Signal reception and production form the basis of animal communication, and are largely constrained by environmental biophysical factors such as environmental light. However, the role of environmental light in producing variation in either signal reception or production has not been fully investigated. Using two distinct environmental light treatments, as well as a third treatment for a sampling of adults, I recorded corneal electroretinograms, lens transmission, and spectral reflectance of the body pattern of juvenile and adult Nile tilapia to chart the effect of environmental light on visual sensitivity and body colouration throughout ontogeny. Environmental light had an age-dependent effect on spectral sensitivity and an age-independent effect on spectral reflectance. Spectral sensitivity in juveniles reared under a broad-spectrum light treatment and a red-shifted light treatment differed mostly at short wavelengths, where the irradiance of the two environmental light treatments differed the most. In contrast, adults reared under the two environmental light treatments did not differ in spectral sensitivity. Lens transmission did not differ significantly between environmental light treatments, indicating that differences in spectral sensitivity of juveniles originated in the retina. Both juveniles and adults reared under the two environmental light treatments differed in spectral reflectance, and adults transferred to the third environmental light treatment differed in spectral reflectance from their counterparts reared under the two original treatments. These results demonstrate that environmental light plays a large role in shaping signal reception in juveniles and signal production throughout ontogeny, suggesting that environmental light has the capacity to drive ecological speciation. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-03 11:32:59.441

Orientador: Fabiana Pilarski / Banca: Jonas Augusto Rizzato Paschoal / Banca: Luiz Augusto do Amaral / Resumo: Os surtos de bacterioses na piscicultura são imprevisíveis, por essa razão é necessário dispor de opções terapêuticas eficazes para reduzir a morbidade e mortalidade. Para que a terapia seja eficaz, a escolha do antimicrobiano deve se basear nas informações farmacocinéticas do fármaco no hospedeiro, nas condições de produção e na sensibilidade do patógeno. No Brasil, atualmente só dois antimicrobianos são legalizados para uso na aquicultura, a oxitetraciclina (OTC) e o florfenicol (FFC), os quais muitas vezes são ineficazes. Destes, somente o FFC é autorizado para tratar bacterioses em tilápia-do-Nilo, a espécie mais produzida no país. Este cenário nos levou a investigar a atividade antimicrobiana do tianfenicol (TAF) contra as principais bactérias patogênicas de peixes cultivados no Brasil. Foi determinada a concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) e a concentração bactericida mínima (CBM) do TAF para 49 cepas isoladas de surtos de bacteriose ocorridos no período 2011 a 2017 em três estados. Adicionalmente, avaliou-se a atividade antimicrobiana do TAF (G1: 10 mg/kg), do FFC (G2: 10 mg/kg) e da combinação do TAF com o FFC (G3: TAF+FFC: 5 + 2,5 mg/kg e G4: 2,5 + 1,25 mg/kg) no tratamento de aeromonose em tilápia-do-Nilo experimentalmente infectadas com Aeromonas hydrophila. Como resultado do estudo in vitro, mais da metade das cepas testadas foram sensíveis ao TAF, sendo que os gêneros Aeromonas, Lactococcus e Vibrio foram os mais sensíveis. No estudo in vivo, o TAF foi eficaz no ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Outbreaks of bacterial diseases in fish farm are unpredictable; therefore, it is necessary to have effective therapeutic options to reduce the morbidity and mortality. For effective therapy, the anticipated pharmacokinetics and antibacterial activity of the antimicrobial in the target fish species under the given conditions must be considered before decide which antimicrobial to use. In Brazil, only two antimicrobials are approved for use in aquaculture, oxytetracycline (OTC) and florfenicol (FFC), which are often innefective. Moreover, only FFC is approved for use to treat bacterial diseases in Nile tilapia, the main specie in Brazil. This scenario led us to investigate the antibacterial activity o thiamphenicol (TAP) against the main bacteria infecting fishes in Brazil. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of TAP were determined for 49 strains isolated from diseases outbreaks registered during 2011 - 2017 in three States. Additionally the antibacterial activity of TAP (10 mg kg-1), FFC (10 mg kg-1) and TAF combined with FFC (G3: TAF+FFC: 5 + 2.5 mg kg-1 e G4: 2.5 + 1.25 mg kg-1) against Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia aeromoniosi models were evaluated. More than half of the tested strains were in vitro sensitive to TAP, being TAP highly potent against Aeromonas, Lactococcus, and Vibrio. The in vivo therapy with TAP alone and combined with FFC was effective to treat aeromoniosis in Nile tilapia. Groups G1, G2, G3, G4 and co... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Os parabenos utilizados como conservantes nas indústrias de cosméticos, alimentos e fármacos não são removidos por completo nas estações de tratamento de água e esgoto, além disso, podem causar danos a biota aquática. O presente estudo teve como finalidade aplicar um método analítico novo para quantificar o metil (MP), etil (EP), propil (PP), butil (BP), benzilparabeno (BzP) e a mistura (metil e propilparabeno) em amostras de água dos aquários com tilápias do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). A técnica analítica usada foi a cromatografia líquida com detector de arranjo de diodo (HPLC-DAD). Avaliou-se a toxicidade dos parabenos em tilápias e os efeitos nos biomarcadores bioquímicos dos animais após 6 e 12 dias dos testes de exposição e por administração via injeção intraperitoneal. A concentração dos parabenos utilizada em todos os testes foi de 4,0 mg L-1 (de cada parabeno individualmente) e de 6,0 mg L-1 do metil e de 1,7 mg L-1 do propilparabeno para a mistura. Foram feitas análises nos biomarcadores superóxido dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutationa peroxidase (GPx), glutationa redutase (GR), glutationa reduzida(GSH-t) e peroxidação lipídica (MDA). O limite de detecção dos parabenos foi de 0,03 mg L-1 (MP e EP), 0,05 mg L-1 (PP) e 0,10 mg L-1 (BP e BzP), e o limite de quantificação foi de 0,13 mg L-1 (MP, EP, PP), 0,18 mg L-1 (BP) e 0,25 mg L-1 (BzP). Foi possível quantificar somente o PP e a mistura (MP + PP) nas amostras de água dos aquários que continham peixe, no máximo 30 h após a exposição. Nas amostras de água sem a presença dos peixes, foi possível quantificar o BP e a mistura, metil e propilparabeno, durante os 12 dias de exposição. Os testes de toxicidade mostraram que a concentração letal para 50% dos indivíduos após 48 h de exposição foi de 67,11 mg L-1 do MP, 24,08 mg L-1 do EP, 17,34 mg L-1 do PP, 7,98 mg L-1 do BzP e 7,80 mg L-1 do BP, sendo que estes dois últimos compostos podem ser considerados os mais tóxicos da classe. Outro modo de ação tóxica também observada dos parabenos foi a narcose, ou seja, a perda temporária da consciência e da mobilidade. À medida que aumenta o comprimento da cadeia, aumenta a lipofilicidade destas substâncias, que está relacionada com o coeficiente de partição octanol/água (Kow) das mesmas e consequentemente aumenta a toxicidade. Estes dados indicaram que quanto mais lipofílico mais tóxico é o composto. Relacionando as atividades enzimáticas testadas com os níveis de peroxidação lipídica, o metilparabeno foi o único composto capaz de provocar danos aos tecidos testados por meio das espécies reativas de oxigênio. Isso foi comprovado através da inibição da atividade das enzimas analisadas com o aumento nos níveis de MDA. Por outro lado, mesmo com as enzimas antioxidantes apresentando atividades elevadas isso não foi suficiente para impedir a redução nos níveis de GSH-t. Tais resultados indicam que os parabenos podem agir negativamente nas tilápias. / Parabens, used as preservatives in cosmetics, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals are not completely removed from water in sewage treatments, which may cause damage to aquatic biota. The present study addresses a new methodology to measure the quantity of methyl (MP), ethyl (EP), propyl (PP), butyl (BP), benzyl (BzP) parabens and a mixture of methyl and propylparaben in water. Aquarium water of experiments with tilapia samples was analyzed for 12 days by liquid chromatography with a doide array detector (HPLC-DAD). The toxicity of parabens in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its effects on biochemical biomarkers were also evaluated after 6 and 12 days of exposure and intraperitoneal injection. The concentrations of parabens used in all tests were 4.0 mg L-1 (alone) and to mixture was 6.0 mg L-1 of methyl and 1.7 mg L-1 of propylparaben. Biomarkers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione reduced (GSH-t) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were analyzed. The results show the detection limits for the analysis of parabens were 0.03 mg L-1 (MP and EP), 0.05 mg L-1 (PP) and 0.10 mg L-1 (BP and BzP), and the quantification limits were 0.13 mg L-1 (MP, EP, PP), 0.18 mg L-1 (BP) and 0.25 mg L-1 (BzP). In the water sample with fish, the compounds PP and the mixture (MP + PP) could be quantified up to 30h after exposure. In the water sample without fish, the compounds BP and the mixture were quantified for 12 days of exposure. Toxicity test revealed the lethal concentrations for 50% of individuals after 48 h of exposure were 67.11 mg L-1 for MP, 24.08 mg L-1 for EP, 17.34 mg L-1 for PP, 7.98 mg L-1 for BzP and 7.80 mg L-1 for BP. Therefore, BzP and BP can be considered the most toxic of the class. As the chain length grows, the lipophilicity of the substances increases. Such an increase is related to their octanol/water (Kow) partition coefficient and, consequently, increases toxicity. Another toxic action observed for the parabens was the temporary loss of consciousness and mobility of the organisms. According to the enzymatic activity tested and the lipid peroxidation levels, the methylparaben was the only compound that caused damage by reative oxidative species, supported by the inhibition of the activities of the enzymes and the increase in the MDA levels. However, the high activity of the antioxidant enzymes to exposure and intraperitoneal injections could not prevent the reduction in the levels of GSH-t. Such results indicate parabens can cause negative effects on tilapia.

