFC)], is approved for use in freshwater‐reared warmwater finfish which include tilapia Oreochromis spp. in the United States to control mortality from Streptococcus iniae. The depletion of florfenicol amine (FFA), the marker residue of FFC, was evaluated after feeding FFC‐medicated feed to deliver a nominal 20 mg FFC kg^?1 BW d^?1 dose (1.33× the label use of 15 mg FFC kg^?1 BW d^?1) to Nile tilapia O. niloticus and hybrid tilapia O. niloticus × O. aureus held in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) at production‐scale holding densities. Florfenicol amine concentrations were determined in fillets taken from 10 fish before dosing and from 20 fish at nine time points after dosing (from 1 to 240 h post‐dosing). Water samples were assayed for FFC before, during and after the dosing period. Parameters monitored included daily feed consumption and biofilter function (levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate). Mean fillet FFA concentration decreased from 13.77 μg g^?1 at 1‐h post dosing to 0.39 μg g^?1 at 240‐h post dosing. Water FFC concentration decreased from a maximum of 1400 ng mL^?1 at 1 day post‐dosing to 847 ng mL^?1 at 240 h post‐dosing. There were no adverse effects noted on fish, feed consumption or biofilter function associated with FFC‐medicated feed administration to tilapia.     

Retracted: Effectiveness of carp pituitary extract and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue administration (by either injection or cholesterol pellet implantation) on spawning performance in female sturgeon,Huso huso

The effectiveness of common carp pituitary extract (CPE), luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRH‐A₂) injections and LHRH‐A₂ implants for spawning induction in female sturgeon, Huso huso was examined. In the first trial, fish were injected with 7% physiological saline (control), 50 mg kg^?1 CPE or LHRH‐A₂ at 3.5, 7, 8 or 10 μg kg^?1. In the second trial, fish were treated with LHRH‐A₂ cholesterol pellet implants containing 0, 3.5, 7, 8 and 10 μg kg^?1 LHRH‐A₂. Ovulated eggs were removed using a minimally invasive surgical technique and were artificially fertilized. Injection of CPE and LHRH‐A₂ at doses of 3.5, 7, 8 and 10 μg kg^?1 resulted in the number of ovulated fish more than LHRH‐A₂ implants (similar doses) or controls, although there was no significant difference at doses of 8 and 10 μg kg^?1 (P ≥ 0.05). The latency period of fish receiving CPE and LHRH‐A₂ injections was approximately 20 h, which was significantly lower than in fish receiving LHRH‐A₂ implants (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in rates of fertilization or hatching among the progeny produced in any of the treatment groups (P ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, the data from this study could be useful for artificial propagation of not‐fully‐matured females of H. huso at sturgeon hatcheries.     

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) on growth performance,immunity and disease resistance of Pangasius catfish (Pangasius bocourti,Sauvage 1880)

This study evaluated the effects of Jerusalem artichoke (JA) and Lactobacillus plantarum singly or combined on growth, immunity and disease resistance of Pangasius bocourti. In the first experiment, different concentrations of JA (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 g kg^?1) were administered to determine an optimal concentration on growth of P. bocourti. In the second experiment, the optimal concentration of JA (5 g kg^?1) was combined with 10⁸ cfu g^?1 L. plantarum. In the final experiment, five randomly selected fish from the second experiment were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Treatments for second and third experiments were 0 g kg^?1 JA (Diet 1), 5 g kg^?1 JA (Diet 2), 10⁸ cfu g^?1 L. plantarum (Diet 3) and 5 g kg^?1 JA + 10⁸ cfu g^?1 L. plantarum (Diet 4). Fish fed 5 g kg^?1 JA or 10⁸ cfu g^?1 of L. plantarum significantly improved specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), serum lysozyme activity and postchallenge survival rate (PCSR). Dietary in the combination of JA and L. plantarum showed significantly enhanced SGR, FCR, serum lysozyme, phagocytosis, respiratory burst activities and PCSR compared with control and individual applications. Dietary JA and L. plantarum significantly stimulated growth, immunity and disease resistance of P. bocourti.     

