Whole-body Composition Research Articles

Evaluation of Ulva lactuca fermentation and exogenous multi-enzymes supplementation in combination with L-carnitine and probiotic on optimizing plant-based diets utilization for the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

A (2X3) factorial design was conducted to evaluate using fermented Ulva lactuca (FER) and exogenous multi-enzymes, Natuzyme® (MEM, 1.5 g/kg) supplementation in combination with L-carnitine (LC, 350 mg/kg) and/or probiotic (PRO, 0.3%/kg) on growth performance and feed utilization of Nile tilapia (5.14±0.08 g initial body weight) fed plant-Ulva based diets over a 12-weeks feeding trial. Six isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated to provide 28% protein and 425 kcal/100 g diets which divided into FER and MEM groups each with three different supplementations (LC, PRO and LC + PRO). Results of the present study revealed that fish fed on the third diet (FER + LC + PRO) and last diet (MEM + LC + PRO) were significantly higher in average body weight, weight gain, and relative body weight gain than other treatments without significant differences between the two treatments. Fish fed (FER + LC + PRO) diet and (MEM + LC + PRO) diet consumed more feed than other treatments. No significant differences were detected among different fish groups for whole-body composition. The results of the present study suggested that using fermented Ulva lactuca and inclusion of exogenous multi- enzymes in combination with L-Carnitine and/or probiotics have beneficial effects on improving growth performance, feed utilization, and reducing feed cost of Nile tilapia.

Growth, Metabolite, Antioxidative Capacity, Transcriptome, and the Metabolome Response to Dietary Choline Chloride in Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Simple SummaryCholine is a vitamin-like nutrient and has many metabolic and physiological functions in aquatic animals. Unfortunately, the information on the optimal requirement of dietary choline in Litopenaeus vannamei is limited, and the molecular and metabolic mechanisms of choline on L. vannamei are unclear. Hence, in this study, the growth performance, whole-body composition, serum characteristics, hepatopancreatic antioxidant indexes, serum metabolome and hepatopancreas transcriptome were performed. In this study, the growth of L. vannamei was not affected by dietary choline. Dietary choline played an important role in arachidonic acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism and decreased the oxidant damage of L. vannamei, while excessive choline can inhibit the digestion of protein and reduce the whole-body crude protein in shrimp. Based on the results of weight gain and lipid peroxidation reduction, 1082 mg/kg dietary choline could meet the growth requirement of L. vannamei, but 2822 mg/kg dietary choline was needed to reduce peroxidation damage. The present study would provide valuable information on the requirement of choline in L. vannamei, and help to understand the molecular and metabolic mechanisms of choline in shrimp.To determine the response of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to different levels of dietary choline, juvenile white shrimp (1.75 ± 0.09 g) were fed six semi-purified diets supplemented with 0 (control), 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 12,000 mg/kg choline chloride for eight weeks. Growth performance, whole-body composition, serum characteristics and hepatopancreatic antioxidant indexes were evaluated. Meanwhile, serum metabolome and hepatopancreas transcriptome were performed to examine the overall difference in metabolite and gene expression. The weight gain, survival, specific growth rate, condition factor and hepatosomatic index were not affected by dietary choline levels. The shrimp fed 6000 mg/kg dietary choline chloride gained the maximal whole-body crude protein, which was significantly higher than that of shrimp fed with 12,000 mg/kg dietary choline. Serum total cholesterol of shrimp fed 6000 mg/kg dietary choline was higher than that in shrimp fed 4000 mg/kg choline. Dietary choline significantly decreased malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in shrimp hepatopancreas. Compared with the shrimp fed 6000 mg/kg dietary choline chloride, the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway was significantly enriched in the shrimp fed 0 mg/kg dietary choline chloride, and the choline content and bile salt-activated lipase-like expression were upregulated. The expression of trypsin-1-like in protein digestion and absorption pathway was significantly downregulated in the shrimp fed 12,000 mg/kg dietary choline chloride. Apolipoprotein D might be a potential biomarker in shrimp, and dietary choline played an important role in lipid metabolism, especially in the reduction of oxidative damage in L. vannamei. Based on the results of weight gain and degree of oxidative damage, 1082 mg/kg dietary choline could meet the growth requirement of L. vannamei, but 2822 mg/kg dietary choline was needed to reduce peroxidation damage.

400 Functional amino acids to improve pig robustness

Abstract Pigs are continuously exposed to pathogens and immune-stimulatory antigens that negatively impact animal productivity. In general, this decrease in productivity is the result of reduced feed intake and increased demand for nutrients to mount an immune response. In addition, immune system stimulation alters amino acid metabolism and utilization, with amino acids redirected from growth towards supporting the immune response. A number of previous studies have shown that nutrient requirements for some amino acids, such as methionine, tryptophan, and threonine, are higher in immune-challenged vs. healthy animals, and supplementation with these “functional” amino acids may improve performance and the immune response. In addition to effects on whole-body growth, both dietary composition and immune challenge result in significant physiological alterations to the gastrointestinal tract, including changes in gut motility, permeability, digestive enzyme secretion, absorptive capacity, and mucin production. Alterations to the gut epithelium induced by dietary protein and/or fiber content may lead to increased susceptibility to pathogens and immune stimulation. Functional amino acids have been shown to be important in the maintenance of gut barrier function as well as immune response. An increased understanding of the interaction of nutrition and the pig’s immune response will be a key component in efforts to reduce feed costs and antibiotic use while improving animal robustness and profitability of the swine industry.

Lacticaseibacillus casei in Diet of Juvenile Convict Cichlid Fish (Amatitlania nigrofasciata): Evaluating Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Immune Responses, and Stress Resistance.

In this study, growth performance, body composition, digestive enzymes activity, mucosal and immunological parameters, cultivable bacterial populations, and stress resistance were investigated in juvenile convict cichlid fish (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) that received a dietary supplement containing 0 (control), 5×106 (LC1), 5×107 (LC2), and 5×108CFUg-1 diet (LC3) Lacticaseibacillus casei PB-LC39. Two hundred and forty fish (2.44±0.04g) were assigned to twelve experimental aquariums and feed ad libitum three times a day for 8weeks. After final sampling, final body weight, percentage of weight gain (WG %), specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), and protein content of whole-body composition were significantly higher (P<0.05) in fish fed LC1 diet than other treatments. Total protease, amylase, and lipase activities were also significantly higher (P<0.05) in fish fed LC1 diet than other groups. Total protein from serum and mucus, lysozyme activity, total immunoglobulin (Ig), and serum globulin were significantly increased (P<0.05) in fish fed LC1 diet compared with other groups. Moreover, total counts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fish gut were significantly higher (P<0.05) by different levels of L. casei PB-LC39 than the control group. Recovery rates of fish fed the probiotic cells, after an air-dive test, was significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with the control group. Therefore, the results showed that L. casei PB-LC39 resulted in improving growth, health status, and stress resistance of fish during the rearing of juvenile convict cichlid fish.

Body composition patterns among normal glycemic, pre-diabetic, diabetic health Chinese adults in community: NAHSIT 2013-2016.

Central obesity is known to be associated with diabetes. Increasing lower extremity circumference was hypothesized in association with lower risk of diabetes. This study determined which anthropometric patterns correlates the best with pre-diabetic and diabetic status among healthy adults. Cross-sectional study with nationwide population sampling of participants was designed. In total, 1,358 ethnic Chinese adult participants were recruited from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 2013-2016; the whole-body composition was measured through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fat and lean mass in whole and specific parts of body among heathy Asian adults with normal glycemic, pre-diabetic, and diabetic states were measured, separately. The generalized linear model was used to investigate the association between body composition (lean and fat mass) and hyperglycemic status. The reduced rank regression (RRR) was used to confirm the correlation between glycemic status and predicting factors (body composition parameters). Trunk fat positively correlated with the fasting glucose level (r = 0.327, P < 0.001) and HbA1c (r = 0.329, P < 0.001), whereas limb fat negatively correlated with the fasting glucose level (r = -0.325, P < 0.001) and HbA1c (ρ = -0.342, P < 0.001), respectively. In RRR analyses, fasting glucose and HbA1c exhibited a high positive association on fat amount per lean mass of the trunk (factor loading = 0.5319 and 0.5599, respectively) and of android area (0.6422 and 0.6104) and a high negative association fat amount per lean mass of the legs (-0.3863 and -0.3083) and gynoid area (-0.3414 and -0.3725). For healthy community participants, increasing trunk fat had a greater risk of hyperglycemic status. Increasing lower extremity mass may confer lower risk of diabetes.

