Performance and hematology of pacu fed diets supplemented with vitamins C and/or E

Abstract

Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887) is a valued Brazilian fish species for aquaculture. This is highly susceptible to disease, and feed supplementations for pacu can be a very important strategy to prevent disease incidence in fish farms. The aim of this study was to evaluate a strategic supplementation for pacu. Juvenile pacu (10.5 ± 1.2 g) were fed diets containing three levels of vitamins C and/or E (0, 250, and 500 mg vitamin kg -1 diet). Fish were fed diets without supplementation for two months prior to the experiment. After that period, experimental feeding was initiated for two months. Growth and hematological evaluations were made on the thirtieth and sixtieth days of feeding. Pacu fed diet without supplementation of vitamins C and E during 120 days did not show clear typical signs of deficiency. Fish fed diet vitamins C and E free increased feed intake, but no improvement on growth performance was detected. Vitamin E proved essential for erythrocyte protection, so that the higher the level of this vitamin in diet, the smaller the number of erythroblasts. Supplementation with 500 mg of vitamin C and 250 mg of vitamin E for 60 days increased the production of monocytes, thrombocytes and special granulocytic cells in pacu. Key words: Piaractus mesopotamicus, ascorbic acid, feed supplementation, tocopherol Desempenho e hematologia do pacu alimentado com dietas suplementadas com vitaminas C e/ou E RESUMO: O pacu (Piaractus mesomotamicus Holmberg 1887) é uma espécie altamente valiosa para a aqüicultura brasileira. Entretanto, trata-se de uma das espécies mais susceptíveis a doenças. Por isso, a suplementação alimentar para o pacu pode representar importante estratégia de prevenção da incidência das enfermidades em pisciculturas. Pacus (10,5 ± 1,2 g) foram alimentados com dietas contendo três níveis de vitamina C e/ou E (0, 250 e 500 mg vitamina kg -1 de dieta). Os peixes foram alimentados com dieta não purificada sem suplementação durante os primeiros 60 dias para reduzir as reservas teciduais das vitaminas. Após este período, os peixes foram alimentados com as dietas testadas durante 60 dias. As avaliações de crescimento e hematologia foram realizadas no 30° e 60°d ias. Pacus alimentados com dieta sem suplementação com as vitaminas C e E durante 120 dias não apresentaram sinais claros típicos de deficiência. Os peixes que receberam a dieta deficiente em vitamina C e E apresentaram maior consumo de ração, porém sem melhora no desempenho produtivo. A vitamina E mostrou-se essencial para a proteção dos eritrócitos, sendo que quanto maior o nível desta vitamina na dieta, menor o número de eritroblastos. A suplementação com 500 mg de vitamina C e 250 mg de vitamina E durante 60 dias aumentou a produção de monócitos, trombócitos e células granulocíticas especiais em pacu.

The effectiveness of honey supplementation in feed for improving goldfish fingerling Carassius auratus immune system against Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria attack

“…Vitamin C improves the immune response, as the same with Tewary and Patra (2008), who stated that the intake of vitamin C makes the body more resistant to an infection by enabling the production of interferon, leucocyte, and inflammatory regulating process. This is supported by the result study by Garcia et al (2011), that the supplementation of 500 mg vitamin C during 60 days increased the monocyte production constituting leucocytes and platelets specialized on fish.…”

Ascorbic Acid Supplementation Improves Skeletal Muscle Growth in Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) Juveniles: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

“…This behavior can recover the weight, length, and muscle growth parameters [ 17 , 76 , 77 ]. Increased food consumption was observed in pacus fed with vitamin C- and E-deficient diets, although the higher ingestion did not result in better growth rates [ 78 ]. Rainbow trout subjected to protein restriction show increased feed intake that results in growth, albeit smaller than the growth rate in non-restricted animals [ 79 ].…”

Acute toxicity of ammonia in Pacu fish (Piaractus mesopotamicus, Holmberg, 1887) at different temperatures levels

“…Juveniles survive in temperatures between 20 and 30°C and at pH 6–8 (Abimorad et al . ; Garcia, Pilarski, Onaka & Moraes ), while the optimal temperature for growth is 23–28°C (Martinez et al . ).…”