Ph.D. / Heavy metals like copper are toxicants commonly found in mining, industrial, agricultural and waste effluents in South Africa¡¯s riverine systems. In high concentrations these metals could have a negative effect not only on river systems, but also on fish populations. It is therefore important to determine the effect of these heavy metals on the fish at an early stage, before the fish show any sign of being exposed to the pollutants and before any bodily functions are affected. It is known that polluted water, especially heavy metal pollution like copper, can cause physiological and biochemical alterations in fish. Histopathology is a mechanism, which can provide an indication of fish health by determining early injury to cells and can therefore be considered an important tool to determine the effect of pollutants like copper on fish tissue. At present very little is known about the effect of toxicants on the histology of fish tissue of freshwater fishes in South Africa. This is important in gonads, where many variables not only in different fish species, but also in the number of developing germ cells in the testes exist. The large number of fish species and the variation in their anatomy and reproductive patterns make knowledge of the anatomy of all fish species difficult. In order to perform a histopathological analysis, it is important to be familiar with the normal histology of the fish organs that are being investigated. It was therefore necessary to describe the histology of selected organs in South Africa¡¯s freshwater fish species. The Mozambique tilapia, O. mossambicus was chosen as test organism and copper was selected as toxicant. The normal morphology and histology of the testes of O. mossambicus were described in order to serve as a baseline study and to provide histological parameters for further toxicological work on the gonadal histopathology of fish. Fish were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of copper (CuCl2) for a short-term (96 hours) in experimental flow-through systems under controlled laboratory conditions (23 ¡¾ 1¨¬C). An external investigation of each of the 30 control and 40 copper exposed fish was performed. Standard length, body mass and gonadal mass were recorded and the maturity of each fish was obtained histologically. A light and electron microscopic examination was performed in order to describe the histology and histopathological changes. The histopathological changes were obtained by comparing the histology and ultrastructure of the testis of the control group with the information obtained for the testes that were exposed to copper. Fish obtained from the control group that were run simultaneously with every exposure group were used to describe the normal histology of the testes of O. mossambicus. The aim was to describe the normal morphology and histology of the testes of O. mossambicus so that the information obtained during this investigation could serve as a baseline study when dealing with toxicity studies. The different germ cells of the spermatogenesis process were also described with a view to assess not only the reproductive pattern, but also to provide histological parameters which might form a basis for any toxicological work on the gonadal histopathology of fish. Identification of reproductive biomarkers requires an understanding of all the principal cellular components of the testes and their normal range of variation. The cellular components that were described are the Sertoli and Leydig cells as well as the primary and secondary spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa. The information on the GSI, gonad reproductive stages as well as the histological examination provided the baseline which was needed for comparison of the testes of fish that were exposed to copper. The cellular and sub-cellular responses at light and electron microscopic level were examined to determine early cell changes and damage in the testes which were caused by different sublethal exposures of copper. There were no differences in the gross structure of the testes of the control group and the group that were exposed to copper. The testes of the fish that were exposed to 0.16, 0.40 and 2.0 mg Cu/§¤ all revealed disorganisation of the lobules, disintegration of the spermatogonia as well as disintegration of the interstitial tissue. The exposure of fish to sublethal concentrations of copper induced histopathological changes in the testes of all three groups of fish that were exposed to copper. The results also showed that the intensity of the histopathological changes increased with an increase in the concentration of copper. As a biomarker of exposure to toxicants, histopathology represents a useful tool to asses the degree of pollution. The results from this investigation showed a decrease in the GSI after being exposed to copper, when compared with the control groups, which