Piscine francisellosis, caused by Francisella noatuenensis subsp orientalis (Fno), is an emerging infectious disease in the tilapia industry, but no effective commercial treatments or vaccines are available. The use of immunostimulants is a promising method to control diseases in aquaculture, and various algae and algal-derived compounds are potent immunostimulants for improving immune status. Algae produce a great variety of secondary metabolites that exert a broad spectrum of biological activities. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of algal compounds against Fno in vitro and in vivo and determine their potential to control francisellosis infection in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. under experimental conditions, and in an alternative host, namely the greater wax moth Galeria mellonella. Some of the algae and their compounds (Chlorella sp., alginic acid, and ß-glucan) exerted antimicrobial activity in vitro against Fno, Aeromonas hydrophila and Streptococcus agalactiae and stimulated responses of Nile tilapia macrophages (Chapter 2). An immersion challenge model for Fno STIR-GUS-F2f7 was developed in two genetic groups of Nile tilapia, and the homo gold strain was more susceptible to infection than wild type (Chapter 3). In vivo trials were conducted in Nile tilapia homo gold where fish were fed diets supplemented with 10% Scenedesmus quaricauda, 10% Haematococcus pluvialis, and 0.1% or 0.2% alginic acid or ß-glucan, and then challenged with Fno and co-infected with S. agalactiae (Chapter 4). The Fno challenge failed to produce mortality; however, co-infection resulted in high mortalities in all groups. As the in vivo trial in tilapia could not be to repeated, a G. mellonella model for Fno was validated. Fno doses between 0.7–1.7 x 108 CFU mL-1 killed G. mellonella, while tetracycline, alginic acid and ß-glucan rescued the wax moth from lethal doses of bacteria (Chapter 5).

Os parabenos utilizados como conservantes nas indústrias de cosméticos, alimentos e fármacos não são removidos por completo nas estações de tratamento de água e esgoto, além disso, podem causar danos a biota aquática. O presente estudo teve como finalidade aplicar um método analítico novo para quantificar o metil (MP), etil (EP), propil (PP), butil (BP), benzilparabeno (BzP) e a mistura (metil e propilparabeno) em amostras de água dos aquários com tilápias do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). A técnica analítica usada foi a cromatografia líquida com detector de arranjo de diodo (HPLC-DAD). Avaliou-se a toxicidade dos parabenos em tilápias e os efeitos nos biomarcadores bioquímicos dos animais após 6 e 12 dias dos testes de exposição e por administração via injeção intraperitoneal. A concentração dos parabenos utilizada em todos os testes foi de 4,0 mg L-1 (de cada parabeno individualmente) e de 6,0 mg L-1 do metil e de 1,7 mg L-1 do propilparabeno para a mistura. Foram feitas análises nos biomarcadores superóxido dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutationa peroxidase (GPx), glutationa redutase (GR), glutationa reduzida(GSH-t) e peroxidação lipídica (MDA). O limite de detecção dos parabenos foi de 0,03 mg L-1 (MP e EP), 0,05 mg L-1 (PP) e 0,10 mg L-1 (BP e BzP), e o limite de quantificação foi de 0,13 mg L-1 (MP, EP, PP), 0,18 mg L-1 (BP) e 0,25 mg L-1 (BzP). Foi possível quantificar somente o PP e a mistura (MP + PP) nas amostras de água dos aquários que continham peixe, no máximo 30 h após a exposição. Nas amostras de água sem a presença dos peixes, foi possível quantificar o BP e a mistura, metil e propilparabeno, durante os 12 dias de exposição. Os testes de toxicidade mostraram que a concentração letal para 50% dos indivíduos após 48 h de