SEDATION OF NILE TILAPIA WITH ESSENTIAL OILS: TEA TREE, CLOVE, EUCALYPTUS, AND MINT OILS

Fabrício Pereira Rezende,Rafael Alves Vianna,Lívia Mendonça Pascoal,Eduardo Arruda Teixeira Lanna

doi:10.1590/1983-21252017v30n223rc

Fabrício Pereira Rezende, Rafael Alves Vianna + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252017v30n223rc

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Essential oils have been extensively used in many commercial applications, one of them being anesthetics. The effect of four essential oils (tea tree, clove, eucalyptus, and mint oils) on the sedation, recovery, and behavioral stress of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was evaluated. The sedative solutions, prepared with essential oils and anhydrous ethanol (1:4), were used for fish management procedures at a dose of 7.4 mL L-1 in a completely randomized block design with four treatments and seven replicates. The means were compared using Scott-Knott test (P < 0.05). Clove oil was found to be the most suitable oil for the immobilization of Nile tilapia; however, behavioral observations indicate that tea tree oil was the most efficient in reducing stress.

Highlights

The quality and sale price of fish are the two main aspects involved in consumer purchase decision
This study was based on the characterization of the effects of clove, tea tree, eucalyptus, and mint oils on the behavior and sedation of Nile tilapia, in order to point out the possibility of considering its application for the handling and transportation of fish
Use of essential oils in fish sedation support recommendations for the use of essential oils as safe natural sedatives; clove oil has Because of the lack of available information on the use of essential oils for fish sedation, the already been routinely used in research management and commercially in aquaculture enterprises

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The quality and sale price of fish are the two main aspects involved in consumer purchase decision. Good quality is the sum of adequate management practices during catch process, purification, transportation, and trade among the different links that connect the production and extractive chain (farmers, middlemen, wholesalers, distributors, shopkeepers, and hobbyists or producers) During these processes, fish undergo an intense period of chronic and acute stress that compromises its vigor and physiological resistance. The addition of anesthetic substances to water during fish management procedures, such as weighing, selection, sampling, vaccination, and transportation, aims to reduce stress, prevent physical injuries, and reduce mortality in fish (WEBER et al, 2011; ROUBACH et al, 2005) The use of such products helps in maintaining the quality of fish (BURT, 2004; SINHA; ASIMI, 2007). This study was based on the characterization of the effects of clove, tea tree, eucalyptus, and mint oils on the behavior and sedation of Nile tilapia, in order to point out the possibility of considering its application for the handling and transportation of fish

MATERIAL AND METHODS

AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS