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This manuscript reports changes in key enzymes and metabolites related to protein metabolism and nitrogen excretion in the liver of juveniles jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) fed on isocaloric diets containing 20%, 27%, 34% and 41% of crude protein. The hepatic activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and arginase (ARG) increased with the content of protein in the diet, and the ratios among the aminotransferases and GDH allowed evaluating metabolic preference. The concentration of free amino acids, ammonia and urea also rose with the dietary protein content. Increase of plasma urea and ammonia was the resultant effect of over amino acids catabolism as consequence of dietary protein surplus. Since the increase of protein in the diets resulted in weight gain, the rise in the hepatic activity of protein-metabolising enzymes in the fish fed high protein diets denoted effective use of dietary amino acids for growth and as a substrate for gluconeogenesis. Analysis of changes on metabolite levels and key enzyme activities in amino acid metabolism is proposed as a tool for assessing the proper balance of diet macronutrients.

RESUMO Foram testadas três fontes de lipídios em rações experimentais para juvenis de jundiá

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As características hematológicas do jundiá Rhamdia quelen Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 (Osteichthyes: Pimelodidae), oriundo de cativeiro foram estudadas. Determinou-se o valor médio da contagem de eritrócitos, taxa de hemoglobina, hematócrito, volume corpuscular médio (VCM), concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM) e distribuição percentual de células sangüíneas de defesa orgânica. As células sangüíneas de defesa orgânica (leucócitos e trombócitos) foram identificadas e caracterizadas morfologicamente. Trombócitos e linfócitos foram as células sangüíneas de defesa orgânica mais freqüente nas extensões sangüíneas do R. quelen. A análise de regressão mostrou correlação linear negativa entre o percentual de trombócitos e linfócitos. Os resultados deste estudo fornecem valores sangüíneos normais em R. quelen, em cultivo intensivo, que poderão servir de comparação com dados dessa espécie em outras situações de cultivo.

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Aspects of digestion in juvenile silver catfish Rhamdia quelen fed with four levels of protein (20, 27, 34 and 41%) were studied. The studied traits were digestive enzymes (nonspecific proteases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase) and weight gain. The experiment lasted 60 days; 160 juvenile catfish with initial body weight of 32 grams were transferred to the experimental system of 500L tanks with recirculated and thermostatized water. The average weight of silver catfish increased with dietary protein and 41% of crude protein (CP) was accepted as the best one. Gastric protease activity increases with the CP level. The intestinal alkaline protease reached the peak at 27% CP and the highest activities were observed in the anterior section of the gut (AS). The trypsin peak was observed at 34% CP in the AS and medium section of the gut (MS). Amylase and lipase activities were inverse to the dietary CP and the highest values were observed in AS. In conclusion, the digestive enzymes of catfishes are responsive to the dietary protein level. The dietary CP required for highest weight gain of juvenile silver catfish is 41%.Keywords: digestive enzymes, nutrition, fish, Rhamdia quelen RESUMO Foram estudados aspectos digestivos de juvenis de jundiá Rhamdia quelen alimentados com quatro níveis de proteína (20, 27, 34 e 41 %). As características estudadas foram enzimas digestivas (proteases

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary addition of the essential oil from Lippia alba (EOLA) on growth performance, biochemical and haematological variables and survival after Aeromonas spp. infection of Nile tilapia juveniles (Oreochromis niloticus). Five diets were evaluated with increasing levels of EOLA (0.0 control; 0.25; 0.50; 1.0; and 2.0 ml/kg diet). After 45 days of feeding, the fish were infected with Aeromonas spp. followed by a 14-day period of observation. There was no mortality during growth assessment. The addition of 2.0 ml EOLA/kg diet improved feed conversion ratio and condition factor and increased lysozyme activity and haematocrit (Hct), and decreased plasma globulin levels compared to the control group. The survival of fish infected with Aeromonas spp. was higher in those fed with 2.0 ml EOLA/kg diet than in fish fed with 0.0-0.5 ml EOLA/kg diet. We concluded that the inclusion of 2.0 ml EOLA/kg diet is recommended for Nile tilapia juveniles, because it improved feed conversion, Hct and immunological activity, did not provoke metabolic changes, and increased survival after Aeromonas spp. infection. K E Y W O R D S feed conversion ratio, haematocrit, infection, lysozyme activity, Oreochromis niloticus, Survival S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O N Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article. How to cite this article: de Souza RC, de Souza EM, da Costa MM, Melo JFB, Baldisserotto B, Copatti CE. Dietary addition of the essential oil from Lippia alba to Nile tilapia and its effect after inoculation with Aeromonas spp.. Aquacult Nutr.