were not exposed to copper. The information on the effect of copper on the GSI, gonad reproductive stages as well as the histological examination also provides information on gonadal health and maturational stage. This information however provides structural, rather than functional information regarding gonadal health. The results showed that the GSI and gonadal staging should be used together with the gonadal histopathology in order to provide a baseline for comparison when dealing with other toxicological studies. The information obtained during this investigation showed that fish histology and histopathology could be used as a biomarker to provide information on the effect of heavy metals on fish health. It is however suggested that the information obtained during this investigation should be extended to field investigation in order to be validated as a reliable histopathological biomarker. / Prof. J.H.J. van Vuren Prof. G.J. Steyn

Publicación a texto completo no autorizada por el autor / Determina la presencia de Streptococcus iniae en Tilapia nilótica (Oreochromis niloticus) mediante el aislamiento y análisis bioquímico, caracteriza las lesiones histopatológicas de las tilapias presuntas positivas a S. iniae por bioquímica y confirmar su presencia o no mediante la PCR a tiempo real, en un centro de cultivo intensivo de la zona de Sullana-Piura. Se determina el tamaño de muestra con una prevalencia límite de 2.7%; empleándose en total 150 tilapias de las fases de engorde y pre engorde con signos de enfermedad. La necropsia evidencia lesiones compatibles con Streptococcus spp, como exoftalmia, hifema, congestión y/o hemorragia de meninges, ascitis, esplenomegalia, hepatomegalia y zonas hemorrágicas difusas en todo el cuerpo. La prevalencia media para tilapias positivas al género Streptococcus spp., por microbiología es 26% (21% - 33%) y la prevalencia media de tilapias presuntas positivas a S. iniae por perfil bioquímico es 10.12% (6% – 15.10%). Los hallazgos histopatológicos son: epicarditis, periesplenitis y perihepatitis fibrino supurativa aguda o crónica, meningitis, panoftalmitis, necrosis coagulativa del músculo esquelético y formación de granulomas. Sin embargo, en la prueba confirmatoria de PCR a tiempo real, sondas Taqman, no se obtiene ninguna tilapia positiva a S.iniae. Los resultados son analizados a través de una simulación estocástica de la distribución beta, empleando el programa de incertidumbre @Risk, reportándo una prevalencia media de 0.66 % (0.02-2.41%) en tilapias enfermas. / Tesis

No description available.

Largely through the use ofin vitro preparations there is now a generally accepted theory for ion transport for the seawater (SW) gill. However, to date there is no generally accepted freshwater (FW) model for the mechanisms of NaCl transport in the teleost gill. By using an Ussing chamber approach with the opercular epithelia of Fundulus heteroclitus and Oreochromis niloticus, and the urinary bladder of Oncorhynchus mykiss, all acclimated to FW, we hoped to establish one as a possible model for the study of FW ion regulation. FW Fundulus opercular epithelia displayed a serosal negative transepithelial potential (Vₜ) of-43.9 mV, transepithelial conductance (Gₜ) of 1.94 mS·cm⁻², and active transport of Cl⁻ from the mucosal FW against a strong electrochemical gradient. Na⁺ movement was dominated by passive diffusion. The opercular epithelia of Fundulus adapted to 10% SW exhibited properties similar to SW Fundulus by actively extruding Cl⁻ while Na⁺ moved passively into the mucosal 10% SW. With FW bathing the mucosal surface, FW Oreochromis opercular epithelia displayed a serosal positive Vₜ of +8.0 mV, Gₜ of 1.78 mS·cm⁻², and active reabsorption of Na⁺, Cl⁻ and Ca²⁺ against large electrical and/or chemical gradients. The FW Oreochromis opercular epithelia is the only FW in vitro preparation to date that exhibits active absorption (albeit at small absolute rates) of both Na⁺ and Cl⁻. FW 0. mykiss urinary bladders mounted in vitro under symmetrical saline conditions exhibited a transepithelial conductance (Gₜ) of-9.15 mS·cm⁻² and electroneutral active absorption of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ from the mucosal urine side. The transport of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ was a partially coupled process whereby removal of Na⁺ from the mucosal saline decreased Cl⁻ absorption by a 56% and removal of Cl⁻ inhibited Na⁺ absorption by 69%. However, active net absorption of both ions persisted when the counter-ion was replaced with a non-permeant ion. Under more realistic conditions with artificial urine bathing the mucosal surface, Vₜ increased to a serosal positive ~+7.6 mV and Gₜ decreased to ~1.47 mS·cm⁻² Unidirectional influx rates of both Na⁺ and Cl⁻ were much lower, but active absorption of both ions still occurred. Replacement of Na⁺ in the mucosal artificial