Quantitative immunoenzymatic detection of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy virus (betanodavirus) in sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax

Viral encephalopathy and retinopathy disease caused by betanodavirus, genus of the family Nodaviridae, affects marine, wild and farmed species including sea bass, one of the most important farmed species in Europe. This work describes a reliable and sensitive indirect ELISA assay to detect betanodavirus in biological samples using a polyclonal antiserum (pAb 283) against the 283/I09 virus strain, the most common red‐spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) genotype in the Mediterranean area, and a capture‐based ELISA using a monoclonal antibody (mAb 4C3) specific to a common epitope present on the capsid protein. Using adsorbed, purified VERv preparation, the detection limit of indirect ELISA was 2 μg mL^?1 (3 × 10⁵ TCID50 per mL), whereas for capture‐based ELISA, the sensitivity for the antigen in solution was 17 μg mL^?1 (35 × 10⁵ TCID50 per mL). The capture‐based ELISA was employed to detect VERv in brain homogenates of in vivo infected sea bass and resulted positive in 22 of 32 samples, some of these with a high viral load estimates (about 1.1 × 10⁸ TCID50 per mL). The ELISA system we propose may be helpful in investigations where coupling of viral content in fish tissues with the presence of circulating VERv‐specific IgM is required, or for use in samples where PCR is difficult to perform.     

Effect of different feeds on the growth,survival and reproductive performance of zebrafish,Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822)

Present experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different feeds with varying protein levels on the growth, survival and reproductive performance of zebrafish, Danio rerio. The control diet (T1) was wild‐collected zooplankton from local fish ponds, while test diets with 350 g kg^?1 protein (T2), 400 g kg^?1 protein (T3) and 450 g kg^?1 protein (T4) were formulated and fed to fish for a period of 210 days. The significantly (P < 0.05) highest mean weight gain and specific growth rate were observed in T1, which were similar with T3 and T4. The significantly (P < 0.05) highest number of egg production per female and relative fecundity were found in T1, followed by T4 and T3 while T2 produced lowest number of eggs. No significant (P > 0.05) differences were observed in brood survival rate, fertilization and hatching rate among the dietary treatments. The highest (P < 0.05) fry survival rate was recorded in T1, followed by T3 and T4. Thus, it is suggested that control diet i.e. mixed zooplankton exhibited better growth, reproductive performance and fry survival rate. However, diet containing 400 g kg^?1 crude protein also gave comparable results in terms of growth, survival and reproductive performance of zebrafish.     

A comparison of the effect of dietary fungal phytase and dicalcium phosphate supplementation on growth performances,feed and phosphorus utilization of tra catfish juveniles (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus Sauvage, 1878)

Six isonitrogenous (320 g kg^?1) and isolipidic (60 g kg^?1) diets were formulated with graded levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 g kg^?1) of dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and fungal phytase (750 and 1500 FTU kg^?1 diet). Tra catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus), 9.6 g, were fed the diets for 12 weeks. Each experimental diet was fed to eight replicates of fish to apparent satiation. At the end of the trial, fish fed the diets containing 15 g kg^?1 DCP, 750 and 1500 FTU kg^?1 phytase had higher growth performances, protein efficiency ratio and phosphorus retention than those fed the control diet, 5 g kg^?1 DCP and 10 g kg^?1 DCP diets (P < 0.05). Whole body ash and phosphorus concentration of fish fed the 10 g kg^?1 DCP and 15 g kg^?1 DCP diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet. Higher apparent digestibility coefficient of phosphorus was observed in fish fed the phytase supplemented diets. The present results indicate that supplementation of phytase at 750 FTU kg^?1 and 1500 FTU kg^?1 improves growth performances, feed and phosphorus utilization. The supplementation can completely replace dicalcium phosphate or other phosphorus sources in tra catfish feed and reduce the phosphorus discharge into environment.     