Combined effects of dietary starch:Protein ratios and short cycles of fasting/refeeding on Nile tilapia growth and liver health

This study evaluated the combined effects of different dietary starch:protein ratios (SPR) and short cycles of fasting/refeeding (FR) on Nile tilapia juveniles on growth, feed and nutrient use, whole-body composition and liver health. Three diets with SPR classified as high (S30:P32; 0.96 g:g), intermediate (S25:P36; 0.69 g:g) and low (S21:P39; 0.53 g:g) were fed to fish over 60 days on three feeding regimes: 0FR—fish fed daily (control treatment); 1 FR—fish fasted for one day and refed for three days and 2 FR—fish fasted for two days and refed for three days. Fish (2.25 ± 0.01 g) were allotted to a completely randomized factorial design (3 × 3; n = 3). Fish growth and feed conversion ratio decreased (p < .05) with increasing FR. There was no significant difference in daily feed intake between regular-fed and fasted tilapia as a consequence of hyperphagia in fasted fish. Protein and energy productive values increased (p < .05) with increasing SPR. The occurrence of hepatic steatosis was similar (p > .05) among daily-fed fish regardless of SPR but increased (p < .05) with increasing SPR in fasted fish. Regardless of dietary SPR, short cycles of fasting/refeeding do not promote compensatory growth. Therefore, Nile tilapia around 2g should be fed daily with low-SPR diet.

Effect of Graded Protein Levels on the Growth, Survival and Body Composition of Juvenile Osteobrama belangeri using Semi Purified Diet

Background: Osteobrama belangeri is popularly known as pengba and was widely distributed in lakes and rivers. Protein is the most important nutrient for better growth of fish and other metabolic activities as well as covering higher cost than other nutrients. Limited information is available on the nutritional requirement of O. belangeri. The present study was conducted for determining growth, survival and body composition of O. belangeri using diets of graded protein level. Methods: The present experiment was conducted during 2016 for 40 days using 18 numbers of circular fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks in six treatments in triplicate. The experiment was carried out in the wet laboratory of College of Fisheries, CAU (I), Lembucherra, Tripura. Growth performance, survival, feed utilization performance and fish carcass composition were analyzed after completion of the experiment. Result: The investigation suggests that the optimum dietary protein level of 25% gives the best performance in terms of growth, survival, feed utilization and whole-body carcass composition of O. belangeri. From the broken-line analysis on specific growth rate and mean weight gain, the best dietary protein level for O. belangeri is 24.39 to 24.88%. The present work will be useful for formulation of a cost effective diet for pengba for aquaculture.

Comparative performance, biochemical composition, and fatty acid analysis of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) during grow-out in RAS fed different commercial diets

ABSTRACT Commercial feeds, encoded by letters A, B, and C, with crude protein between 49.1% and 52.9% and crude fat between 13.0% and 22.2% produced especially for percids were fed to European perch (Perca fluviatilis) with an initial body weight of 91.9 g in a 106-day trial during grow-out in a recirculating aquaculture system. A feed manufactured and declared for sturgeon and sea bass farming but traditionally used for percids served as control diet (feed D). In comparison to the best performing percid feed, the sturgeon/sea bass feed D showed similar results. Feed A showed best results in terms of weight gain (14.6 kg), food conversion ratio (1.65), specific growth rate (0.74%/day) and second best survival rates, (98.1%). Differences in slaughter yield were significant only regarding the viscerosomatic index, whereas fillet yield, condition factor (K), hepatosomatic index, and proximate composition of whole body and fillet were comparable for all diets. In conclusion, three different commercial feeds specialized for percid production revealed significantly different production success in a recirculating aquaculture system. On the other hand, a commercial feed with similar composition sold for sturgeon/sea bass also achieved acceptable results.

