Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. in Brazilian and exotic wild carnivores

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Níveis de proteína digestível e energia digestível em dietas para tilápias-do-nilo formuladas com base no conceito de proteína ideal

This study was carried out to determine the best digestible energy and digestible protein ratio in feeds for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles 30.0 +/- 4.21 g) based on digestible amino acids and the ideal protein concept). Twelve rations were formulated with protein levels 22.0; 26.0; 30.0 and 34.0% of digestible protein and levels 3,000, 3,300 and 3,600 kcal/kg digestible energy. The digestible energy/digestible protein ratio was between 8.94 and 15.19 kcal/g. Three hundred and twenty four tilapias were randomly distributed in thirty six 250 L circular tanks at a density of 9 fish/tank, a total of 12 treatments with three replications. After 60 days, there was no significant difference in weight gain, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio among the studied treatments. A linear increase was observed in fillet yield with increasing digestible protein. With respect to feed cost/kg weight gain, the treatment with 30.0% DP and 3,000 kcal/kg DE presented low cost and better cost effectiveness index. Therefore, it was concluded that digestible energy did not influence the productive performance parameters and that effective feeds can be formulated with DP levels lower than 34% when feeding juvenile tilapias. The ration should be formulated based on the concept of ideal protein.

Selênio orgânico na alimentação de matrizes de tilápia-do-Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus)

Organic selenium in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock. The aim of this study to test the effect of organic selenium supplementation in the diets of Nile tilapia broodstock. Growth, reproductive performance and performance of fingerlings were evaluated. Eighty adult fish were used, with average weight of 121.7 g and divided into groups of four animals (3 female and 1 male) stocked in 20 tanks with 1.5 cubic meters. The fish were fed five diets containing different levels of organic selenium (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 mg kg-1 ration). In the experimental period, females from all tanks were captured and the eggs collected. The experimental design was entirely randomized, with five treatments and four replicates. To evaluate progeny performance, the fingerlings were shared in four aquariums and fed during 30 days with commercial diet (45% CP). The supplementation with organic selenium did not affect the productive performance as with the reproductive parameters of the broodstock (p > 0.05). on the other hand, the broodstock fed with 0.50 mg of organic selenium produced fingerlings that presented improved weight gain (p < 0.05) compared to fish fed the control diet.

Desempenho produtivo de tilápia do Nilo alimentada com níveis de colina na dieta

Growth performance of Nile tilapia fed graded choline levels in the diet. A 109-day feeding trial was undertaken aiming to evaluate the growth performance of Nile tilapia fed graded choline levels One hundred and ninety-two (initial-weight 4 0 [plus or minus] 0 15 g) fingerlings were distributed into 32 net cages (200 L each), four cages per treatment and six fish per cage, placed in eight 10001, aquaria in a closed recirculation system The treatments were assigned to the tanks comprising eight treatments and loin replications arranged in a completely randomized experimental design Diets were supplemented with choline chloride to provide 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 mg of choline per kg of feed and an unsupplemented diet No significant differences were observed in growth performance, survival, apparent feed conversion, liver and fillet ether extract, hepatosomatic index and plasma lipid concentration, among treatments Choline levels did not improve growth performance, possibly because the amount of choline in the diet had already met fish requirement

Effects of a small fish cage farm on zooplankton assemblages (Cladocera and Copepoda: Crustacea) in a sub-tropicalreservoir (SE Brazil).

In Brazil, the environmental impacts of fish cage farming in water reservoirs have not been well studied. As this activity is being increasingly practiced, investigations on the impacts of this practice are strongly needed. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of a small cage tilapia farm on zooplankton assemblages in an oligo/mesotrophic reservoir (Jurumirim Reservoir, Paranapanema River). Zooplankton, limnological variables, and water samples were obtained trimonthly during a year at two sample sites, one was located adjacent to the cage farm and the control area was located one kilometer away from it. Eighteen species were identified and Cladocera was the dominant group. The same species of microcrustaceans were identified at both sites. Among the ecological attributes studied, only evenness showed a tendency towards being higher in the control site. Significant differences between studied variables in the sites were observed only for material in suspension. The results of the study indicate that, during the studied period, the cage farm did not generate detectable changes in the zooplankton assemblages and their ecological attributes. However, small differences in some limnological variables could be an indication of some environmental changes associated with the fish farm system.