exposição foi de 67,11 mg L-1 do MP, 24,08 mg L-1 do EP, 17,34 mg L-1 do PP, 7,98 mg L-1 do BzP e 7,80 mg L-1 do BP, sendo que estes dois últimos compostos podem ser considerados os mais tóxicos da classe. Outro modo de ação tóxica também observada dos parabenos foi a narcose, ou seja, a perda temporária da consciência e da mobilidade. À medida que aumenta o comprimento da cadeia, aumenta a lipofilicidade destas substâncias, que está relacionada com o coeficiente de partição octanol/água (Kow) das mesmas e consequentemente aumenta a toxicidade. Estes dados indicaram que quanto mais lipofílico mais tóxico é o composto. Relacionando as atividades enzimáticas testadas com os níveis de peroxidação lipídica, o metilparabeno foi o único composto capaz de provocar danos aos tecidos testados por meio das espécies reativas de oxigênio. Isso foi comprovado através da inibição da atividade das enzimas analisadas com o aumento nos níveis de MDA. Por outro lado, mesmo com as enzimas antioxidantes apresentando atividades elevadas isso não foi suficiente para impedir a redução nos níveis de GSH-t. Tais resultados indicam que os parabenos podem agir negativamente nas tilápias. / Parabens, used as preservatives in cosmetics, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals are not completely removed from water in sewage treatments, which may cause damage to aquatic biota. The present study addresses a new methodology to measure the quantity of methyl (MP), ethyl (EP), propyl (PP), butyl (BP), benzyl (BzP) parabens and a mixture of methyl and propylparaben in water. Aquarium water of experiments with tilapia samples was analyzed for 12 days by liquid chromatography with a doide array detector (HPLC-DAD). The toxicity of parabens in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its effects on biochemical biomarkers were also evaluated after 6 and 12 days of exposure and intraperitoneal injection. The concentrations of parabens used in all tests were 4.0 mg L-1 (alone) and to mixture was 6.0 mg L-1 of methyl and 1.7 mg L-1 of propylparaben. Biomarkers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione reduced (GSH-t) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were analyzed. The results show the detection limits for the analysis of parabens were 0.03 mg L-1 (MP and EP), 0.05 mg L-1 (PP) and 0.10 mg L-1 (BP and BzP), and the quantification limits were 0.13 mg L-1 (MP, EP, PP), 0.18 mg L-1 (BP) and 0.25 mg L-1 (BzP). In the water sample with fish, the compounds PP and the mixture (MP + PP) could be quantified up to 30h after exposure. In the water sample without fish, the compounds BP and the mixture were quantified for 12 days of exposure. Toxicity test revealed the lethal concentrations for 50% of individuals after 48 h of exposure were 67.11 mg L-1 for MP, 24.08 mg L-1 for EP, 17.34 mg L-1 for PP, 7.98 mg L-1 for BzP and 7.80 mg L-1 for BP. Therefore, BzP and BP can be considered the most toxic of the class. As the chain length grows, the lipophilicity of the substances increases. Such an increase is related to their octanol/water (Kow) partition coefficient and, consequently, increases toxicity. Another toxic action observed for the parabens was the temporary loss of consciousness and mobility of the organisms. According to the enzymatic activity tested and the lipid peroxidation levels, the methylparaben was the only compound that caused damage by reative oxidative species, supported by the inhibition of the activities of the enzymes and the increase in the MDA levels. However, the high activity of the antioxidant enzymes to exposure and intraperitoneal injections could not prevent the reduction in the levels of GSH-t. Such results indicate parabens can cause negative effects on tilapia.