Temperature‐dependent feed requirements in farmed blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) estimated from soft tissue growth and oxygen consumption and ammonia‐N excretion

Feed requirements were estimated from specific growth rates in standardized soft tissue dry weight (SGR_DW’) and atomic O:N ratios for mussels fed seven rations of microalgae (5–735 μg C h^?1 ind^?1) at 7 and 14°C respectively. The mean oxygen consumption and ammonia‐N excretion rates were significantly higher at 14°C (0.29 μg O² and 27.3 μg N ind^?1 h¹) compared with those at 7°C (0.16 μg O² and 11.4 μg N ind^?1 h^?1) (P < 0.05), resulting in O:N ratios between 3 and 45 at 7°C and 7 and 28 at 14°C. Low O:N ratios indicate protein catabolism and an unfavourable condition, whereas high ratios indicate that carbohydrate is the primary energy source. The measured SGR_DW’ suggests minimum feed requirements of ~240 and ~570 μg C ind^?1 h^?1 for weight maintenance at 7 and 14°C, with corresponding O:N ratios of 24 and 16, respectively, indicating a more stressed condition at 14°C. A 0.5% SGR_DW’ day^?1 was obtained by ~565 (O:N = 29) and ~680 (O:N = 23) μg C ind^?1 h^?1 at 7 and 14°C respectively. A positive and significantly higher SGR_DW’, with the lowest feed ration at 7°C compared with a negative SGR_DW’ at 14°C (P < 0.05), indicated that storage time can also possibly be prolonged at low temperatures if the mussels are not fed.     

Inhibition of Vibrio spp. by 2‐Hydroxyethyl‐11‐hydroxyhexadec‐9‐enoate of Marine Cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. LT19

Seven marine cyanobacteria were isolated from two regions of the Gulf of Thailand and evaluated by the agar diffusion method for antibacterial activity. Inhibitory compound was purified from the crude methanol extract and its structure was elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis, including IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as mass spectrometry. A novel antimicrobial compound produced by the marine cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. LT19 was identified to be a 2‐hydroxyethyl‐11‐hydroxyhexadec‐9‐enoate which has so far never been reported in microorganisms. Biological assays revealed that this novel compound exhibited antibacterial activities against the Gram‐negative, persistent shrimp pathogens, Vibrio harveyi and V. parahaemolyticus with minimal inhibitory concentration of 250–1000 and 350–1000 μg mL^?1 respectively.     

Utilization of diets with different fish oil content in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797) and resulting changes in its biochemical composition

The aim of the present work was to obtain the lipid utilization of Octopus vulgaris supplying formulated semi‐moist diets with different contents in cod oil (reduced from water content): 0 g kg^?1 (A0, 138 g kg^?1 lipids DW; N = 4), 100 g kg^?1 (A100, 286 g kg^?1 lipids DW; N = 6) and 200 g kg^?1 (A200, 388 g kg^?1 lipids DW; N = 6). The rest of the ingredients were constant in the three diets: 200 g kg^?1 gelatin, 100 g kg^?1 egg yolk powder, 150 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried Todarodes sagittatus and 50 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried Sardinella aurita). Survival was 100% with the three diets. The highest absolute feeding (15.8 ± 1.2 g day^?1), growth (9.6 ± 1.4 g day^?1; 0.91% BW day^?1) and feed efficiency rates (60.3%) were obtained with diet A0. This diet also showed greater retention of lipid and protein than A100 and A200. Protein digestibility was above 95% in all of the diets. Only diet A0 led to a high lipid digestibility coefficient (81.25%), which fell drastically to 12.3% in A200. It was notable the high polar lipid digestibility rates (83–89%) respect to neutral lipids (2–87%) in all diets. The best results were obtained with lipid feeding rates of around 1 g day^?1 and a suitable lipid content on 130–140 g kg^?1 DW in formulated diets for O. vulgaris.     