urine caused no change in unidirectional influx of Cl⁻ and vice versa. The mucosal addition of DIDS, amiloride or bumetanide (10⁻⁴M) all had no affect on absorption rates of Na⁺ and/or Cl⁻, under either artificial urine or symmetrical saline conditions. When the mucosal surface was bathed in artificial urine, removal of mucosal Cl⁻· significantly reduced the maximum transport rate (Jₘₐₓ of Na⁺ (6.1 ~2.1 μmol·cm⁻²·h⁻¹) but had no effect on affinity for Na⁺ (Kₘ~27 mM). Similarly, removal of mucosal Na⁺ significantly reduced the Jₘₐₓ for Cl⁻ uptake (11.4 ~2.4 μmol·cm⁻²·h⁻¹) but had no effect on Cl⁻ Kₘ(~37 mM). The anterior portion of the urinary bladder transported Na⁺ and Cl⁻ at a faster rate than the posterior portion under symmetrical saline conditions, but there was no difference in measured Na⁺/K⁺ -ATPase activities between the two portions. In conclusion, opercular epithelia of Fundulus and Oreochromis demonstrated transport properties believed to be typical of FW teleosts; either preparation may eventually prove to be a good working model for studying FW transport mechanisms. The urinary bladder of Oncorhynchus mounted in vitro did not behave characteristically as the teleost gill is thought to function, but this model may be useful in characterizing various other mechanisms of ionic transport. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Despite being a low fat fish and consequently a low omega-3 fish, tilapia have widespread consumer acceptability due to its mild taste, cheap price and low mercury content. However some sources claim that farmed tilapia can be detrimental to human health due to high omega-6:3 ratios and low omega-3 content specifically eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. The objective of this study was to create an omega-3 enriching feed that would increase omega-3 content in tilapia and subsequently decrease the omega-6:3 ratio. An 8 week feeding trial was conducted. Tilapia were cultured in a recirculating aquaculture system on one of eight diets (control, commercial, 1, 3, 5% fish oil or 1.75, 5.26, 8.77% ALL-G-Rich (algae). Water quality, selected fish biometrics and growth performance were recorded. Fillet and rib meat tissues were collected at weeks 4 and 8, and liver and mesenteric fat tissues were collected at week 8. Fat was extracted, trans-methylated and identified as fatty acid methyl esters using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Docosahexaenoic acid increased in concentration in all tissues as percent fish oil and ALL-G-Rich increased in the diets with 8.77% ALL-G-Rich resulting in significantly (P<0.0001) greater concentrations in the fillet and mesenteric fat compared to all other diets after 8 weeks. The 8.77% ALL-G-Rich diet resulted in significantly (P=0.003) greater cumulative accumulation of EPA, DPA and DHA on a mg/4oz fillet basis after 4 weeks compared to control. The results of this study suggest that an ALL-G-Rich finishing feed could be produced that would result in a value added farmed tilapia fillet. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

The gross intestinal configuration of the Nile tilapia intestine changed dramatically from a short, straight intestinal tube at hatch (day 0) to a very complex, coiling pattern first attained at 9 weeks post-hatch. During the developmental period, gut length increased from 90% to 410% of body length. The rate of increase in both intestinal and body lengths took place at an accelerating rate as the fish aged. The great intestinal length provides an advantage to the fish in digestion and absorption of nutrients present in the less energy-efficient herbivorous diet. Formulation of commercial diets to match the development of the fish's intestine may offer commercial advantage. Appearance, localization and distribution of intestinal enzymes were observed in the fish at hatch and at mature stages using enzyme histochemistry. At hatch (day 0), most gut enzymes were already present in the intestinal brush border. As the fish matured, activities of the enzymes were widely distributed along the intestinal tract. The early appearance and broad distribution of activities of all studied intestinal enzymes may be one factor contributing to the rapid growth rate characteristic of tilapia, which differs markedly from other fish species. To investigate the possibility of using alfalfa as a potential protein food replacement in tilapia, the effects of different levels of alfalfa in feeds on growth and intestinal enzyme activities were observed in the fish aged 3-15 weeks. Results demonstrated that replacing 20% and 40% of a commercial diet with alfalfa had an overall negative effect on body and intestinal growth, as well as the intestinal enzyme activities from age 3-9 weeks. Thus, using alfalfa as a food replacement is not optimal for fish of these young ages, but may yet be suitable for older fish. / Ph. D.

