Nutritional improvements in intensive aquaculture production systems is necessary for the reduction of stress, maximum utilization of nutritional components, and expression of the genetic potential of fish. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hemato-immunological, and histological parameters and gut microbiota of Nile tilapia fed with the microalga Schizochytrium sp. Males of Nile tilapia were distributed among eight net cages (6 m 3 ), and fed for 105 days with two diets: control (CON), without Schizochytrium sp., and supplemented (SUP), with 1.2% Schizochytrium sp. in the diet. The final weight, mortality, hematocrit, total erythrocyte count (RBC), hemoglobin, hematimetric indices, white blood cell count (WBC), total protein, and serum lysozyme were measured. Alterations in intestinal morphology were evaluated. The gut microbiota was evaluated with next-generation sequencing. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found in the final weight and mortality between diets. Regarding the hematological parameters, a difference (p<0.05) was detected only in RBC, with there being lower values in the SUP, although this group also showed a tendency toward having an increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin level. There were no differences (p>0.05) in total protein and serum lysozyme concentrations or in WBCs between diets, except for lymphocytes, which presented lower values (p<0.05) in the SUP, suggesting immunomodulation by the polyunsaturated fatty acids present in the microalga. There was no difference (p>0.05) in the intestinal morphology between diets. Metagenomic data indicated greater richness (represented by the Chao index) and a higher abundance of the bacterial phylum Firmicutes in the gut microbiota of the tilapia fed with the SUP diet, demonstrating that the digestion and use of the components of the microalga could influence the microbial community. The results indicated that the microalga had modulatory PLOS ONE | https://doi.

In an attempt to identify a simple, reproducible, inexpensive and non-toxic method for obtaining high quality and quantity genomic DNA from fi sh fi n and larvae samples, modifi ed salt extraction protocol and modifi ed phenol-chloroform extraction protocol were compared. The samples obtained from different fi sh species (Brycon orbignyanus, Piaractus mesopotamicus, Oreochromis niloticus, Leporinus elongatus and Prochilodus lineatus) using salt extraction showed good DNA quality and quantity (DNA/RNA relationship 1.8-2.2). These DNA samples were successfully used in the amplifi cation of RAPD (Random Amplifi ed Polymorphic DNA) and microsatellite molecular markers, demonstrating the same effectiveness of this protocol in comparison with modifi ed phenol-chloroform extraction protocol. This DNA extraction procedure constitutes an alternative and effi cient replacement for previous protocols for improving fi sh molecular studies.

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Weight gain and morphometric growth of the genetically improved tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) are evaluated. Current assay was carried out on the Fish Farm Experimental Station of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, in the municipality of Santo Antonio de Leverger -MT Brazil. Seven fish families from the breeding program and a control group (not genetically improved) were evaluated. All animals were individually identified with a transmitter-responder label (transponder). Weight gain, overall and standard length, head size, height, width and body perimeter were measured. A completely randomized design was used and comparisons among families and the control group were carried out by Dunnett test at 5% significance level. The genetically improved fish families showed a 14.8% higher weight gain when compared to that of control group. Five out of seven families showed greater weight gain when compared to control group, with the best family exhibiting a 24.8% higher rate. Four families had higher growth in all evaluated morphometric characteristics when compared to control group. Only one family did not differ in any of the evaluated characteristics with regard to the control group. Key words: Genetic improvement of fish. Fish of the Amazon basin. Genetic selection. e um grupo controle (não melhorado geneticamente). Todos os animais foram individualizados com transponder. Foram mensurados o ganho de peso, comprimento total e padrão, tamanho de cabeça, altura, largura e perímetro do corpo. Utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado e as comparações entre as famílias e o grupo controle foram realizadas pelo teste de Dunnett com 5% de significância. As famílias melhoradas geneticamente apresentaram ganho de peso 14,8% superior ao grupo controle. Cinco das sete famílias avaliadas apresentaram maior ganho de peso em relação ao grupo controle, sendo que a melhor família foi superior em 24,8%. Quatro famílias apresentaram maior crescimento em todas as características morfométricas avaliadas em relação ao controle. Apenas uma família não diferiu em nenhuma das características avaliadas em relação ao grupo controle. Palavras-chave: Melhoramento genético de peixes. Peixe da bacia amazônica. Seleção genética. Resumo

