Effects of prebiotic PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) supplemented in practical diets for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

• Grant number: 14/19755-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Maria José Tavares Ranzani de Paiva
• Grantee: Uriel Rodriguez Estrada
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesca. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Prebiotic act as substrate for benefic intestinal bacteria protecting and improving fish gut morphology, physiology and metabolism. Prebiotic stimulate immune system and growth of farmed fish. This additive also confer intestinal protection against external factors (e.g. pathogens in rearing environment). Prebiotic polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has demonstrated its effectiveness as growth promoter, immune stimulant and substrate for intestinal benefic bacteria and protector of general gut integrity of farmed organisms. Although, current tilapia aquaculture diseases can be avoided by maintaining high quality environment and reducing handling stress, certain pathogens can significantly affect production of this species. Aeromonas hydrophila is an opportunistic pathogen affecting tilapia with a weak immune response. A. hydrophila is an economically important agent in tilapia aquaculture, due to losses produced in this industry. This work aims to evaluate growth, digestibility, gut integrity, immunity, disease protection and economic viability of practical diets for tilapia (O. niloticus) supplemented with six (0,0%, 0,1%, 0,5%, 1,0%, 3,0% and 5,0%) inclusion levels of PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate). In the first phase, effects on growth, digestibility, gut integrity and immunity of tilapia (O. niloticus) fed practical diets supplemented with PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) will be assessed. In the second phase, disease resistance, cellular, humoral and molecular immune response to A. hydrophila infection of tilapia (O. niloticus) fed practical diets supplemented with PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) will be assessed. In the third phase, economic viability of practical diets for tilapia (O. niloticus) supplemented with PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) will be determined. (AU)