A comparison between marine and terrestrial invertebrate meals for mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) diets: Impact on growth,haematology and health

Invertebrate meals (e.g. polychaetes and insects) present novel and sustainable high‐quality nutrient sources for use in fish feed formulations. To test this innovative source, an eleven‐week feeding trial was conducted evaluating the effects of replacing the fishmeal (FM) component as an example of a superior protein source (FM CTRL) with ragworm meal (RW, Nereis virens) and/or silkworm pupae (SWP, Bombyx mori) in mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) diets. Three experimental diets with partial replacement of FM (diets: RW + FM, SWP + FM and RW + SWP + FM) were formulated. All diets were formulated to be iso‐nitrogenous, iso‐lipidic and iso‐energetic. Growth performance and feed utilization indices were assessed, and the feeding trial concluded with the analysis of haematological parameters to provide an indication of carp physiological and health status. Mean weight gain was greatest in mirror carp fed RW + FM (60.83 fish^?1 day^?1; P < 0.05 vs. all other diets) followed by SWP + FM (40.62 g fish^?1 day^?1; P < 0.05 vs. all other diets). The least weight gain was achieved in fish fed FM + SWP + RW+ and FM CTRL (34.34 and 33.96 g fish^?1 day^?1, respectively; not significantly different from each other). Fish fed on RW + FM diet had significantly lower plasma ammonia concentrations than any other dietary groups (P = 0.04). Mirror carp fed on SWP + FM diet (111.52 units mL^?1) were observed to have a marked enhancement in alternative complement activity than FM CTRL (79.21 units mL^?1, P = 0.041). Both ragworm and silkworm pupae meal present attractive sustainable functional feed component in carp diets, with benefits on enhancing growth performance and specific physiological parameters.     

Larval development and salinity tolerance of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) from hatching to juvenile settlement

Salinity tolerance and growth of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus at different developmental stages were evaluated, including newly hatched larvae (nhl), yolk sac larvae (ysl), oil droplet larvae (odl), post oil droplet larvae (podl), premetamorphic larvae (preml) and prometamorphic larvae (proml), at 11 salinities from 5 to 55 g L^?1 for 96 h. The ontogenesis during the early life of P. olivaceus was investigated under hatchery salinity 35 g L^?1. The results showed that suitable salinities for nhl, ysl, odl, podl, preml and proml larvae were 10 to 25 g L^?1, 10 to 30 g L^?1, 20 to 30 g L^?1, 30 g L^?1, 10 to 30 g L^?1, 15 g L^?1, respectively, demonstrating an ontogenetic variation of salinity tolerance. The salinity tolerance of nhl, ysl, preml was higher than that of odl, podl and proml. The ysl and preml larvae displayed wide salinity tolerances. The present findings demonstrate that the suitable salinity for larviculture of P. olivaceus is 20–25 g L^?1 before the depletion of oil droplet; after that, higher salinity (30 g L^?1) should be ensured for the post‐oil droplet larvae; the premetamorphic larvae can be cultured at a wide salinity range (10–30 g L^?1), and the metamorphosed larvae should be reared at salinity about 15 g L^?1.     

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).     

Nutrient composition of fairy shrimp Streptocephalus sirindhornae nauplii as live food and growth performance of giant freshwater prawn postlarvae

