Intestinal microbiota modulation in juvenile Pacú (Piaractus mesopotamicus) by supplementation with Pyropia columbina and β-carotene

ROSSI, L. T.; SHARPEN, A. ROMERO; ZIMMERMANN, J. A.; OLIVERO, C. R.; ZBRUN, M. V.; FRIZZO, L. S.; SIGNORINI, M. L.; BACCHETTA, C.; CIAN, R. E.; CAZENAVE, J.; SOTO, L. P.; DRAGO, S. R.

AQUACULTURE INTERNATIONAL

SPRINGER

Año: 2020

0967-6120

The aim was to evaluate the effects of diet supplementation with red seaweed Pyropiacolumbina or β-carotene on the intestinal microbiota of juvenile Pacú (Piaractusmesopotamicus). Three hundred and fifteen fish (body weight 12.4 ± 2.8 g) were stockedin nine 300-L tanks with 35 fishes per tank and fed for 62 days with a basal feed (BG) orthe same feed added with P. columbina (35 g kg−1) (AG) or supplemented with β-carotene (225 g kg−1) (β-CG). From fecal samples of three fishes slaughtered per group at20th, 41th, and 62th days, plate counts of bacterial populations (enterobacteria, lactic acidbacteria?LAB, total aerobes, and psychrotrophs) and DGGE were made. Enterobacteriacounts were lower in AG-group than the other groups throughout the experience (p =0.016). LAB/enterobacteria ratio was greater in fishes supplemented with AG on 20thday, showing a greater amount of beneficial bacteria than non-beneficial ones. DGGEprofiles resulting from the microbiota of β-CG at 62th day were clustered and separatedfrom the rest of the profiles with a difference of 91%. Margalef richness (p = 0.049) andShannon diversity index (p = 0.044) were lower in β-CG than in AG at 62th day.Taxonomic characterization showed the presence of three phylum: Bacteroidetes,Firmicutes, and Fusobacteria. This is the first study in which the microbiota of juvenilePacú fed with biofunctional diets was evaluated. Future interventions that modify thebacterial ecosystem could improve the productive performance and ensure the safety ofthe pacu meat intended for consumption.