Physicochemical, Microbiological, and Toxicological Characterization of Pâté Prepared from the Meat and Liver of Bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana) Carcasses.

The development of balanced, healthy, ready-to-consume, and easy-to-prepare products has led to the development of new food technologies. Despite their high commercial value, bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana) carcasses result in low yields, with the thighs being the most marketed in comparison to other carcass portions. In this sense, liver pâté is a traditional food consumed worldwide, mainly in European countries, and may be prepared by incorporating bullfrog meat by-products and certain viscera. In this context, the aim of the present study was to develop a pâté product based on a mixture comprising 50% grounded bullfrog torso meat and 50% liver paste, with each treatment incorporating 10% liver paste increments, totaling five final mixtures. The nutritional compositions and physicochemical, microbiological, and toxicological characteristics of each mixture were assessed. The dry matter percentage of the prepared product was determined to be 27.00%, while mineral content was 1.45%, lipid content was 4.00%, and total protein content was 20.00%. Finally, microbiological counts were in agreement with current food safety regulations. The developed pâté serves as a standard, recycling underused industrial materials, adding value to the production chain at low operational costs, creating a more accessible market, and promoting the popularization of this type of meat.

Lithothamnium calcareum (Pallas) Areschoug seaweed adsorbs aflatoxin B1 in vitro and improves broiler chicken's performance.

This study aimed to evaluate the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) adsorption capacity of the seaweed Lithothamnium calcareum in vitro and to prevent aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens. In vitro adsorption assays were performed at a single AFB1 concentration (1 µg/mL) and four seaweed concentrations (0.50, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg/mL) at pH 3 and pH 6. The maximum adsorption was obtained at the lowest seaweed content (0.62 and 0.78 µg/mg). Male broiler chickens (256) were housed in metallic cages. Experimental diets were T1 (control), 18 µg/kg AFB1; T2, 18 µg/kg AFB1 and 0.2% L. calcareum (2.0 kg/ton); T3, 1018 µg/kg AFB1; and T4, 1018 µg/kg AFB1 and 0.2% L. calcareum. Performance parameters (live weight, weight gain and feed conversion rate) improved when seaweed was applied. The aspartate-aminotransferase and alanine-aminotransferase levels tend to decrease in birds receiving only seaweed, also the uric acid levels reduced significantly (P Ë‚ 0.05), while birds receiving only AFB1 increased the biochemical parameter levels. The livers from animals fed with AFB1 showed histopathological alterations with disorganization of periportal hepatocytes, necrosis with multifocal coagulation and mild fat degeneration; the livers from T4 had normal appearance. Lithothamnium calcareum was able to prevent aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens and also improved their zootechnical performance.

Eficacia de un aditivo de levadura en cerdas jóvenes que consumen piensos contaminados con zearalenona / Efficacy of a yeast additive to mitigate the effects of zearalenone-contaminated feed in gilts / Eficácia de um aditivo de levedura para leitoas que consomem ração contaminada por zearalenona

Resumen Antecedentes: Las micotoxinas representan pérdidas económicas significativas para la industria porcina, por lo que los adsorbentes de pared celular de levadura son una alternativa para reducir este problema. Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de un aditivo anti-micotoxinas (AAM; Safmannan®) en la prevención de micotoxicosis resultante de la ingesta de zearalenona (ZEA). Métodos: Fueron utilizadas 36 hembras porcinas jóvenes, cuyas dietas incorporaron dos niveles de inclusión del AAM (basado en la pared celular de Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 0 y 0,2%) y tres niveles de inclusión de ZEA (0, 0,25 y 0,6 ppm). El ensayo tuvo una duración total de 21 d, durante los cuales se efectuaron evaluaciones semanales de peso corporal, ganancia de peso, consumo de alimento y el volumen de la vulva. Igualmente, se midieron los pesos relativos de hígado, tracto reproductivo total y el conjunto útero-ovario-vagina. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos comprueban la eficacia del AMA utilizado, toda vez que su suplementación evitó los efectos tóxicos de ZEA y mejoró los índices en órganos reproductivos como el volumen de la vulva, peso relativo del tracto reproductivo y el conjunto útero-ovario-vagina en animales intoxicados. Sin embargo, los efectos anti-micotoxinas fueron fijos para ambos niveles (0,25 y 0,6 ppm) de ZEA. Conclusión: La adición de AAM en las dietas que contienen ZEA demostró ser una alternativa eficiente para reducir los efectos tóxicos de esta micotoxina.

Abstract Background: Mycotoxins are a significant cause of economic losses in swine farming and adsorbents based on yeast cell walls provide an alternative solution to reducing this challenge. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an antimycotoxin additive (AMA; Safmannan®) for preventing the toxic effects of zearalenone (ZEA). Methods: A total of 36 pre-pubertal gilts were used, whose diets consisted of two different levels of AMA (based on the yeast cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 0 and 0.2%) and three inclusion levels of ZEA (0, 0.25, and 0.6 ppm). The experiment was conducted for a period of 21 d and the following parameters were measured weekly: Live weight, weight gain, feed intake, and vulvar volume. The relative weight of the liver and the entire reproductive tract, including the uterus-ovary-vagina combined were also measured. Results: There was a significant enhancement in the index characteristics of reproductive organs like vulvar volume, weight of the entire reproductive tract and weight of the uterus-ovary-vagina of the intoxicated animals. The antimycotoxin effects were the same, irrespective of the ZEA levels (0.25 and 0.6 ppm). Conclusion: The addition of AMA to diets containing ZEA proved to be an effective alternative for reducing the toxic effects of this mycotoxin.

Resumo Antecedentes: As micotoxinas determinam perdas econômicas importantes para suinocultura e os adsorventes à base de parede celular de leveduras são uma alternativa para reduzir este problema. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia de um aditivo anti-micotoxina (AAM; Safmannan®) na prevenção da micotoxicose decorrente da ingestão de zearalenona (ZEA). Métodos: Foram utilizadas 36 leitoas pré-púberes, cujas dietas apresentaram dois níveis de inclusão de AAM (à base de parede celular de Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 0 e 0,2%) e três níveis de inclusão de ZEA (0, 0,25 e 0,6 ppm). O período experimental teve duração total de 21 d, sendo realizadas avaliações semanais de peso vivo, ganho de peso, consumo de ração e volume vulvar. Pesos relativos de fígado, trato reprodutivo total e o conjunto útero-ovário-vagina também foram calculados. Resultados: Os resultados obtidos demonstram a eficácia do AAM, pois a sua inclusão demonstrou prevenir os efeitos tóxicos da ZEA, já que os índices em órgãos reprodutivos como volume vulvar, peso relativo do trato reprodutivo total e do conjunto útero-ovário-vagina foram maiores nos animais intoxicados e sem suplementação. Porém, o efeito anti-micotoxina foi fixo, sendo o mesmo para os dois níveis de ZEA (0.25 e 0.6 ppm). Conclusão: A adição do AAM em questão nas dietas contendo ZEA demonstrou ser uma alternativa eficiente para redução dos efeitos tóxicos desta micotoxina.

Preferência alimentar de juvenis de lambari-cachorro, Oligosarcus hepsetus, em relação a duas espécies de presas de peixe em ambiente controlado / Feeding preference by juvenile pike characin, Oligosarcus hepsetus, on two prey fish species of fish in a controlled environment

O presente trabalho foi baseado em dados pretéritos sobre a dieta natural do lambari-cachorro Oligosarcus hepsetus em um reservatório do Sudeste brasileiro, e com isso foi testada a preferência alimentar desse carnívoro, a partir de experimentos com microcosmos. Os experimentos foram realizados em aquários, em janeiro de 2011. Os predadores foram coletados em um tributário do Rio Paraíba do Sul, enquanto as presas: Tilápia rendalli e o lambari, Astyanax fasciatus, foram adquiridas em pisciculturas. Foi testada a preferência alimentar do lambari-cachorro quanto ao tamanho das presas e às espécies-presa e os resultados foram relacionados com a energia da presa. O lambari-cachorro predou tilápia de menores comprimentos (CT) e alturas do corpo (AC), ao passo que não foi observado um padrão evidente de consumo de lambaris. Nos experimentos com CT padronizado, lambari-cachorro consumiu preferencialmente tilápias a lambaris, enquanto, nos experimentos com AC padronizada, não foram detectadas preferências no consumo por determinada espécie-presa. Diferenças energéticas entre espécies-presa parecem importar menos que diferenças morfológicas na preferência alimentar do lambari-cachorro.

This study was based on previously published data on natural diet of the pike characin, Oligosarcus hepsetus in a reservoir at Southeastern Brazil, and thus tested the feeding preference of this carnivore using microcosm experiments. The experiments were conducted in aquariums, in January 2011. Predators were collected in a tributary of the Paraíba do Sul River, while preys: Tilapia rendalli and Astyanax fasciatus were obtained of fish farms. We tested the feeding preference by pike characin in relation to prey size and species, and the results were compared to prey energy. Juvenile pike characin predated preferentially on tilapias with lower body length height, whereas no clear pattern of consumption was observed for lambaris. Tilapias were preferentially predated at experiments with standardized prey body length, whereas no feeding preference was recorded on any prey species at experiments with standardized prey body height. Energetic differences between prey species seem to be less important than morphological differences for the feeding preference of pike characin.