Nutritional efficacy of fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus sirindhornae) nauplii, as a live food, was studied for growth performance and survival rate of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) postlarvae. A feeding experiment was designed with four different feeds: dry commercial feed, fairy shrimp nauplii, Artemia sp. nauplii and adult Moina macrocopa. Results from the nutritional composition revealed that fairy shrimp nauplii had protein and lipid contents of 54.58 ± 2.8 g kg^?1 and 255 ± 2.8 g kg^?1, respectively. The highest value for an individual amino acid in fairy shrimp was lysine (140.7 ± 1.6 g kg^?1). The essential amino acids content in the whole body of the larval prawns was in the range of 66.7–67.5 g kg^?1. Fairy shrimp nauplii had the highest essential amino acid ratio (A/E) of lysine, similarly, in musculature of prawn larvae. Weight gain and specific growth rate of the postlarvae fed with fairy shrimp nauplii were significantly higher than those fed with Artemia nauplii, adult Moina and dry commercial feed. The presented results suggest that S. sirindhornae nauplii can be used as a nutritionally adequate food for freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii postlarvae.     

Acute toxicity of nitrite on white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) juveniles in low‐salinity water

The nitrite toxicity was estimated in juveniles of L. vannamei. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC₅₀ of nitrite‐N on juveniles were 8.1, 7.9, 6.8 and 5.7 mg L^?1 at 0.6 g L^?1; 14.4, 9.6 8.3 and 7.0 mg L^?1 at 1.0 g L^?1; 19.4, 15.4, 13.4 and 12.4 mg L^?1 at 2.0 g L^?1 of salinity respectively. The tolerance of juveniles to nitrite decreased at 96 h of exposure by 18.6% and 54.0%, when salinity declined from 1.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 and from 2.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 respectively. The safe concentrations at salinities of 0.6, 1.0 and 2.0 g L^?1 were 0.28, 0.35 and 0.62 mg L^?1 nitrite‐N respectively. The relationship between LC₅₀ (mg L^?1), salinity (S) (g L^?1) and exposure time (T) (h) was LC₅₀ = 8.4688 + 5.6764S – 0.0762T for salinities from 0.6 to 2.0 g L^?1 and for exposure times from 24 to 96 h; the relationship between survival (%) and nitrite‐N concentration (C) for salinity of 0.6–2.0 g L^?1, nitrite‐N concentrations of 0–40 mg L^?1 and exposure times from 0 to 96 h was as follows: survival (%) = 0.8442 + 0.1909S – 0.0038T – 0.0277C + 0.0008ST + 0.0001CT–0.0029SC, and the tentative equation for predicting the 96‐h LC₅₀ to salinities from 0.6 to 35 g L^?1 in L. vannamei juveniles (3.9–4.4 g) was 96‐h LC₅₀ = 0.2127 S² + 1.558S + 5.9868. For nitrite toxicity, it is shown that a small change in salinity of waters from 2.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 is more critical for L. vannamei than when wider differences in salinity occur in brackish and marine waters (15–35 g L^?1).     

Constructed wetlands for treatment of harvest effluents from grow‐out ponds of the Amazon river prawn

Effluent discharges from aquaculture can reduce water quality in receiving water bodies and that strategies or practices to reduce this are necessary. One possibility is to reduce, or eliminate, water renewal in grow‐out ponds. In this study, we eliminated water renewal in grow‐out ponds associated with the culture of 40 individuals m^?2 of Amazon river prawn (Macrobrachium amazonicum). At the end of the culture period it was, however, necessary to drain the pond to harvest the prawns. An experiment was performed in triplicate, in which the water supply characteristics and harvest water characteristics of ponds were evaluated. To reduce these concentrations of total N and P, an aquatic macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes, water hyacinth) treatment system (CWs) was adopted. The water characteristics in the CWs were evaluated after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days. The water supply of ponds presented the average concentrations of 0.67 ± 0.32 mg L^?1 and 17.4 ± 14.7 μg L^?1 of total‐N and total‐P respectively. The harvest effluent of ponds had elevated concentrations of different forms of nitrogen (4.44 mg L^?1 of total‐N) and phosphorous (100.9 μg L^?1 of total‐P). After 1 day of the experiment we found the following reductions in key nutrients in treatment system containing E. crassipes: 90%, 78% and 45% reductions in the concentrations of particulate matter, orthophosphates and nitrates respectively. We noted that after 3 days the nitrates had been reduced by 53%. We concluded that 3 days of this treatment was sufficient for the removal of the additional nutrients that had accumulated in the Amazon river prawn ponds.     

