Aquaculture Nutrition
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Acceptance rate27%
Submission to final decision62 days
Acceptance to publication22 days
CiteScore6.300
Journal Citation Indicator1.100
Impact Factor3.5

Effects of Dietary Supplement of Basil Extract on Biochemical and Immunological Parameters and Growth Performance in Oncorhynchus mykiss

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 Journal profile

Aquaculture Nutrition provides a global perspective on the nutrition of all cultivated aquatic animals. Topics range from extensive aquaculture to laboratory studies of nutritional biochemistry and physiology.

 Editor spotlight

Chief Editor, Erik-Jan Lock, is Research Director for Nutrition and Feed Technology at Nofima and Professor at the University of Bergen. He previously worked at the Institute of Marine Research and has experience across several fields such as mineral nutrition and new food resources.

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Research Article

Improving Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) Utilization with Sodium Butyrate in Nile Tilapia Diets: Effects on Growth Performance, Intestinal Histology, Antioxidative Response, and Blood Biomarkers

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) meal was introduced to aquafeed as a suitable protein source to replace fish meal (FM) and soybean meal and, thereby, consistent aquaculture production. However, mealworms should be added at adequate levels due to the presence of antinutritional factors such as chitin. Consequently, sodium butyrate (SB) is suggested to improve feed quality and ensure aquatic animals’ productivity and welfare. In this study, parallel with the protein source (T. molitor meal or FM), dietary supplementation of SB (1 g/kg) is involved as a factor in the 2 × 2 factorial study. The first and the second diets were formulated using FM as a protein source with or without SB, while the third and fourth diets were prepared by replacing FM with T. molitor meal with or without SB supplementation. After 60 days, fish fed with FM or T. molitor and SB showed improved final body weight and weight gain, while those fed with T. molitor without SB had a reduced protein efficiency ratio. Histological analysis revealed that dietary SB improved intestinal histological features by increasing the height and branching of intestinal villi and immune cell infiltration near intestinal crypts in Nile tilapia-fed FM or T. molitor. Furthermore, fish-fed FM or T. molitor and SB had higher Hb, red blood cells, PCV, total protein, and globulin levels than fish-fed respective test diets without SB supplementation. Dietary SB addition to FM or T. molitor-based diets also significantly enhanced blood lysozyme and phagocytic activities, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced MDA levels. Our results demonstrate that T. molitor meal can replace FM without compromising Nile tilapia’s growth performance and health status. Additionally, SB supplementation improved T. molitor meal utilization by Nile tilapia, thereby significantly enhancing the growth, digestion capacity, intestinal histological features, and antioxidative and immune responses. Consequently, dietary T. molitor meal reduces the reliance on FM and improves the sustainability and efficiency of Nile tilapia production.

Research Article

Effects of the Replacement of Dietary Fishmeal by the Blend of Tenebrio molitor Meal, Chlorella Meal, Clostridium Autoethanogenum Protein, and Cottonseed Protein Concentrate on Growth, Protein Utilization, and Intestinal Health of Gibel Carp (Carassius gibelio, CAS Ⅴ)

The trial was conducted to investigate the effects of the replacement of dietary fishmeal (FM) by the blend of Tenebrio molitor meal (TMM), Chlorella meal (CM), Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP), cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) on growth, protein utilization and intestinal health of gibel carp (Carassius gibelio, CAS Ⅴ). The FM-based diet was used as the control, and the blended proteins (TMM: CM: CAP: CPC) at ratios of 1 : 1:8 : 2 (BLEND A), 1 : 1:6 : 4 (BLEND B), and 1 : 1:4 : 6 (BLEND C) were used to replace FM at three levels (33%, 67%, 100%), respectively. The results showed that, compared to the control group, growth performance increased significantly when dietary FM was fully replaced by BLEND B (), while decreased by BLEND A (). The complete substitution of FM with BLEND B significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and tight junction-related genes (), improving intestinal tissue morphology and health. And it also significantly increased intestinal trypsin activity (), upregulated the mRNA expression of amino acid sensory receptor-related and amino acid or peptide transport-related genes (), increased protein apparent digestibility coefficient (). The 100% substitution of FM with BLEND A significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines and downregulated the mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine il-10 (), reduced intestinal villus height (), and decreased protein apparent digestibility coefficient (). In conclusion, BLEND B could completely substitute dietary FM and was beneficial to the growth and health of gibel carp. Dietary digestible essential amino acids index (DEEAI) was found as an important indicator and should be higher than 79.5% to meet the maximum growth of fish.

Research Article

Effects of Different Astaxanthin Sources on Fillet Coloration and Energy Deposition in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

A 9-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary sources of astaxanthin on fillet coloration, texture, and nutrient composition in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Eight diets were formulated to contain 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 mg/kg astaxanthin from wall-broken Haematococcus pluvialis (WBHPA), 100 mg/kg astaxanthin from wall-unbroken H. pluvialis (WUHPA), or chemically synthesized astaxanthin (CSA). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of rainbow trout (mean initial weight of 561 g) twice daily (07:00 and 17:00) to apparent satiation for 9 weeks. Results showed that at the 100 mg/kg astaxanthin inclusion level, the CAS group had higher fillet gross energy, dorsal fillet redness, and dorsal fillet color card score compared to the WBHPA-100 group, with both being higher than the WUHPA group (). Fillet astaxanthin content, dorsal fillet yellowness, and lateral line redness and yellowness did not differ significantly between the CSA and WBHPA-100 groups (), but were higher than the WUHPA group. When WBHPA was used, the inclusion of 50–100 mg/kg decreased fillet lightness but increased fillet redness, while better fillet texture was served at 75–125 mg/kg. Dietary 25–125 mg/kg WBHPA inclusion increased fillet astaxanthin and gross energy concentrations, with minor effects on fatty acid compositions of fillet. Inclusion of over 100 mg/kg astaxanthin regardless of source decreased fillet threonine and serine contents, and the WBHPA-100 group had lower fillet glycine and alanine contents compared to the control group (). In conclusion, CSA had the most significant impact on fillet coloration and energy deposition in rainbow trout, while WUHPA had the least favorable effect. Additionally, the wall-breaking treatment of H. pluvialis can improve the effect of astaxanthin on fillet coloration and nutrient composition in rainbow trout, with a recommended dose range of 75–100 mg/kg.

