Hematology and productive performance of nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) naturally infected with Flavobacterium columnare

Columnaris disease is one of the main causes of mortality in tilapia rearing and is responsible for large economic losses worldwide. Hematology is a tool that makes it possible to study organisms' physiological responses to pathogens. It may assist in making diagnoses and prognoses on diseases in fish populations. The hematological variables of nile tilapia were studied in specimens with a clinical diagnosis of columnaris disease and in specimens that were disease-free. The total erythrocyte count, hemoglobin rate, hematocrit percentage, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), organic defense blood cell percentages (leukocytes and thrombocytes) and hepatosomatic and splenosomatic index were determined. The results showed that there were changes in the erythrocytic series and in organic defense blood cells, in the fish infected with the bacterium, with reductions in erythrocytic variables and significant increases in the numbers of circulating lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Sex group composition, social interaction, and metabolism in the fish Nile tilapia

O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar se grupos monossexuais de machos gastam mais energia e exibem perfil agonístico diferente de grupos formados por um macho e uma fêmea na tilápia-do-Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). Tais diferenças são esperadas, pois machos e fêmeas competem por diferentes recursos reprodutivos. Foram utilizadas duplas de machos (MM) e duplas de macho-fêmea (MF) que permaneceram pareadas por 40 minutos. Durante esse período foi feito o registro da interação agonística (10 minutos iniciais e 10 minutos finais do pareamento) e determinado o gasto energético (consumo de O2) pelo Método de Winckler. A latência para o início dos confrontos (média ± DP, MM = 27,40 ± 25,15 s; MF = 14,22 ± 21,19 s; Mann-Whitney, U = 33,50, P = 0,21) e a freqüência de todas as unidades comportamentais (média ± DP, MM < 72,30 ± 25,29; MF < 73,50 ± 21,65.10/min; Mann-Whitney, P > 0,10) foram semelhantes entre os grupos MM e MF nos 10 minutos iniciais. Isso indica que cada intruso foi considerado um potencial competidor no início da interação. No entanto, a freqüência de ondulação (interação também exibida durante a corte) foi maior para o residente do grupo MF nos 10 minutos finais (média ± DP, MM = 3,56 ± 5,89; MF = 8,56 ± 4,00.10/min; Mann-Whitney, U = 15,50, P = 0,01). A freqüência de fuga, entretanto, foi menor para o intruso do mesmo grupo (média ± DP, MM = 3,90 ± 4,33; MF = 0,44 ± 0,96.10/min; Mann-Whitney, U = 23,50, P = 0,04). Além disso, o perfil agonístico no grupo MM foi composto por um maior número de itens comportamentais do que o MF (para residentes e intrusos). Apesar das diferenças comportamentais, o consumo de O2 não foi afetado pela composição sexual do grupo (média ± DP, MM = 1,93 ± 0,54; MF = 1,77 ± 0,46 mgO2.g peso seco-1.40/min; t-teste de Student, t = 0,71, P = 0,49).

Eutrophization process in a system used for rearing the nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), São Paulo State, Brazil

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

Elaboration of sausage using minced fish of Nile tilapia filleting waste

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effect of increased light intensity on the aggressive behavior of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

Animals show behavioral and physiological changes that emerge in response to environmental perturbations (i.e., emergency life-history stages). In this study, we investigate the effects of light intensity on aggressive encounters and social stability in groups of adult male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758). The study compared the behavior observed under low (280.75 ± 50.60 lx) and high (1394.14 ± 520.32 lx) light intensities, with 12 replicates for each treatment. Adult fish were isolated in 36-L aquaria for 96 hours, and three males were grouped for 11 days in 140-L aquaria. Agonistic behavior was video-recorded (10 min/day) on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th day to quantify aggressive interactions and social stability. There was an effect of light intensity and day of observation on the total number of agonistic behaviors performed by the fish group. Besides, increased frequency of aggressive interactions (the sum of the four sessions) by the alpha, beta and gamma fish occurred at the higher light intensity. The dominance ranks of the fish remained unchanged across the observation sessions under both the low and high light intensities. We concluded that enhanced light intensity has a cumulative effect that increases the aggressiveness of the Nile tilapia but that this effect is not sufficiently strong to destabilize the social hierarchy.

