Productive and economic viability of the inclusion of nucleotides in diets based on plant ingredients for tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

• Grant number: 22/15957-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Susumu Takahashi
• Grantee: Maria Karolaine Moriman Delgado
• Host Institution: Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/11051-2 - Effects of nucleotide supplementation on intestinal integrity of tambaquis (Colossoma macropomum) fed plant-based diets: an integrative histopathological approach, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Nucleotides (NTs) are functional supplements composed of a nitrogenous base, phosphate group and sugar. They are considered conditionally essential nutrients as they play key roles in the functioning of the animal organism. Dietary supplementation of NTs has been shown to increase the growth and palatability of the diet, promote intestinal development and repair, as well as increase the activities of digestive enzymes and provide immunomodulatory effects in fish challenged with pathogens. However, to date, no studies have been verified that addressed the interactive effect between all-vegetable diets and NTs levels on tambaqui growth, intestinal structure and immunity. In this context, the objective of this proposal will be to evaluate the productive and economic feasibility of supplementing a mixture of nucleotides in diets based on plant ingredients for tambaqui juveniles challenged with the pathogen Aeromos hidrophyla. For this, assays will be conducted for a period of 120 days and analyzes of performance, intestinal histomorphometry, immunological responses and economic viability will be performed. A basal diet will be formulated exclusively with plant ingredients and supplemented with 6 levels of a nucleotide mixture (0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0 g kg-1 of diet) . A completely randomized design will be used with 6 treatments with 4 replications each. It is expected that the inclusion of nucleotides in a diet formulated based on plant ingredients provides better growth, intestinal structure and immune responses of tambaqui juveniles submitted to bacterial challenge, in addition to reducing production costs with the feed due to a better use of the diet.