Desempenho produtivo de alevinos de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) arraçoados com farinha de soja

This experiment was carried out in the Research Laboratory on Nutrition of Aquatic Organisms, Aquaculture Center UNESP, FMVZ - Botucatu, SP, Brazil. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of raw full-fat soybean meal on feeding in fingerlings of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The suitable level of consumption of raw full-fat soybean meal (RSM) was determined by means of productive performance. The experimental design was a Multivariate Profile Analyses, with four treatments (four replicates each one). Each isoproteic (26% CP) and isoenergetic (3000 Kcal ME/ kg) diet received raw full-fat soybean meal at 6.0%, 12.0% and 18.0%. A treatment without soybean meal was used as control. Forty eight fingerlings with similar size (mean Wt ± SD: 6.47 ± 0.64 g; and mean Lt ± SD: 54.94 ± 7.79 mm) at the beginning of the experiments were used. No significant difference (p>0.05%) in weight gain among the four treatments was found. However, the treatments with 12.0 and 18.0% RSM showed a reduction in the coefficient of digestibility in these treatments. This shows a deleterious effect of the raw full-fat soybean meal at these considered levels (12.0% and 18.0% RSM).

Food and feeding habits of the neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae)

A study of the feeding habits of the neotropical river otter, Lontra longicaudis, based on focal analysis was carried out from July 1986 to July 1987. The study was conducted at a dam in the 'Duas Bocas' Biological Reserve near the town of Cariacica, Espirito Santo State, Brazil. This reserve spreads over an area of 2 910 ha, the surface being mainly covered by the Atlantic Rain Forest. In order to identify the fish and other animal remains found in otter fecal samples, these were compared to the homologous structures of identical species living in the dam. The results of 288 samples were expressed in numbers and frequency of occurrence. Fishes were the most important food item, being present in 281 samples (97.2 %). A species of the genus Geophagus was frequently found in spraints, eaten during all months studied and present in 88.9 % of the samples. Astyanax, Pimelodella, Hoplias, Leporinus, Rhamdia, Tilapia and two other unidentified genera were found less frequently. In decreasing order of occurrence, crustaceans, amphibia, mammals, insects and birds were also encountered. Seasonal variation was verified in the scats between the dry and rainy seasons, with a higher frequency of food items occurring in the latter. In agreement with other species of otters, fishes also are the most commonly ingested prey. Two characteristics of fishes, greater abundance and easier capture, make them the major prey of otters, implying that otters are opportunistic predators eating whatever is more available.

Torta de dendê em dieta para a tilápia-do-nilo: Desempenho produtivo

To evaluate the nutritional value of African palm kernel meal (Elaeis guineensis) on the performance of Nile tilapia (Oseochromis niloticus), five isonitrogenous (30% crude protein), isoenergetic (2,800 Kcal/kg of digestible energy), and isofibrous (10% crude fiber) diets, with increasing levels of African palm kernel meal (0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35%) were fed ad libitum for 18 weeks to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings, averaging 1.52 ± 0.04 g of body weight, housed for 120 days in 60 liter aquaria with six fingerlings. To determine the production traits, weight gain, apparent food conversion, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, weight gain percentage, net protein utilization, and body composition, fish were weighted at six-week intervals. Statistical analysis of recorded data were performed through multivariate profile analysis and polynomial regression models. Results showed that feeding fingerling Nile tilapia with ratios containing up to 35% of African palm kernel meal does not affect production performance.