The marine microbial biomass, Novacq™, a useful feed additive for postlarvae and juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei

Although Litopenaeus vannamei is the most produced and researched shrimp species worldwide, there are no published studies evaluating the use of the microbial biomass, Novacq™, in L. vannamei feeds. This study investigated the effects of supplementing Novacq™ at 100 g kg−1 in practical and commercial feeds in postlarvae 12 (PL 12) and juvenile white leg shrimp. Three experiments were carried out. In Experiment 1, PL12 were fed for 21 days with a Control, Novacq™ or Commercial feed. The Novacq feed was equal in PL12 performance to the Commercial diet and superior to the Control (final individual weight = 0.169, 0.167 and 0.087 g; percentage weight gain = 8014, 7956 and 4091% for Novacq™, Commercial and Control feeds, respectively). No statistical differences in survival, coefficient of variation and daily feed offered were observed across dietary treatments. In Experiments 2 and 3 the performance of juvenile shrimp fed practical and Commercial feeds supplemented with Novacq™ for 42 days, respectively. In Experiment 2, Novacq™ feed outperformed the Control feed by improving survival (89 vs. 51%), final individual weight (7.4 vs. 3.5 g), weight gain (7.1 vs. 3.2 g), and percentage weight gain (1997 vs. 898%). In Experiment 3 supplementing Novacq™ into the Commercial feed improved performance (final individual weight = 6.4 vs. 5.5 g, weight gain = 6.0 vs. 5.1 g, and percentage weight gain = 1712 vs 1443%) and reduced the coefficient of variation (19 vs 53%). Shrimp fed feeds containing Novacq™ also displayed numerically reduced daily feed offered and estimated feed conversion ratio values in comparison to the other dietary treatments. Whole-body composition was similar across dietary treatments. In summary, supplementation of Novacq™ in practical and Commercial feeds improved growth and efficiency of PL12 and juvenile shrimp suggesting its validity as a useful feed additive in the nutrition of white leg shrimp.

Prevalence of Sarcopenia and Whole-Body Composition in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that leads to joint deformity and disability, as well as muscle involvement. Sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia and possible contributing factors associated with sarcopenia in RA patients. Adult RA patients (n = 105) of both sexes and 100 subjects as control group (CG) matched by age, sex, and body mass index were included in this cross-sectional study. Whole-body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Sarcopenia was defined according to European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 as low muscle strength (handgrip) and low muscle mass (appendicular skeletal muscle mass [ASM] index by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). The association between sarcopenia and associated factors was evaluated using logistic regression analyses. Significantly lower percentage of lean mass and ASM were found in the whole RA group compared with controls. However, lower lean parameters (total lean mass, percentage of lean mass, and ASM) were observed only in female subjects. The ASM index was significantly lower in female subjects with RA (RA 31.0% vs CG 11.9%) without differences in male subjects. On the other hand, fat mass and most adipose indices were significantly higher in both female and male subjects with RA. Female RA patients had higher prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity. Through univariate logistic regression analysis, the time of corticosteroids use, cumulative corticosteroid dose, previous fragility fractures, total lean mass, and ASM were associated with sarcopenia. Higher prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were found in female RA patients. Sarcopenia was found in younger female subjects with RA compared with healthy control subjects. Sarcopenia was associated with previous fragility fractures in female patients with RA.

Physiological status and nutritional condition of cultured juvenile Thenus australiensis over the moult cycle.

