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The objective of the present study was to evaluate growth, biochemical, hematological and intestinal enzymes responses and survival of Nile tilapia juveniles fed a diet containing the essential oil of lemongrass Cymbopogum fl exuosus (EOCF) and infected by Aeromonas hydrophila. Five diets were evaluated (in quadruplicate) with increasing levels of EOCF (0.0 -control; 0.25; 0.50; 1.0 and 2.0 mL kg diet-1). On day 45, eight fi sh per treatment were sampled and blood, liver and intestine samples were taken. Others eight fi sh per treatment were infected with A. hydrophila followed by a 15day period of observation. Citral is the main constituent of EOCF. The inclusion of 2.0 mL EOCF kg diet-1 increased specifi c growth rate and survival after A. hydrophila infection and decreased feed conversion ratio of Nile tilapia. In general, higher concentrations of EOCF in the diet reduced plasma glucose and triglycerides levels, and increased plasma amino acids, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatic ALT levels, hematological parameters, and the activity of intestinal enzymes. It was concluded that the inclusion of 2.0 mL EOCF kg diet-1 improved growth performance, biochemical and physiological responses and decreased mortality of Nile tilapia after A. hydrophila infection.

Preserving forage plants adapted to a semi-arid climate as silage may minimize the animal feed deficit during drought. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different quantities of grape pomace added to Calotropis procera silage on its fermentation, in vitro digestibility, total digestible nutrients and microbiology. A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments (0, 10, 20 and 40% fresh matter) and four replicates. The silos were opened after 90 days of ensilage, and the soluble carbohydrate, ethanol, organic acid and ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations; pH; fermentation loss; dry matter (DM) recovery; DM density, and microbial populations were determined. The pH (3.96-3.87) was adequate for ensiling in all silage samples. The soluble carbohydrate concentration decreased (p<0.05), and the ethanol concentration increased with increasing quantities of grape pomace. The lactic acid concentration decreased (p<0.05) from 5.3 to 1.94% DM, and the acetic, propionic and butyric acid concentrations increased with increasing quantities of grape pomace. The lactic acid bacteria decreased linearly (p <0.05), varying from 6.43 to 5.82 log CFU/g silage. The mold and yeast population variations fit best using a third-order polynomial equation (p <0.05). Enterobacteria and Clostridium spp were not observed. Adding grape pomace to the silage increased the effluent and gas loss; the latter varied from 5.35 to 14.4%. The total digestible nutrient (TDN) variation fit best using a second-order polynomial equation, and the maximum value was estimated at 82.95% DM with 3.5% grape pomace using the regression equation. The percent digestibility decreased linearly (p<0.05) with increasing quantities of grape pomace. We show that Calotropis procera has potential as silage even without adding grape pomace.Index terms: Fermentation losses; microorganisms; organic acids. RESUMOA conservação de plantas forrageiras adaptadas ao clima Semiárido na forma de silagem pode minimizar o déficit alimentar dos animais nos períodos de estiagem. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de níveis de inclusão de resíduo de uva na dinâmica fermentativa, na digestibilidade in vitro, nos nutrientes digestíveis totais e na microbiologia da silagem de flor-de-seda (Calotropis procera). Em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (0, 10, 20 e 40% na matéria natural) e quatro repetições. Após 90 dias os silos foram abertos, e foram determinados os teores de carboidratos solúveis, etanol, ácidos orgânicos, pH e nitrogênio amoniacal, perdas fermentativas, recuperação da MS e densidade, populações microbianas. Em todas as silagens o pH encontrado mostrou-se adequado ao processo de ensilagem (variação de 3,96 a 3,87). À medida que aumentou os níveis de resíduo de uva foi verificado redução (P<0,05) nos teores de carboidratos solúveis e aumento nos valores de etanol. Houve reduções (P<0,05) nos teores de ácido lático de 5,3 a 1,94% da MS e aumento nos teores de acético, propiônico e but...

In this study we determined the concentration of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the water lower São Francisco River basin, to evaluate the influence of urbanization and industrialization on environmental changes in the water resource. All samples were analyzed using the IUPAC adapted method and processed in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The sampling stations located near the industrial areas were influenced by industrialization because they presented higher concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni and Cu. The other sampled locations showed changes with regard the trace elements probably originating in the soil, like Fe, Zn and Pb. There was a gradual increase in the concentrations of metals, in general, in the period of highest rainfall of the hydrographic network. Overall, except for Zn and Mn, the trace elements exceeded the maximum allowed value established by national legislation (CONAMA). Lower São Francisco River basin has suffered interference from urbanization and industrialization, so awareness programs should be developed so as to control and lessen future problems.Keywords: trace elements, industrialization, São Francisco river, urbanization. Estudo sazonal das concentrações de metais pesados em águas da bacia do submédio rio São Francisco, Brasil ResumoNeste trabalho foi determinada a concentração dos metais (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb e Zn) na água do submédio Rio São Francisco para avaliar a influência da urbanização e da industrialização nas modificações ambientais do recurso hídrico. Todas as amostras foram analisadas usando o método IUPAC adaptado e processados em um espectrofotômetro de absorção atômica. As estações de amostragem localizadas próximas às áreas industriais sofreram influência da industrialização por apresentarem concentrações mais elevadas de Cd, Cr, Ni e Cu. Os demais locais amostrados apresentaram modificações com relação aos elementos traços de provável origem sedimentar como Fe, Zn e Pb. Houve aumento gradativo nas concentrações dos metais, de forma geral, no período de maior pluviosidade da rede hidrográfica. Em geral, com exceção do Zn e Mn, os elementos traços ultrapassaram o valor máximo permitido, estabelecido pela legislação nacional (CONAMA). O submédio Rio São Francisco tem sofrido interferência da urbanização e industrialização, por isso, é preciso que, programas de conscientização sejam estabelecidos, para controlar e amenizar problemas futuros.Palavras-chave: elementos traços, industrialização, rio São Francisco, urbanização.

Studies investigating improved protein:lipid ratios based on their effects on growth, nutrient utilization, digestive enzyme activities, blood metabolites and erythogram in tropical carnivorous fish are very scarce. This study evaluated the effect of different protein:lipid ratios on these parameters in the hybrid surubim Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × Leiarius marmoratus. Juvenile fish (8.90 ± 0.94 g initial weight) were fed 3% of total biomass for 60 days using four isoenergetic experimental diets with different protein:lipid ratios (9.00, 4.60, 3.54 and 1.78). Higher growth performance parameters were observed at higher protein:lipid ratios. The activities of intestine total alkaline protease, trypsin and lipase (U/mg protein) were not affected by dietary treatments. Chymotrypsin (U/mg protein) was higher in the 4.60 protein:lipid ratio group. Amylase (U/mg protein) was higher in intermediate groups. Blood glucose, total plasma protein, triglycerides, cholesterol and free amino acids decreased as the protein:lipid ratio decreased. Haematocrit was higher at the 9.00 and 4.60 protein:lipid ratios. Hybrid surubim showed metabolic adaptation to the different protein:lipid ratios tested. These results suggest that the 4.60 protein:lipid ratio showed the best protein‐sparing effect of lipids.

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