Aquaculture production is increasing annualy and wild fisheries for fishmeal production remain stagnant. As a consequence, extensive research has been deployed to reduce dietary fishmeal inclusion in feeds of farmed species. Usage of alternative protein sources derived from plants continues to increase with the most popular sources being oilseeds, legumes and cereal grains. The downside of these sources is that most of them could directly be used for human consumption arising legitimate criticism from voices referring to countries where protein shortages lead to malnutrition among the population. Jatropha curcas is a tropical oilseed with upcoming popularity for sustainable fuel sourcing. The plant is thought to thrive in semi-arid and arid areas, not just producing oil, but at the same time reclaiming previously eroded land for the local population. For these reasons, annual cultivation of Jatropha curcas is thought to rise over the next decades. After oil is extracted from the seed, the remaining press cake, is currently used as a fertilizer or energy source. This is mostly due to toxic phorbol esters that until recent- ly limited any nutritional applications. In 2011, a method to detoxify Jatropha press cake was developed and paved the way for nutritional research on the resulting detoxified Jatropha curcas kernel meal (JKM) to be launched. JKM offers very high protein content with a balanced amino acid composition suggesting opportunities for usage as a feedstuff in aquaculture diets. JKM further has higher mineral content than comparable oilseeds. However, potential anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) present in the meal could lead to impairment of nutrient availability or other adverse effects. Previous research has already started to evaluate JKM as a protein source for a variety of aquaculture species. This thesis attempts to further identify the potential of JKM as a protein source and assess the effects of JKM on the development of two model cultured teleost species, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), as they represent two of the most farmed species, particularly in the tropics. The work comprises growth trials on both species using fishmeal as a subject of replacement in solely fishmeal protein-based diets and on more practical fishmeal/plant protein-based diets. It engages with the effects of phytate, a prominent component of JKM with potential anti-nutritional attributes and commercially available phytase feed supplements to diminish these attributes, as well as oxalate, another plant-specific component with high concentrations in JKM and with limited attention in aquaculture nutrition research. Carp and tilapia showed varying results with different inclusion levels of JKM. For carp 50% fishmeal replacement was possible without losses in growth in diets where fishmeal was the only bulk protein source (Chapter 3.1), Tilapia showed slightly worse growth at a 30% replacement level (Chapter 3.2). A steep decline in growth could be observed when replacing 100% fishmeal with JKM in carp (Chapter 3.1), while tilapia showed no difference at that level compared to 30% replacement (Chapter 3.2). In practical diets, 100% of fishmeal could be replaced by JKM without any adverse effects on growth of carp (Chapter 3.3), while tilapia showed a slight, but significant linear negative correlation with higher inclusion levels of JKM (Chapter 3.4). Phytase addition in tilapia feeds was identified as having no obvious impact on growth in JKM based diets where enough available phosphorus was provided through mineral supplementation (Chapter 4.1). In JKM based diets where available phosphate was not added, phytase addition showed a tendency to increase growth and significantly increased mineral retention and decreased phosphorus effluent contamination (Chapter 4.2). Phytase application through pre-incubating JKM along with citric acid exerted a positive effect of growth on carp when fishmeal protein was replaced by 50% (Chapter 3.1). Phytase was further shown to completely hydrolyze phytate in vitro; however, incomplete hydrolysis