The moult cycle is arguably the most critical aspect of crustacean biology and is associated with dramatic changes in behaviour, physiology and condition. Here we describe the first detailed investigation of the combined changes in morphology, physiological status and nutritional condition over the moult cycle of juvenile T. australiensis. Haemolymph refractive index (measured as Brix) was evaluated as a non-destructive method for predicting physiological status and nutritional condition. Post-moult, inter-moult and pre-moult stages were identifiable by microscopic examination of the pleopod distal tips, though differentiation of the pre-moult substages was not possible using this technique. Monitoring of ecdysial suture lines on the exoskeleton gill chambers was found to be highly useful for visually determining progression through the pre-moult stage and predicting the timing of ecdysis. A classical pattern of inter-moult growth was observed where size and wet weight remained relatively uniform over the moult cycle while highly significant changes in whole-body composition were simultaneously observed over time. Growth was most evident by changes in dry weight and dry matter content which more than doubled by the onset of pre-moult. Changes in dry matter content were generally mirrored by Brix and whole-body crude protein, total lipid and gross energy content. Brix strongly correlated with dry matter content and significant correlations were also found for all other primary measures of nutritional condition. Typical moult-related changes were also found for circulating ecdysteroids. This study clearly demonstrates pronounced cyclical changes in physiology and condition of juvenile T. australiensis over a typical moult cycle. The significant correlations between haemolymph and whole-body composition validates Brix as a practical and non-destructive method to objectively assess physiological status, nutritional condition and quality in T. australiensis and further demonstrates its potential for individual crustacean assessment in experimental research and practical commercial applications.

Fish meal replacement by corn gluten in feeds for juvenile spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus): Effect on growth performance, feed efficiency, hematological parameters, protease activity, body composition, and nutrient digestibility

The replacement of fish meal (FM) by corn gluten meal (CGM) in practical diets for juvenile spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus, was evaluated. Six isonitrogenous (47% crude protein), isoenergetic (19.03 kJ g−1) diets were formulated by replacing 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100% of FM protein with CGM protein. Diets with CGM inclusion were supplemented with crystalline Arginine (Arg) and Lysine (Lys). Juvenile fish (mean body weight 31.2 ± 0.3 g) were fed the experimental diets (n = 45 per diet) for 70 days. Growth performance, feed efficiency, hematological parameters, protease activity, body composition, and nutrient digestibility were evaluated. Growth performance and feed efficiency at 60% FM replacement showed no significant differences (P < .05) versus the control diet, although trypsin activity and dry matter digestibility were significantly reduced. Dietary inclusion in excess of 60% CGM caused hypercholesterolemia, while fish fed the maximum level of CGM inclusion showed hypertriglyceridemia. Juvenile fish fed a 60% CGM inclusion showed high protein retention and reduced lipid retention in their whole-body composition. A second-order polynomial regression showed that juvenile snapper attains a maximum growth rate when fed up to 40% CGM inclusion. Our results show that CGM can be used as a suitable ingredient to supply up to 60% of protein in diets for spotted rose snapper, provided these are supplemented with crystalline Arg and Lys.

Crude fat, digestible protein and DL-carnitine levels in plant-based diets to Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings

The chemical composition of diets is appointed as one responsible by different results of L-carnitine supplementation in fish. This study determined the effects of digestible dietary protein (DP; 250 and 290 g kg-1) and crude fat (CF; 100 and 150 g kg-1) at levels of DL-carnitine supplementation (DLC; 0 and 1.0 g kg-1) in plant based-diets on growth and whole-body composition of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings (1.55 ± 0.03 g). Fish were hand-fed for 74 days, three times per day until apparent satiation, in a completely randomized experimental design, 2×2×2 factorial scheme (n = 3). There was no effect (P &gt; 0.05) of DP, CF, and DLC, or interactions, on growth performance. There was a significant interaction between DP×CF; DP×DLC and DLC×CF on feed efficiency. There was interaction (P &lt; 0.05) between CF×DLC on feed intake (DFI). The DLC supplementation in 100 g kg-1 CF diets increased DFI 5.6% more than fish fed with the same fat level without DLC. Whole-body protein decreased significantly due to DLC supplementation in fish fed with 150 g kg-1 CF diets. The level of DLC supplementation in Nile tilapia diets is variable and should consider the dietary CF levels, but not DP.