Graduation date: 1998

Two different feeding trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with the dairy/yeast prebiotic GroBiotic-A (GBA) to Nile tilapia diets. A nutritionally complete basal diet was supplemented with GBA at either 1 or 2% of dry weight, and all three diets were fed to triplicate groups of juvenile fish in two consecutive trials. Trial 1 continued for 8 weeks, while Trial 2 was conducted for 5 weeks to more specifically assess immunological responses, intestinal characteristics and disease resistance of tilapia. At the conclusion of Trial 1, there were no differences in weight gain (WG) or feed efficiency (FE) among fish fed the three diets. However, fish fed the diet with GBA at 2% had significantly increased survival and noticeably elevated levels of plasma lysozyme compared to fish fed the basal diet or the diet with GBA at 1%. Similarly, at the conclusion of Trial 2, WG and FE were unaffected by GBA supplementation; however, fish fed the diet with GBA at 2% also exhibited elevated plasma lysozyme as well as significantly (P < 0.05) increased levels of extracellular superoxide anion production (EX-SOAP) by macrophages. Dendrogram analysis of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) images detected a significantly different microbial community within the intestine of fish fed the diet with GBA at 2% compared to fish fed the basal diet and diet with GBA at 1%. None of the experimental diets resulted in significant improvements to survival after exposure to Streptococcus iniae due to within treatment variability. However, fish fed the diet with GBA at 2% did tend to experience reduced mortality (12.5%) as compared to fish fed the basal diet (35%). Thus, supplementation of GBA at 2% of diet did alter the gut microbiota of tilapia and enhanced immunological responses and disease resistance to S. iniae.

The potential of the unicellular green algae Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus and the filamentous green algae Cladophora glomerata and Hydrodictyon reticulatum as protein sources in Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia zillii diets was investigated. When O. niloticus and T. zillii were fed with fresh C. vulgaris and S. obliquus, a high percentage of the ingested algae was found to be undigested. Heat treatment of the algae at 40°, 60°, 80° and 100°C produced increased growth and protein utilizations in the fishes compared to those fed the untreated algae. Feeding C. vulgaris treated at 100°C for 30 minutes and S. obliquus treated at 100°C for 15 minutes was found to have produced the best growth responses in O. niloticus and T. zillii. C. glomerata meal and H. reticulatum meal were each fed separately as fishmeal substitutes in pelleted rations formulated to contain 30% protein with varying proportions of this supplied by the fishmeal and the algal meal. A diet containing 25% protein supplied by the algal meal alone was also fed. When 5% of the fishmeal protein was replaced with algal protein (both C. glomerata and H. reticulatum) and fed to T. zillii, the growth and protein utilization values recorded were superior to those obtained for the control 30% fishmeal protein diet. Higher levels of algal protein substitution were, however, found to produce poorer growth and protein utilization values in both fish species. Diets containing only algal protein (both C. glomerata and H. reticulatum) produced the poorest growth responses in both fish species. Hydrodictyon reticulatum was found to be limiting in methionine and histidine. Supplementation of these essential amino acids produced improved growth in both O. niloticus and T. zillii. It was concluded from these studies that the green algae evaluated may be suitable partial dietary protein sources for tilapias.

Mémoire (M.Sc.B.)--Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1990. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Aquaculture is currently the fastest growing sector of protein production, and is expected to overtake the harvest of wild fisheries. Limitations in nutrition, specifically fatty acid nutrition, are preventing even more dramatic growth of many species of commercial importance. Currently, much of the research involving fatty acids examines requirements as being correlated to thermal guilds (warm vs. cool water) or salinity tolerance (marine vs. freshwater). However, recent studies have revealed the potential for trophic level to be as much, if not more, influential in determining fatty acid requirements of a species. As such, two feeding trials were conducted to determine the requirements of two species of different trophic levels (Oreochromis niloticus and Trachinotus carolinus) based on C18 PUFA vs. LC-PUFA. Nile Tilapia, O. niloticus, exhibited similar growth regardless of the inclusion of C18 PUFA or LC-PUFA, however, tissue fatty acid profiles were influenced per the diet provided. As such, it was concluded that Nile Tilapia exhibit the capacity to effectively synthesize LC-PUFA from C18 PUFA as is seen in many species that occupy low trophic levels. Florida Pompano, T. carolinus, did not exhibit any significant differences in growth regardless of the diet provided, but numerical differences indicated benefits towards inclusion of dietary LC-PUFAs. Similar to O. niloticus, tissue fatty acid profiles were significantly affected by dietary treatment. Based on numerical differences in growth performance and significant differences in tissue fatty acids, it was concluded that Florida Pompano show a typical carnivorous requirement for LC-PUFA.