The effects of dietary lipid levels on performance and heat‐shock protein response of juvenile white seabass,Atractoscion nobilis

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of dietary lipid on growth performance and heat‐shock protein (HSP70 and HSP60) response of white seabass (WSB), Atractoscion nobilis. Five diets were formulated to contain 440 g kg^?1 protein from 300 g kg^?1 fish meal, 240 g kg^?1 soybean meal and 100 g kg^?1 soy protein concentrate with different levels of lipid: 100, 120, 140, 160 or 180 g kg^?1. At the end of the trial, heat shock response based on HSP70 and HSP60 was measured in liver and white muscle from fish at ambient temperature and temperature shock conditions. Final weight and percent gain were significantly higher for fish fed the 100 g kg^?1 lipid diet than for fish fed the rest of the diets (P ≤ 0.05). Feed conversion ratio was lowest for fish fed the 100 g kg^?1 lipid diet. The HSP70 and HSP60 responses were positively correlated to dietary lipid levels following temperature shock. At ambient temperature, HSP60 and HSP70 responses in muscle and HSP60 response in liver increased with dietary lipid level. Temperature shock significantly increased the HSP response of fish in all treatments. Results of this study demonstrated that a moderate (110–120 g kg^?1) level of dietary lipids would be recommended for production diets but a higher dietary lipid level may be required for optimal stress tolerance.     

Chemical composition of Lippia spp. essential oil and antimicrobial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila

Phytotherapy can replace antibiotic administration as an alternative to control Aeromonas hydrophila, one of the main bacteria involved in the aetiology of farmed fish diseases. Given that plants of the Lippia spp. genus show biological potential for antimicrobial activity, this study evaluated the chemical composition of essential oils extracted from Lippia alba, Lippia origanoides and Lippia sidoides and their activity against A. hydrophila. The oils were obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger‐type apparatus and their composition determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (CG/MS). Antibacterial activity was assessed by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using broth microdilution method. The main compounds identified were geranial (25.4%) and neral (16.6%) in L. alba oil, carvacrol (40.4%) and p‐cymene (11.4%) in L. origanoides oil and thymol (76.6%) and ortho‐cymene (6.3%) in L. sidoides oil. The three Lippia species showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal action against A. hydrophila, with MICs and MBCs ranging from 1250 to 5000 μg mL^?1. Of the species tested, the best performance was obtained with essential oil of L. sidoides.     

Ovulation induction in jundiá (Rhamdia quelen,Heptapteridae) using carp pituitary extract or salmon GnRH analogue combined with dopamine receptor antagonists

Jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) is an important species for aquaculture in temperate and subtropical climates. In the present study, the results of different forms of GnRH analogue treatments on ovulation in jundiá have been compared with those from treatment with carp pituitary. Seven out of eight females ovulated in groups treated with carp pituitary (4.0 mg kg^?1 BW) and Ovaprim (0.5 mL kg^?1 BW). Injection with sGnRHa (10 μg kg^?1 BW) combined with metoclopramide (20 mg kg^?1 BW) caused a significantly lower rate of ovulation with three out of eight females responding. None of the fish injected with sGnRHa (10 μg kg^?1 BW) alone ovulated. Mean PGSI [(weight of stripped egg mass/BW of the female before stripping) × 100] and mean fertilization rate values were high and similar between treatment groups. The obtained results indicate that in jundiá, there is a strong dopamine inhibitory tone on gonadotropin secretion. The gonadotropin releasing activity of sGnRHa can be potentiated by dopamine receptor antagonists and the combined treatment is effective in inducing ovulation. In this regard, domperidone proved to be more potent than metoclopramide.