Optimal dietary lysine improves growth performance, increases protein deposition and reduces lipid accumulation in tambaqui ( Colossoma macropomum ) juveniles

The present study aimed to determine the dietary lysine requirement for tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) juveniles, based on growth performance, whole-body composition, haematological parameters and plasma metabolites. For that purpose, an 81-day feeding trial was conducted with 150 tambaquis distributed in 15 aquariums (300 L) in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and three replicates. Five diets were formulated and crystalline l-lysine was added to obtain diets with lysine concentrations of 9.1; 11.9; 14.7; 17.5; and 20.3 g/kg dry diet. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (p < .05), analyses of broken-line and second-degree polynomial regressions were combined to determine dietary lysine requirement. Fish fed 14.9 to 21.0 g/kg lysine showed higher weight gain, specific growth rate and lower feed conversion ratio, viscerosomatic index. In addition, dietary lysine levels of 15.6 and 19.4 g/kg provided higher fish whole-body deposition of protein and lower deposition of lipid respectively. There were no significant differences in haematological analysis and plasma metabolites of the fish. Thus, according to the second-order polynomial analysis of a broken-line response for weight gain, the optimum dietary lysine requirement for tambaqui juvenile was estimated to be 16.1 g/kg dry diet (5.4% dietary protein).

Effect of dietary poultry meal and oil on growth, digestive capacity, and gut microbiota of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing fish meal by poultry by-product meal (PBM) in actual commercial standard diets for gilthead seabream juveniles on growth performance, diet digestibility, digestive function, intestinal microbiota, and provide an economic analysis of using PBM in practical diets.Six isoproteic and isolipidic diets were formulated including increasing levels (from 0 to 37.5%) of PBM in replacement of fish meal, corresponding to a fish meal protein replacement in the diets up to 83%. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of fish (IBW 63 g) and the growth trial lasted 70 days. No differences between groups were observed on growth performance, voluntary feed intake, feed efficiency, nitrogen utilization, and whole-body composition. Digestive enzymes activity and the ADC of protein, phosphorus, and energy were also not affected by dietary treatment. Regarding gut microbiota, fish fed diet PBM22.5 showed higher species richness and diversity of digesta microbiota, but no differences between groups were observed in mucosa OTUs, richness, and diversity indices. The cost of diet formulation decreased with the dietary replacement of FM by PBM, highlighting the potential of poultry by-products inclusion in commercial diets.Overall, this study indicates that dietary FM could be replaced at least up to 83% with PBM in diets for gilthead seabream juveniles without affecting growth performance and feed utilization while improving the economic efficiency of these diets.

Role of long-term supplementation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 on laying hen bone 3-dimensional structural development