This work evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of A-Live (phytogenic) either individually or in combination with Aquaform (potassium diformate, acidifier) on juvenile Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) growth performance, innate immune parameters, gut microbiome, and resistance against Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis challenge. Each experimental group contained 140 fishes (34.3 ± 0.33) in two 150L tanks. The experimental design consisted of five groups: a negative control; treated groups (G1, G2, G3) supplemented with different concentrations of A-Live and Aquaform in the feed; and a positive control (PC) for pathogen infection. Groups G1, G2, G3, and PC were challenged with Francisella spp. after 15 days. After infection, the mortality was significantly lower in groups G1, G2, and G3 (p < 0.01). Furthermore, these groups showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in daily weight gain, feed conversion rate, and specific growth rate. The PC group presented increase (p < 0.05) in the leukocytes and neutrophils number. Innate immunity parameters showed no difference between treatments after infection. Microbiome analysis revealed an increased number of bacteria belonging to the Vibrionaceae family after pathogen infection suggesting a secondary pathogen function of these bacteria. These results validate the beneficial effects of these products in tilapia farming.

Analisou-se a diversidade genética de estoques de reprodutores de Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), mediante o uso de marcador RAPD, utilizando-se 10 primers para analisar 30 amostras do estoques de reprodutores das pisciculturas de Boa Esperança e Vale Verde, localizadas no Estado de Rondônia. A porcentagem de fragmentos polimórficos e o índice de diversidade genética de Shannon foram altos nos dois estoques de reprodutores. O estoque de reprodutores de Boa Esperança apresentou um fragmento exclusivo. A diferenciação genética foi baixa e o número de migrantes por geração foi alto entre os estoques de reprodutores. O dendrograma não separou os indivíduos dos estoques de reprodutores em grupos distintos. Há alta variabilidade genética nos estoques de reprodutores, um pouco inferior no estoque de Vale Verde, e há grande proximidade genética entre os indivíduos dos estoques de reprodutores.

Brycon orbignyanus, popularly known in Brazil as piracanjuba, is a fish with great economic value but whose natural population drastically decreased in number during the last years. In this context, genetic variability studies of natural stocks and in restocking programs are fundamental for the adoption of conservation measures. Current analysis verifies the cross-amplification of heterologous primers in B. orbignyanus. Fifty-two primers of the species Brycon opalinus, Brycon hilarii, Brycon insignis, Prochilodus sp., Piaractus mesopotamicus, Colossoma macropomum and Oreochromis niloticus were tested. Primers with the best reproducibility were applied to a sample of 20 individuals and the genetic parameters were calculated. Nine primers provided good results for cross-amplification with B. orbignyanus, involving (BoM5 and BoM13) of Brycon opalinus, (Bh5, Bh6, Bh8, Bh13 and Bh16) of Brycon hilarii, (Bc48-10) of Brycon insignis and (Par80) of Prochilodus argenteus. Primers of Piaractus mesopotamicus, Colossoma macropomum and Oreochromis niloticus failed to provide amplification or provided non-specificity. Results demonstrated the possibility of using primers of different species and genera of B. orbignyanus, facilitating genetic studies on the species.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a diversidade genética e a paternidade de progênies de Brycon orbignyanus obtidas pelos sistemas reprodutivos por extrusão e seminatural, através do marcador microssatélite. Os quatro loci utilizados produziram 11 alelos, sendo observados três alelos (BoM1, BoM5 e BoM7) e dois alelos (BoM2) por locus presentes nos parentais e na progênie de ambos sistemas reprodutivos. Na progênie do sistema por extrusão foram observados alelos de baixa frequência para os locus BoM5 (alelo B = 0,095) e BoM7 (alelo C = 0,059) e houve uma diminuição da variabilidade genética (Heterozigosidade observada-Ho = 0,900 e 0,823; Índice de Shannon-IS = 0,937 e 0,886; diversidade genética de Nei-DGN = 0,604 e 0,566, respectivamente). Na progênie do sistema seminatural as frequências dos alelos se mantiveram estáveis, sendo verificada uma frequência desigual para cada locus. A variabilidade genética foi preservada, sendo corroborado pelos valores de Ho (0,975 e 0,945), IS (0,927 e 0,924) e DGN (0,593 e 0,581) para parentais e progênie, respectivamente. Observaramse desvios (P<0.01) no equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg e desequilíbrio de ligação nos dois sistemas reprodutivos. O coeficiente de endogamia (Fis) mostrou déficit de heterozigotos na progênie do sistema por extrusão. Observou-se paternidade múltipla e contribuição reprodutiva diferenciada na composição das famílias na progênie nos dois sistemas reprodutivos, com a presença de dominância reprodutiva no sistema seminatural.