was observed in vivo in tilapia (Chapter 4.3). Dietary soluble oxalate added to fishmeal based diets for carp showed better growth parameters, nutrient and mineral retention at inclusion levels 1.5% and higher (Chapter 5.1). For tilapia, a trial could demonstrate adverse effects of oxalate on potassium, calcium, manganese and zinc digestibilities, in this case without negative effects on growth (Chapter 5.2). For both, carp and tilapia, an impact of oxalate on lipid metabolism was evident, lowering body lipid content and blood cholesterol in inclusion levels from 1.5% or higher. JKM can become a valuable alternative to present dietary protein sources in aquaculture feeds. The nutritional attributes of JKM need further research, especially longer-term testing in a commercial scenario and application in commercially produced feeds. Results of this thesis pose a useful addition to previous research and can be referred to for realizing these next steps.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the “Effect of Phytogenic Feed Additives on Gonadal Development in Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Aquaculture remains the fastest growing animal food-producing sector and it is set to overtake capture fisheries as a source of food fish, and also to outpace population growth. This rapid growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for aquaculture products, and an urgent need for a sustainable food resource and the safe production of food. Globally, fish provides over 3.5 billion people with up to 15 percent of their average per capita intake of animal protein. The introduction of aquaculture to sub-Saharan African (SSA) took place during the 1940s and 1950s, and the main objectives were to improve nutrition in rural areas, allow for the diversification of activities to reduce the risk of crop failures, to generate additional income, and to create employment opportunities. Aquaculture was seen as a viable option for rural development in SSA, and substantial resources were invested to support its development. Poor results were however, recorded in terms of production and sustainability. Tilapia is the most widely cultured of all fish species farmed, and the second most important group of freshwater and brackish water fish after carps. Tilapia has all the necessary traits that makes it an excellent species to culture, but costefficient production is hampered by the animals attaining sexual maturity at a an early age, which then result in precocious breeding in aquaculture systems. The production of single-sex populations (i.e. all male) is a potential means to address the problem of precocious breeding, but the technologies used to establish single-sex populations are not readily available to resource-poor communities that farm with tilapia for food purposes. Phytochemicals, also known as phytoestrogens, are plant-derived compounds that structurally or functionally mimic mammalian estrogens that affect the sexual differentiation of fish. Phytochemicals occur in plants like Pawpaw (Carica papaya) and Moringa (Moringa oleifera). The study thus had a threefold objective. Firstly, the study investigated the potential of Pawpaw seed meal (P) and Moringa seed meal (M), as part of a commercial tilapia diet, to be used as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC’s) to control the reproduction of sexually mature Mozambique tilapia (20-45g). Secondly, assess the potential of P and M to inhibit the attainment of sexual maturity in immature tilapia (2-8g). Finally, P and M to determine its influence on sexual differentiation of tilapia fry (9-12 days posthatch) to produce all-male populations. The study indicated that both P and M seeds contain bio-active chemicals that are capable of disrupting the gonad function, differentiation and sexual maturation of Mozambique tilapia. Sperm production was affected, evident in the degeneration of the testicular tissue samples. Egg production, ovulation and spawning were all affected, as evident in the difference in colour of the degrading eggs, as well as the absence of spawning. Ovo-testes were observed in cases where diets containing 10.0g P and 10.0g M /kg basal diet were fed. Eggs were observed in the ovaries of sexually immature fish, but spawning did not occur. The study also presents the first report on the isolation of Oleanolic acid in Moringa seeds. The evident of antifertility properties of both Pawpaw and Moringa seeds can be exploited to control or prevent reproduction of Mozambique tilapia in SSA aquaculture systems. This could be of particular importance to aquaculture development in rural areas of Sub-Saharan African countries, given the abundant year round availability of these compounds. Further studies are required to optimise the preparation of the experimental compounds; as well as determining the optimal inclusion level of the phytogenic compounds, as well as how their efficacy to manipulate the reproductive potential and ability of Mozambique tilapia are influenced by environmental factors such as water temperature. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Akwakultuur is die vinnigste groeiende dierlike voedsel-sektor. Daar word verwag dat dit visserye sal oortref as ʼn bron van voedsel en dat groei in dié bedryf selfs die bevolkingsgroei sal verbysteek. Die vinnige groei in die sektor kan toegeskryf word aan die toenemende vraag na akwakultuur produkte en 'n dringende behoefte vir 'n volhoubare voedsel hulpbron, wat ook die veilige produksie van voedsel sal verseker. Wêreldwyd voed vis meer as 3.5 miljard mense en dra tot 15% van die gemiddelde hoeveelheid dierlike proteïen per kapita ingeneem, by. Die bekendstelling van akwakultuur in sub-Sahara Afrika (SSA) het gedurende die 1940's en 1950's plaasgevind, met die belangrikste doelwitte om voeding in landelike gebiede te verbeter, geleenthede vir diversifisering te skep wat die risiko van misoeste verminder, om bykomende inkomste te genereer en werksgeleenthede te skep. Akwakultuur is gesien as 'n lewensvatbare opsie vir die ontwikkeling van die landelike gebiede in SSA en aansienlike hulpbronne is belê om die ontwikkeling daarvan te ondersteun. Swak resultate is egter in terme van produksie en volhoubaarheid behaal. Tilapia is die mees algemene spesies wat gekweek word en is die tweede mees belangrike groep van varswater en brak water vis soesies, na Karp. Tilapia beskik oor al die nodige eienskappe wat dit ʼn uitstekende spesie vir voedselproduksie maak, maar koste-doeltreffende produksie daarvan word gekortwiek deur die feit dat die spesie seksuele volwassenheid op 'n vroeë ouderdom bereik, wat dan lei tot vroeg-rype teling en die gevolglike oorbevolking en swak groei van tilapia in ʼn akwakultuur sisteem. Die produksie van enkel-geslag bevolkings (d.i. slegs manlike vis) is ʼn potensiële oplossing vir dié probleme, maar die tegnologie wat gebruik word om enkel-geslag bevolkings te produseer is nie geredelik toeganklik vir hulpbron-arme gemeenskappe wat met Tilapia vir kosdoeleindes boer nie. Fitochemikalieë, anders ook bekend as fito-estrogene, is verbindings wat in plante voorkom en wat struktureel of funksioneel die werking van die natuurlike soogdier estrogene/androgene naboots, met die fitochemikalieë wat die seksuele differensiasie van vis beïnvloed. Fitochemikalieë kom in plante soos papaja (Carica papaya) en Moringa (Moringa oleifera) voor. Die studie het dus gepoog om die potensiaal van papaja saad meel (P) en Moringa saad meel (M), as deel van 'n kommersiële tilapia dieet, om as endokriene ontwrigters (EDC's) gebruik te word om die reproduksie van seksueel volwasse Mosambiek tilapia (20-45g) te beheer, om te voorkom dat onvolwasse tilapia (2-8g) geslagsrypheid te vroeg bereik en ook om die geslagsdifferensiasie van tilapia vingerlinge (9-12 dae na uitkom) te manipuleer om enkel-geslag (manlike) produksiegroepe te produseer. Die studie het aangedui dat beide papaja en Moringa sade bio-aktiewe chemikalieë wat die werking van die gonadotrofien hormone, geslagsdifferensiasie die stadium waarop Mosambiek tilapia geslagsrypheid bereik, kan beïnvloed. Spermproduksie is negatief beïnvloed, soos waargeneem in die degenerasie van die testisweefsel. Eierproduksie, ovulasie