Egg-laying hens have a unique bone development pattern due to the medullary bone formation and high bone turnover rate. The role of long-term supplementation of an intermediate form of vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD), on skeletal development of pullets and laying hens is not well established. Exploring its effects on layer bone development will help develop a strategy for preventing laying hen osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of long-term supplementation of 25OHD in layer diets on bone 3-dimensional structural development. A total of 390 1-day-old Hy-Line W36 pullets were randomly allocated to 3 treatments with 10 replicate cages and 13 birds/cage. Dietary treatments were 1) vitamin D3 at 2,760 IU/kg, 2) vitamin D3 at 5,520 IU/kg, and 3) vitamin D3 at 2,760 IU/kg plus 25OHD at 2,760 IU (69 μg)/kg. The level of 25OHD in the serum was tested throughout the whole experimental period (0–95 wk). Bone growth rate (BGR) was measured at 10 wk using a calcein injection technique. Femurs were scanned using Micro-CT for 3D structural analysis, and the whole-body composition analysis was performed using a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry method at 17, 60, and 95 wk. Dietary supplementation of 25OHD significantly increased 25OHD level in the serum from 0 to 95 wk. During the rearing period (0–17 wk), 25OHD increased BGR, cortical tissue volume, and bone marrow area at 17 wk, simultaneously. 25OHD created more pores in cortical bone, which resulted in a lower cortical bone mineral density (BMD) but without alerting bone mineral content (BMC). This effect allowed more space for mineral deposition in bones during the later egg-laying period. At 60 wk, the 25OHD group had significantly greater BMD, which led to the highest total BMC, cortical volume, and trabecular bone connectivity. At 95 wk, the birds fed 25OHD had significantly higher cortical bone volume and lower porosity. The 25OHD group also had higher total BMD and medullary bone volume but a lower BMC and volume of trabecular bone than vitamin D3 or double dosage vitamin D3 treatment. This indicated that the bone resorption rate was lower in cortical bone than that in trabecular bone in the late laying period. In conclusion, supplementation with dietary 25OHD could stimulate bone growth and increase bone volume in pullets to provide more space for mineral deposition during the laying period with positive effects on laying hen bone quality.

Rhodopseudomonas palustrisin effluent enhances the disease resistance, TOR and NF‐κB signalling pathway, intestinal microbiota and aquaculture water quality ofPelteobagrus vachelli

The use of traditional bait and medicament in freshwater aquaculture exacerbates environmental pollution and leads to frequent occurrence of diseases. Effluent collected after Rhodopseudomonas palustris-mediated wastewater treatment could be reutilized as microbial feeds, medicament and aquaculture water to culture Pelteobagrus vachelli. Therefore, a novel integrated system of wastewater treatment using effluent containing R. palustris that improves yield, increases disease resistance and enhances the quality of aquaculture water for P. vachelli culture was proposed and investigated. P. vachelli can grow well in effluent containing R. palustris (ER). The survival rate, yield and whole-body composition of the ER group were all increased compared to those of the control group (CK). The biochemical (B vitamin) and other substances in the effluent of R. palustris enhanced the activity of proteases, amylases, lipases, alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), phagocytic, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) by up-regulating the expression of AKP, ACP, SOD and CAT genes. Theoretical analysis showed that biochemical substances regulated the expression of these genes and enzyme activities as stimulus signal, component and active centre. Moreover, R. palustris and biochemical substances improved the target of rapamycin (TOR) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathways and intestinal microbiota. Furthermore, R. palustris inhibited Aeromonas hydrophila, which increased resistance to fish diseases and promoted the growth of intestinal probiotics. Meanwhile, R. palustris in effluent also purified the quality of aquaculture water. Use of this technology simultaneously helped improve aquaculture water quality, reduce water pollution and wastewater discharge and increased the output and disease resistance of P. vachelli.

Use of alternative plant and animal protein blends, in place of fishmeal, in diets for juvenile totoaba, Totoaba macdonaldi

The present study evaluated the replacement of fishmeal (FM) by blends of alternative protein sources in diets for juvenile (8.0 ± 0.5 g) Totoaba macdonaldi. Using a FM-based control diet containing 53% crude protein and 13% crude fat, a 3 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted replacing FM, at levels of 33, 66 and 100% by weight, with three blends of the test ingredients, as follows: 1) Arthrospira meal blend: 70% Arthrospira sp. meal, 15% blood meal, 15% soy protein concentrate (SPC); 2) blood meal blend: 70% blood meal, 15% Arthrospira sp. meal, 15% SPC; and 3) SPC blend: 70% SPC, 15% blood meal, 15% Arthrospira sp. meal. At the end of the 6-week feeding trial, significant effects of the alternative protein blends were detected, in which fish fed the Arthrospira meal and SPC blends had significantly (P < .05) better performance than fish fed the blood meal blend across all growth parameters (percent weight gain and thermal growth coefficient) and feed utilization indices (feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio). Also, fish fed the former two blends deposited more crude protein and fat in whole body and muscle tissues, concurring with the growth response observed. However, the effects of protein blend on body condition indices (hepatosomatic index, condition factor, and muscle ratio) and on the concentrations of trypsin and chymotrypsin in anterior intestine and pyloric caeca, did not depict clear trends. A correspondence between levels of dietary amino acids (AA) in blends and accumulated AA in muscle, was not observed. However, significant effects of the level of FM replacement were also detected, in which the responses in growth, feed utilization, most body condition indices, and proximate composition of fish whole body, deteriorated as the level of FM replaced increased. All things considered, results indicate that the Arthrospira meal and SPC blends, but not the blood meal blend, can be used to replace at least 33% FM in the diet for totoaba, without adversely affecting growth and survival. The possible reasons for the decreased performance of fish fed the blood meal blend, or when fed any of the blends at levels higher than 33%, are discussed.

