Growth, physiological and immune responses of Arapaima gigas (Arapaimidae) to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge and handling stress following feeding with immunostimulant supplemented diets.

The current study tested the efficacy of a dietary immunostimulant additive (Aquate Fish™®) on the growth performance, and on the physiological and immune responses of Arapaima gigas. Two trials were carried out: a feeding trial for 30 days with the experimental diets and a challenge trial for 7 days, in which fish were bacterial challenge (Aeromonas hydrophila) following by 60 s handling stress. During the feeding trial, fingerlings were fed diets supplemented with 0 (control), 6, 9 and 12 g Aquate Fish™®/kg diet. Dietary supplementation did not influence feed intake, feed conversion and condition factor, but increased the final biomass, number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, hemoglobin, glucose, globulins and plasma triglycerides in fish fed at a concentration of 12 g/kg diet. After bacterial infection, mortality occurred only in fish fed control treatment, whereas respiratory burst of leukocytes, number of leukocytes and lymphocytes increased in fish that received 12 g of dietary supplementation. The results indicated that dietary supplementation with 12 g of Aquate Fish™® improved biomass and immunity performance of A. gigas fingerlings, without negatively affecting blood biochemical parameters.

Hematological and biochemical responses of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas, Arapaimidae) fed with diets containing a glucomannan product derived from yeast and algae / Respostas hematológicas e bioquímicas de pirarucu (Arapaima gigas, Arapaimidae) alimentado com dietas contendo mananoligossacarídeos derivados de leveduras e algas

ABSTRACT The hematological and biochemical responses of pirarucu fingerlings (Arapaima gigas) fed with diets containing different concentrations of a glucomannan product derived from yeast and algae were evaluated in order to ascertain the effect of these diets on fish physiology. Four treatments were conducted, with three replications, with 12 fish in each tank. The product evaluated (MycosorbA+(r)) was incorporated into the commercial diet, at four concentrations: 0, 1, 2 and 4 g.kg-1, called M0%, M0.1%, M0.2% and M0.4%, respectively. After 45 days of feeding, blood samples from six fish in each replicate were collected to perform the analyses. Their weight and length were determined to calculate the condition factor and weight gain, but no differences (P > 0.05) were observed among the treatments. No changes to the hematocrit, hemoglobin or erythrocyte levels or to the hematimetric indices of the pirarucus were observed. The glucose and triglyceride levels of the pirarucus in the M0.1% and M0.2% groups were significantly lower than those of the M0% group. The M0.2% group showed higher albumin levels (P < 0.05) than M0% and M0.4%. The M0.4% group showed a total cholesterol level that was significantly higher than in all other treatments. MycosorbA+(r) contributed towards increasing the levels of defense cells in A. gigas. It would be possible to use this product at concentrations of between 0.1% and 0.2%, given that they increase the levels of some defense cells and plasma albumin concentrations, without changes to hematological parameters, cholesterol and triglyceride plasma levels or condition factor.

RESUMO As características hematológicas e bioquímicas de alevinos de pirarucu Arapaima gigas alimentados com diferentes concentrações de mananoligossacarídeos derivados de leveduras e algas na dieta foram avaliadas para verificar o efeito sobre sua fisiologia. Quatro tratamentos foram conduzidos com três repetições (12 peixes em cada). O produto avaliado (MycosorbA+(r)) foi incorporado à ração comercial, em quatro níveis: 0, 1, 2 e 4 g kg-1 de ração, denominados M0%, M0,1%, M0,2% e M0,4%, respectivamente. Após 45 dias de alimentação, amostras de sangue de seis peixes de cada repetição foram coletadas para realização das análises. O peso e comprimento foram obtidos para cálculo do fator de condição e ganho de peso, entretanto, não foram observadas diferenças (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos. Assim como não foram observadas alterações nos valores de hematócrito, hemoglobina, eritrócitos e índices hematimétricos dos pirarucus. A concentração de glicose e triglicérides dos pirarucus dos grupos M0,1% e M0,2% foram significativamente menores que o tratamento M0%. Os peixes do tratamento M0,2% apresentaram níveis de albumina maior (P<0,05) que do M0% e M0,4%. Os peixes alimentados com M0,4% mostraram nível de colesterol total significativamente maior que todos os demais tratamentos. MycosorbA+(r) contribuiu para o aumento das células de defesa de A. gigas, podendo ser utilizado nas concentrações de 0,1% a 0,2%, devido ao aumento do número de certas células de defesa e dos níveis plasmáticos de albumina e por não ter sido observadas outras alterações nos parâmetros hematológicos, nos níveis plasmáticos de colesterol e triglicérides e no fator de condição.