Kinetics of chronic inflammation in Nile tilapia fed n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids

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

Inflammatory responses of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus to Streptococcus agalactiae: effects of vaccination and yeast diet supplement

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with 0.3% Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell wall and of vaccination against Streptococcus agalactiae on the cellular component of acute inflammation induced in the coelomic cavity of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and on survival of the fish after challenge. A total of 84 tilapia of mean (+/- SD) weight 125.0 +/- 1.5 g were distributed among twelve 310 l fiberglass tanks according to a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial design in the following manner: with and without supplementation; 2 stimulations (oily solution without S. agalactiae vaccine and vaccination); 15 d later all fish were intracoelomically challenged with 10(8) CFU ml(-1) of a homologous strain of S. agalactiae, and evaluated after 6, 24 and 48 h, with 7 replicates. The fish received the non-supplemented or supplemented diet for a total of 77 d. The vaccination was performed on the 60th day, intracoelomically, as a single injection of 0.5 ml of the vaccine containing 10(8) CFU ml(-1). Fifteen days later, all the fish were challenged with S. agalactiae by means of an intracoelomic inoculation of 10(8) CFU ml(-1). No mortality was observed among the supplemented fish. The fish that were fed the non-supplemented diet and immunized with the bacterium presented a mortality rate of 28.5%. Among the non-supplemented and non-immunized fish, the mortality rate was 38.09%. Supplementation, in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated fish, induced larger accumulations of thrombocytes, lymphocytes and macrophages at the inflammatory focus. The results suggest that supplementation with 0.3% yeast cell wall, in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated fish, improved the inflammatory response of the fish and protected against the challenge. Vaccination increased the defense response, but the effect was stronger when associated with supplementation with S. cerevisiae.

Inflammation induced by inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia fed diets supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The inflammatory response and hernatological parameters among Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated six and 24 h after inoculation with inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila into the swim bladder. Six groups were formed (n = 10 each): G1 was treated with non-supplemented feed+injection with 0.65% saline solution; G2 with non-supplemented feed+ inoculation with A. hydrophila: G3 with feed containing 2% yeast+ injection with saline; G4 with feed containing 2% yeast + inoculation with A. hydrophila: G5 with feed containing 0.3% cell wall + injection with saline: and G6 with feed containing 0.3% cell wall + inoculation with A. hydrophila. In the groups inoculated with bacteria, the responses were more intense (P<0.05) than in those injected with saline. The groups receiving supplement that were inoculated with A. hydrophila accumulated a greater total number of cells at the lesion site (P<0.05) than did the non-supplemented groups, after six and 24 h. The groups receiving cell wall presented greater total accumulation of cells (P<0.005) that did those receiving yeast. The differential count showed that there were significantly greater number of thrombocytes (P< 0.05) and lower number of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes (P<0.05) in the groups that received supplement, after 6 and 24 h, in relation to the non-supplemented groups. The values in the erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and blood measurement indices did not differ statistically. The variation in circulating thrombocyte and leukocyte counts suggests that the inflammatory stimulus caused recruitment from reserve compartments to the blood. The groups that received yeast or yeast cell wall supplements presented increased nonspecific acute inflammatory response, thus suggesting that this has a beneficial effect on the immunological defense system. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Body lipid deposition in Nile tilapia fed on rations containing tannin

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de fontes e níveis de tanino em rações para tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus), durante a engorda, sobre o desempenho produtivo e deposição lipídica corporal. Foram utilizados 342 peixes, distribuídos em 18 tanques. As rações foram preparadas com milho, variedades de sorgo com baixo e alto teor de tanino, e com ácido tânico a 0,08, 0,34, e 0,60%. Ganho de peso, conversão alimentar aparente e taxa de eficiência protéica não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos. A maior deposição lipídica corporal foi observada nas dietas com ácido tânico (14,39%); a dieta de sorgo com alto teor de tanino resultou em carcaças mais magras (12,01%) do que as de sorgo com baixo teor de tanino (13,31%). Dietas com sorgo proporcionaram menores teores de gordura visceral. A presença de tanino nas rações não prejudicou o desempenho produtivo da tilápia-do-nilo.