Research Article

Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal vs. Soy Protein Concentrate Meal: A Comparative Digestibility Study in Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFM) from Hermetia illucens has emerged as a dependable protein source in aquaculture. This study aimed to assess BSFM’s digestibility in barramundi juveniles and compare it to soy protein concentrate meal (SPCM). Four diets (control, 30% BSFM; 30% SPCM; and commercial feed control) were tested on 1,800 barramundi juveniles (weight: 71.1 g) over 51 days in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The final body weight (FBW) of fish fed with BSFM reached 222.2 (± 8.7), with a thermal-unit growth coefficient (TGC) of 4.33 (± 0.15) and a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.04 (± 0.01). While BSFM and SPCM inclusion did not significantly impact FBW, body weight gain (BWG), TGC, or survival rates (), FCR increased. BSFM significantly raised total feed intake () but did not affect daily feed intake (). Importantly, BSFM and SPCM inclusion did not alter diet apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) for any nutrient groups (), with BSFM showing high ADC for dry matter (76.8%), crude protein (93.2%), and gross energy (83.9%). No significant difference () was observed in these ADCs between BSFM and SPCM. The high digestibility of BSFM in warm seawater RAS (29.4°C) under high stocking density (33.7 kg m−3) supports its efficacy in contemporary barramundi farming.

Research Article

Black Soldier Fly Oil in Different Lipid Diets Could Regulate Tissue Lipid Metabolism and Fatty Acid Composition of Juvenile Mirror Carp

In the present study, our aim was to assess the effect of dietary black soldier fly oil (BSFO) with different lipid contents on the growth performance, body composition, lipid metabolism, and related gene expression in juvenile mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio var. specularis). An 8-week feeding trial was conducted using four isonitrogenous diets (32.0% crude protein) containing two lipid levels: 6% (control (CT) group) and 9% (high lipid (HL) group), both using soybean oil as the oil source. The other two diets contained BSFO on the basis of 6% and 9% lipid, referred to as (CT + BSFO) and (HL + BSFO) groups. The results showed that final body weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, protein retention ratio, and feed utilization were significantly increased by using higher dietary lipid levels (). Additionally, the gene expression of lipid synthesis markers was significantly up-regulated in intra-peritoneal fat but significantly down-regulated in the hepatopancreas due to increased dietary lipid level (). No negative effects on feed utilization or growth performance were observed in fish fed diets containing BSFO. However, the intra-peritoneal fat index, adipocyte size, and hepatopancreas lipid content were significantly decreased in the CT + BSFO group compared to the CT group (). Furthermore, BSFO also up-regulated the expression of lipid lipolysis markers in the hepatopancreas and intra-peritoneal fat (). Moreover, the use of BSFO also increased the content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) while reducing the content of n-6 PUFA in the muscle (). In conclusion, HL diets improved the growth of the fish and increased the lipid deposition. BSFO in the diet resulted in a reduction of lipid deposition in the hepatopancreas and intra-peritoneal fat, likely due to an increase in lipid oxidation.

Research Article

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-Gallate Regulates Muscle Growth, Antioxidant Status, and Nutritional Composition of Juvenile Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Among the polyphenolic compounds commonly found in green tea, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is known to have various functions, including the promotion of antioxidant and myofiber growth in mammals. However, the effect of EGCG on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) remains poorly understood. To evaluate the role of EGCG on juvenile common carp, 255 fish (initial weight 17.33 ± 0.34 g) were fed with five experimental diets containing 0, 0.05, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 g/kg EGCG. The results showed that diet supplementation with 0.05–0.5 g/kg EGCG supplementation significantly enhanced the specific growth rate (SGR) and reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Weight gain rate (WGR) was significantly enhanced in the 0.25 and 0.5 g/kg EGCG groups. As for antioxidants, 0.25–1 g/kg EGCG significantly reduced protein carbonyl (PC) content and upregulated superoxide dismutase (sod) gene expression in the muscle. As for muscle nutritional composition, 0.05–0.5 g/kg EGCG increased total amino acid (TAA) and flavor amino acid (FAA) contents, likely via the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Muscle n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) content was increased with 0.5 g/kg EGCG, presumably owing to the upregulation of fatty acyl elongase 5 (elovl5), long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase 6 (acsl6), and peroxisome proliferator-actiated receptor α (pparα). Dietary EGCG (0.05–1 g/kg) significantly increased muscle hardness and chewiness, accompanied by an increase in myofiber density. EGCG supplementation (0.25–1 g/kg) increased the pH value and reduced lactate contents in the muscle. However, muscle crude lipid and hydroxyproline contents significantly decreased with 1 g/kg EGCG. Overall, quadratic regression analysis of WGR, SGR, TAA, and FAA showed that optimal EGCG (0.46–0.52 g/kg) dietary supplementation improved the growth and nutritional composition of juvenile common carp.

Aquaculture Nutrition
Publishing Collaboration
More info
Wiley Hindawi logo
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate27%
Submission to final decision62 days
Acceptance to publication22 days
CiteScore6.300
Journal Citation Indicator1.100
Impact Factor3.5
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