en die vrystelling van eiers is almal negatief beïnvloed, soos duidelik waargeneem in die kleurverskil (van normale eiers) van eiers wat ʼn mate van reabsorbsie aandui en die feit dat geen eiers vrygestel is nie. Ovo-testes is waargeneem in gevalle waar diëte met 10.0g papaja en / of Moringa / kg basale dieet gevoer is. Eiers is waargeneem in die eierstokke van seksueel onvolwasse vis, maar vrystelling het nie plaasgevind nie. Die studie is die eerste verslag oor die isolasie van Oleanoliese suur in Moringa sade. Die duidelike reproduksie-beperkende (anti-vrugbaarheid) eienskappe van beide papaja en Moringa sade kan benut kan word om reproduksie in Mosambiek tilapia te voorkom of te manipuleer in SSA akwakultuur stelsels. Dit is veral van besondere belang vir akwakultuur ontwikkeling in die landelike gebiede van SSA lande, gegewe dat beide sade regdeur die jaar geredelik beskikbaar is. Verdere studies word benodig om protokolle vir die voorbereiding van die eksperimentele verbindings te optimaliseer, sowel as die bepaling van die optimale insluitingsvlakke van die fitogeniese verbindings, asook hoe die doeltreffendheid van hierdie verbindings deur omgewingsfaktore soos water temperatuur beïnvloed word. / The University for Development Studies (UDS), Ghana, particularly Prof S.K. Nokoe, and Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), for the initial financial support that enabled me to enrol for the programme. The Division of Aquaculture, together with the Postgraduate and International Office (Postgraduate Funding Section), Stellenbosch University (SU) for financial support during my studies.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-03-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:48:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 massago_h_me_jabo.pdf: 505723 bytes, checksum: 1b1f4ab5136c45685bc1851b627e27fc (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar o desempenho inicial de quatro linhagens comerciais de Oreochromis niloticus denominadas Bouaké, GIFT, Supreme e Chitralada, com ênfase no ganho em peso e sobrevivência. Utilizou-se os alevinos revertidos com o peso médio de um grama. O experimento foi conduzido em sistema fechado durante 112 dias, com biometrias realizadas a cada 28 dias. Inicialmente eram mantidos 38 peixes por 120 L em cada caixa e, após 84 dias, 13 peixes por 180 L. A qualidade da água foi avaliada através dos seguintes parâmetros: temperatura, oxigênio dissolvido (OD) e Potencial Hidrogeniônico (pH). Forneceu-se inicialmente a ração em pó com 45% de proteína bruta e, depois, a ração extrusada contendo 40% do mesmo nutriente. Os pesos médios finais das linhagens Bouaké, GIFT, Supreme e Chitralada foram 98,83 g, 121,46 g, 133,20 g e 112,89 g, respectivamente. As linhagens Supreme e GIFT apresentaram melhor desempenho, sendo que o desempenho da linhagem GIFT foi semelhante ao da Chitralada. O desempenho da linhagem Bouaké não diferiu da Chitralada (p<0,05). A taxa de sobrevivência (acima de 80%, com exceção da Bouaké) pode ser considerada normal. / This work aimed to verify the initial performance of four commercial Oreochromis niloticus strains named Bouaké, GIFT, Supreme and Chitralada, with special attention on the weight gain and survival rates. Tilapia fingerlings, post reversion with mean weight of one gram were used. The experiment was carried out in a closed system of Tilapia laboratory of CAUNESP, during 112 days, and biometries for performance evaluation have been done every 28 days. Water quality was evaluated through the following parameters: temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH value. Feeding was initially with powdered ration with 45 % crude protein, and after three weeks, with extruded ration with 40% crude protein. The final mean weight of the Bouaké, GIFT, Supreme and Chitralada strains were 98.83g, 121.46 g, 133.20 g and 112.89 g, respectively. Supreme and GIFT strains presented better performance, and the GIFT and Chitralada strains were similar too (p<0.05). Survival rate was considered normal (above 80%), with the exception of Bouaké strain.