Distinct abdominal and gluteal adipose tissue transcriptome signatures are altered by exercise training in African women with obesity

The differential associations of adipose depots with metabolic risk during obesity have been proposed to be controlled by environmental and genetic factors. We evaluated the regional differences in transcriptome signatures between abdominal (aSAT) and gluteal subcutaneous adipose tissue (gSAT) in obese black South African women and tested the hypothesis that 12-week exercise training alters gene expression patterns in a depot-specific manner. Twelve young women performed 12-weeks of supervised aerobic and resistance training. Pre- and post-intervention measurements included peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), whole-body composition and unbiased gene expression analysis of SAT depots. VO2peak increased, body weight decreased, and body fat distribution improved with exercise training (p < 0.05). The expression of 15 genes, mainly associated with embryonic development, differed between SAT depots at baseline, whereas 318 genes were differentially expressed post-training (p < 0.05). Four developmental genes were differentially expressed between these depots at both time points (HOXA5, DMRT2, DMRT3 and CSN1S1). Exercise training induced changes in the expression of genes associated with immune and inflammatory responses, and lipid metabolism in gSAT, and muscle-associated processes in aSAT. This study showed differences in developmental processes regulating SAT distribution and expandability of distinct depots, and depot-specific adaptation to exercise training in black South African women with obesity.

Use of dietary frass from black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens, in hybrid tilapia (Nile x Mozambique, Oreocromis niloticus x O. mozambique) diets improves growth and resistance to bacterial diseases

Frass, a by-product of the larval meal industry, is heterogeneous and includes larval excrement, exoskeleton sheds and residual feed ingredients along with abundant nutrients, chitin and beneficial microbes. The present study was performed to evaluate the changes in growth, feed utilization, body composition, hematology, serum chemistry, immune responses and disease resistance of hybrid tilapia, Nile x Mozambique (Oreocromis niloticus x O. mozambique) fed diets containing frass from black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens. Five diets containing frass at levels of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30% as partial replacements of a combination of soybean meal, wheat short and corn meal on an equal protein basis were fed to juvenile hybrid tilapia (2.6 ± 0.035 g) in quadruplicate aquaria to apparent satiation twice a day for the first two weeks and once daily for rest of the feeding trail. Final weight gain was significantly increased in fish fed the diet including the highest level of frass (30%). Fish fed diets containing frass (5% to 30%) had significantly higher protein efficiency than the group fed diet without frass (control diet). Feed intake and feed utilization efficiency were not significantly affected by dietary treatments. Survival during the feeding trail, whole-body composition, hematological parameters, and serum biochemistry were not affected by dietary treatment. Serum complement activity of fish fed 30% dietary frass was significantly higher than that of fish fed other treatments. Fish fed the diets containing frass showed significant dose-dependent trends in survival against both Flavobacterium columnare and Streptococcus iniae challenges. Frass from the larvae of black solder flies fed Distillers’ dried grains with solubles has potential for use as feed ingredient for improving growth of hybrid tilapia. Use of frass in tilapia diets may prove beneficial by improving innate immune components and the resistance of hybrid tilapia against bacterial infection.