Nucleotide sequence of 5S rDNA and localization of the ribosomal RNA genes to metaphase chromosomes of the Tilapiine cichlid fish, Oreochromis niloticus

In this study, we report the cloning and nucleotide sequence of PCR-generated 5S rDNA from the Tilapiine cichlid fish, Oreochromis niloticus. Two types of 5S rDNA were detected that differed by insertions and/or deletions and base substitutions within the non-transcribed spacer (NTS). Two 5S rDNA loci were observed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in metaphase spreads of tilapia chromosomes. FISH using an 18S rDNA probe and silver nitrate sequential staining of 5S-FISH slides showed three 18S rDNA loci that are not syntenic to the 5S rDNA loci.

Acid and fermented silage characterization and determination of apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein for pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus

Three types of raw materials including commercial waste from saltwater (SW), freshwater fish (FW) and tilapia fillet residue (FR) were used to produce fish silage by either acid digestion (2% formic acid and 2% sulfuric acid) or anaerobic fermentation (5% of Lactobacillus plantarum and 15% sugar cane molasses). Six test diets were used in digestibility trials prepared with 70% reference diet and 30% of each experimental silage. These diets were fed to juvenile pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus (146 g average weight) in triplicate. Fish were kept in 500-L tanks and feces collected by manual extrusion. It was observed for both processes that SW waste always had the highest moisture content and lowest fat and ash. Highest crude protein levels were found in silages from commercial fish waste (SW and FW) made from whole fish unfit for human consumption. However, apparent digestibility coefficients did not vary among diets (P > 0.05). Although values did not differ statistically, fermented silage consistently displayed higher digestibility coefficients compared to acid silage. The silages exhibited relatively high protein digestibility (72.5-80.0%), thus suggesting the feasibility of using fish industry by-products in aquaculture feeds.

Valor nutritivo de macrófitas aquáticas flutuantes (Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes e Salvinia molesta) utilizadas no tratamento de efluentes de aqüicultura

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of free-floating aquatic macrophytes, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms (Pontederiaceae), Pistia stratiotes (L.) (Araceae) and Salvinia molesta (Mitchell) (Salviniaceae) used in a Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) waste treatment, and these species biomass potential uses. The vegetal biomass samples were collected from 0.25 m 2 floating squares and divided in aerial and submerse parts, to determine the concentrations of cell wall fraction, soluble carbohydrates, polyphenols, lipids, crude protein and total phosphorus. The higher nutritive value was observed in E. crassipes and S. molesta aerial parts, and in P. stratiotes total biomass, due to their lower cell wall fraction mean rates (60.7; 64.2 and 56.9 % dry mass, respectively) and to the higher rates of: crude protein (10.1; 9.1 and 8.8 % dry mass, respectively), soluble carbohydrates (26.6; 18.7 and 12.4 mg.g -1 dry mass, respectively) and lipids (7.6; 4.5 and 4.4% dry mass, respectively). It may be concluded that P. stratiotes total biomass, and E. crassipes and S. molesta aerial biomass have nutritive values with potential use for ruminant feeding or as ration ingredients.

Anesthesia of fish with benzocaine does not interfere with comet assay results

Fish blood erythrocytes are frequently used as sentinels in biomonitoring studies. Usually, fish blood is collected by painful cardiac or caudal vein punctures. Previous anesthesia could decrease animal suffering but it is not known at present whether anesthesia can cause confounding effects. Therefore, using the alkaline single cell gel (SCG)/comet assay with blood erythrocytes of the cichlid fish Nile tilapia, we tested for a possible modulation of induced DNA damage (methyl methanesulfonate; MMS) by the anesthetic benzocaine administered by bath exposure (80mg/l for ∼10min). Furthermore, benzocaine (80-600mg/l) was tested for its genotoxic potential on fish erythrocytes in vitro and for potential interactions with two known genotoxins (MMS and hydrogen peroxide). Our results did neither indicate a significant increase in the amount of DNA damage (even after a 48h follow-up), nor indicated interactions with MMS-induced DNA damage when fish were exposed to benzocaine in vivo. There was also no increase in DNA damage after in vitro exposure of fish erythrocytes to benzocaine. Clear concentration-related effects were observed for the two genotoxins in vitro, which were not significantly altered by the presence of benzocaine. These results suggest that anesthesia of fish does not confound comet assay results and the use of blood samples from anesthetized fish can be recommended with regard to animal welfare. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Short interspersed repetitive elements (SINEs) from the cichlid fish, Oreochromis niloticus, and their chromosomal localization by fluorescent in situ hybridization

In the present study, we describe the cloning and characterization of a new SINE-like element from O. niloticus (ROn-2) and show the distribution of this SINE and a previously isolated SINE, ROn-1, in the chromosomes of O. niloticus. The ROn-2 element is 359 base pairs (bp) in length, contains short direct terminal repeats, a tRNA-related region similar to tRNA Val and tRNA Arg, a tRNA-unrelated region, and a poly-A tail. Analysis of the chromosomal distribution of ROn-1 and ROn-2 by fluorescent in situ hybridization showed that both SINE sequences are present in all chromosomes of tilapia, and organized in small clusters. The only exception was a large cluster of ROn-1 repeats found in the middle of the long arm of chromosome 1. In view of our data we discuss the hypothesis that the absence of large clusters of SINE sequences and the structural composition of these sequences may explain the absence of base-specific fluorochrome bands in the chromosomes of tilapia.

Influência do alecrim (Rosmarinus officinallis L.) na atividade de água e oxidação lipídica de peixes de uma espécie de tilápia (Oreochromis ssp-var. vermelha Flórida) submetidos à salga

Salting have been a very utilized fish conservation method, however only in the last years the basic mechanism involved in salting fish has been understood. The objectives of this study were determine the addition in brine salt of rosemary leaves, rosemary extracts and tocopherol, and your action in the followed parameters: water activity (Aw), moisture, ash, salt content and TBARS. The results showed that the addition of antioxidants was difficulted the salt absorption, however didn't have differences between rosemary or tocopherol use. In the salting time of 3 hours the values of Aw and salt levels, was respectively: 0.77±0.01 and 14.42±1.69. for control treatment; 0.85±0.02 and 9.09±1.39for rosemary filtrate; 0.78±0.03 and 10.63±0.69 rosemary without filtrating and 0.85±0.02 and 11.96±1.78 tocopherol, showed that didn't grow indigenous bacterias. Lipid oxidation was evaluated by TBARS and the results showed the oxidative effect of salt and the pro oxidant effects of alls antioxidants used in brine salting.

Utilization of fish protein hydrolysate in prepared diets for pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, larvae

Growth and survival rates of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, larvae fed prepared diets containing different animal protein sources were evaluated. Four diets with the same level of crude protein (CP) (36%) and calories (4.02 kcal gross energy/g of diet) were fed to the larvae. Diets were formulated to contain one of four protein sources: (1) fish meal (FM), (2) tilapia residue silage (TS), (3) protein hydrolysate from tilapia residue (HT), and (4) eviscerated tilapia residue (HET). Larvae were fed Artemia nauplii for six days, prior to the start of the study, and the prepared diet was supplied from day 7 until the study concluded. Variance analysis showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) for survival rates and larval final lengths among treatments. However, final average weights were significantly different (P < 0.05 for larvae fed FM and HT. Average survival rates were relatively high and ranged from 68.1% to 73.9%. After the live food was replaced by prepared diets, no larval growth was observed for any treatment. Fish protein hydrolysate (HT and HET) and fish silage showed potential to be used as ingredients in the diet of pacu larvae. However, hydrolysate inclusion levels, processing methods to minimize nutrient lixiviation, and the best moment to replace live food with an inert diet (weaning) need further investigation. © 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.