Hydrodynamic characterization and performance evaluation of an aerobic three phase airlift fluidized bed reactor in a recirculation aquaculture system for Nile Tilapia production

The hydrodynamic characterization and the performance evaluation of an aerobic three phase fluidized bed reactor in wastewater fish culture treatment are presented in this report. The objective of this study was to evaluate the organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorous removal efficiency in a physical and biological wastewater treatment system of an intensive Nile Tilapia laboratory production with recirculation. The treatment system comprised of a conventional sedimentation basin operated at a hydraulic detention time HDT of 2.94 h and an aerobic three phase airlift fluidized bed reactor AAFBR operated at an 11.9 min HDT. Granular activated carbon was used as support media with density of 1.64 g/cm(3) and effective size of 0.34 mm in an 80 g/L constant concentration. Mean removal efficiencies of BOD, COD, phosphorous, total ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen were 47%, 77%, 38%, 27% and 24%, respectively. The evaluated system proved an effective alternative for water reuse in the recirculation system capable of maintaining water quality characteristics within the recommended values for fish farming and met the Brazilian standards for final effluent discharges with exception of phosphorous values. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Selenium determination in tissue samples of Nile tilapia using ultrasound-assisted extraction

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

Muscle delta C-13 change in nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings fed lants grain-based diets

The effects of grain-based diets from C3 or C4-cycle plants on muscle delta C-13 change process in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings were investigated. Two groups of sex reversal males Nile tilapia fingerlings were fed with isoproteic (32.0% DP) and isocaloric (3200 kcal DE/kg) diets, differing from each other by their delta C-13. Muscle samples were collected and the carbon isotopic composition was measured. For C4 diet, the formula for the muscle delta C-13 change related to the intake time of a new diet was delta C-13=- 14.88 - 9.2 1 e(-0.0209t) and the half-life (T) of the muscle carbon was 33.2 days. For C3 diet, the formula was delta C-13 = - 25.43 + 8.59e(-0.0533), with T = 13 days. The C3 diet was considered more appropriate based on its palatability and consequent larger food intake than the C4 diet, resulting in an increased muscle delta C-13 change rate. However, for future studies, would be necessary to mix both the C3 and C4 feedstuffs to formulate diets nutritionally appropriated, with contrasting stable isotopes signatures. Tissue delta C-13 change rate is therefore indicated as a promising tool to better understand the biotic and abiotic factors that influence nutrients utilization from the diet and animal growth. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Muscle delta C-13 change in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Effects of growth and carbon turnover

The contribution of growth and turnover to the muscle delta C-13 change process was investigated using mathematical models which associate delta C-13 change to time of intake of a new diet or increase in body mass. Two groups of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed on diets based on C3 (sigma C-13 = - 25.64 +/- 0.06 parts per thousand) or C4 (delta C-13= -16.01 +/- 0.06 parts per thousand) photosynthetic cycle plants to standardize the muscle delta C-13. After establishing the carbon isotopic equilibrium, fish (mean mass 24.12 +/- 6.79 g) then received the other treatment diet until a new carbon isotopic equilibrium could be established, characterizing T1 (C3-C4) and T2 (C4-C3) treatments. No significant differences were observed in fish productive performance. Good fits were obtained for the models that associated the delta C-13 change to time, resulting in carbon half-life values of 23.33 days for T1 and 25.96 days for T2. Based on values found for the muscle delta C-13 change rate from growth (0.0263 day(-1) and 0.0254 day(-1)) and turnover (0.0034 day(-1) and 0.0013 day(-1)), our results indicate that most of the delta C-13 change could be attributed to growth. The application of model that associated the delta C-13 change to body mass increase seems to produce results with no apparent biological explanation. The delta C-13 change rate could directly reflect the daily ration and growth rate, and consequently the isotopic change rates of carbon and other tissue elements can be properly used to assess different factors that may interfere in nutrient utilization and growth. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Haematological response and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed diets containing folic acid

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

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

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