Orientador: Elisabete Maria Macedo Viegas / Banca: Angélica Simone Cravo Pereira / Banca: Eliana Setsuko Kamimura / Banca: Rose Meire Vidotti / Banca: João Batista Kochenborger Fernandes / Resumo: Este trabalho foi desenvolvido para avaliar a eficiência de três métodos de abate da tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) sobre a qualidade de filés congelados. Esta pesquisa foi executada em duas etapas que consistiram na aplicação dos métodos de abate por eletronarcose (ChE), mistura gasosa (CO2N) e hipotermia (AG). Na primeira etapa foi analisado o peixe inteiro resfriado, avaliados índices de rigor mortis, degradação de ATP, pH, BNV, NNP, contração muscular, cor e texuta instrumental e avaliação sensorial. Os peixes abatidos por ChE apresentaram um retardamento no tempo de entrada em rigor mortis, este mesmo tratamento apresentou R2 de 0,92 na interação entre a degradação de ATP e rigor mortis. O pH foi afetado pelos tratamentos e pelo tempo. Os maiores valores de BNV ocorreram no abate por ChE. O abate por AG apresentou 452 mg NNP/100g. O tempo de estocagem causou uma leve diminuição na textura instrumental no abate por ChE. A L* aumentou com o tempo para os abates por ChE e CO2N. A análise sensorial mostrou um R2 de 0,94; 0,98 e 0,96 para os abates por ChE, CO2N e AG, respectivamente. Na segunda etapa foram aplicados os mesmo métodos de abate da primeira, seguido da filetagem e análises dos filés congelados. Avaliados índices físicos e químicos de qualidade como BNV, TBARS, DSC, CRA, perda de água por cozimento e descongelamento, textura e cor instrumental. Não houve diferença para os valores de BNV. A maior variação de pH ocorreu no abate por AG. Os valores de TBARS foram crescentes ao longo do tempo. O método de abate influenciou a temperatura de desnaturação da actina. A cor L* para o abate por ChE se mantiveram superiores. Ocorreu uma redução significativa na textura. As perdas de água por cozimento e descongelamento e a CRA apresentaram diferença no abate por AG. A partir desses... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three methods of slaughter of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the quality of frozen fillets. This research was performed in two steps consisting in applying the methods of killing by electric shock (ChE), gas mixture (CO2N) and hypothermia (AG). The first step was analyzed whole fish cold, evaluated indices of rigor mortis, degradation of ATP, pH, N-BVT NNP, muscle contraction, and texture instrumental color and sensory evaluation. Fish killed by ChE showed a delay in the time of entry into rigor mortis, this same treatment showed R2 0.92 in the interaction between the degradation of ATP and rigor. The pH was affected (p> 0.05) by treatments and time. The highest values occurred in the BNV slaughter by ChE. Slaughter presented by AG 452 mg NNP/100g. The storage time caused a slight decrease in instrumental texture slaughter by ChE. A L* increased with time for slaughter for ChE and CO2N. Sensory analysis showed an R2 0.94, 0.98 and 0.96 for withdrawals by ChE, CO2N and AG, respectively. In the second step we applied the same methods of killing the first, followed by filleting and analysis of frozen fillets. Indices evaluated physical and chemical quality as N-BVT, TBARS, DSC, WRC, cooking and drip loss, texture and instrumental color. There was no difference in the values of N-BVT. The biggest change occurred in pH slaughter by AG. TBARS values were increased over time. The method of killing influence the denaturation temperature of actin. The color L * for slaughter by ChE remained higher. There was a significant reduction in texture. The analysis of cooking and drip loss and WRC differ (p>0.05) at slaughter by mainly AG. From these results it is concluded that is posssible in humanitarian point of view and the quality of the fish, there are feasibility of using electric shock as an... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor