Effects of a functional palatability enhancer on growth performance, digestive physiology, and immune response in the Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) fed low-quality fishmeal diets

Authors

  • Mateus Aranha Martins Laboratório de Camarões Marinhos (LCM), Departamento de Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Servidão dos Coroas 503, 88061-600 - Florianópolis, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6928-5065
  • Jaqueline da Rosa Coelho Laboratório de Camarões Marinhos (LCM), Departamento de Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Servidão dos Coroas 503, 88061-600 - Florianópolis, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5652-3124
  • Cristina Rios Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), 88040-900 - Florianópolis, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1187-0816
  • Carlos Peres Silva Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), 88040-900 - Florianópolis, Brazil
  • Tamiris Henrique Ferreira Laboratório AQUOS, Departamento de Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Servidão Caminho do Pôrto 257, 88034-257 - Florianópolis, Brazil
  • Sofia Morais Lucta S. A., Innovation Division, Animal Science Unit, UAB Research Park, 08193 - Bellaterra, Spain
  • Thiago Raggi Lucta S. A., Innovation Division, Animal Science Unit, UAB Research Park, 08193 - Bellaterra, Spain
  • Walter Quadros Seiffert Laboratório de Camarões Marinhos (LCM), Departamento de Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Servidão dos Coroas 503, 88061-600 - Florianópolis, Brazil
  • Felipe Boéchat Vieira Laboratório de Camarões Marinhos (LCM), Departamento de Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Servidão dos Coroas 503, 88061-600 - Florianópolis, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47193/mafis.3912026010103

Keywords:

Aquaculture nutrition, digestive enzymes, feed additive, shrimp farming

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of a functional palatability enhancer on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, immune response, gut histology, and thermal shock resistance of the Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Shrimp were fed four experimental diets for 56 days: a negative control without the palatability enhancer, two diets supplemented with the additive at 0.08% and 0.2%, and a positive control formulated with higher quality fishmeal. Shrimp fed palatability enhancer supplemented diets exhibited significantly higher final body weight, weekly weight gain, and daily growth coefficient compared to the negative control (p < 0.05), with performance comparable to the positive control (p > 0.05). No significant differences in feed intake, feed conversion ratio, or survival were observed (p > 0.05). The palatability enhancer modulated the activity of digestive enzymes, with increased chymotrypsin activity at 0.08% inclusion and increased trypsin activity at 0.2% inclusion (p < 0.05). Total hemocyte count was also elevated in the 0.08% palatability enhancer group (p < 0.05), suggesting a potential for enhanced immune function. No significant effects were observed on gut histology or thermal shock resistance (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that the palatability enhancer can effectively enhance growth performance in the Pacific white shrimp, potentially by modulating digestive processes and improving nutrient utilization efficiency, offering a potential cost-effective alternative to using higher quality protein sources in shrimp diets.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bøgwald I, Herrig S, Pedersen AM, Wubshet SG, Eilertsen K-E. 2024. Effect of Calanus finmarchicus hydrolysate inclusion on diet attractiveness for whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Fishes. 9 (4): 134. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9040134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9040134

Bolívar-Ramírez NC, Mallmann AS, Schleder DD, Machado C, Seiffert WQ, do Nascimento Vieira F. 2022. Tannins as a food additive in pacific white shrimp diet. Aquaculture. 556: 738232. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.738232 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.738232

Bradford MM. 1976. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem. 72 (1): 248-254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/abio.1976.9999

[CBAA] Compêndio Brasileiro de Alimentação Animal. 2017. São Paulo: Sindirações/ANFAL.

Chen Y, Mitra A, Rahimnejad S, Chi S, Kumar V, Tan B, Niu J, Xie S. 2024. Retrospect of fish meal substitution in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) feed: alternatives, limitations and future prospects. Rev Aquacult. 16 (1): 382-409. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12843 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12843

Choi W, Moniruzzaman M, Hamidoghli A, Bae J, Lee Seunghyung, Lee Seunghan, Min T, Bai SC. 2023. Effect of four functional feed additives on growth, serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, gene expressions, histomorphology, digestive enzyme activities and disease resistance in juvenile olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Antioxidants. 12 (8): 1494. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12081494 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12081494

DelMar EG, Largman C, Brodrick JW, Geokas MC. 1979. A sensitive new substrate for chymotrypsin. Anal Biochem. 99 (2): 316-320. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2697(79)80013-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2697(79)80013-5

Derby CD, Elsayed FH, Williams SA, González C, Choe M, Bharadwaj AS, Chamberlain GW. 2016. Krill meal enhances performance of feed pellets through concentration-dependent prolongation of consumption by Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Aquaculture. 458: 13-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2016.02.028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2016.02.028

Emerenciano MGC, Rombenso AN, Vieira F DN, Martins MA, Coman GJ, Truong HH, Noble TH, Simon CJ. 2022. Intensification of penaeid shrimp culture: an applied review of advances in production systems, nutrition and breeding. Animals. 12 (3): 236. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030236 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030236

Erlanger BF, Kokowsky N, Cohen W. 1961. The preparation and properties of two new chromogenic substrates of trypsin. Arch Biochem Biophys. 95 (2): 271-278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(61)90145-X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(61)90145-X

[FAO] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2024. The state of world fisheries and aquaculture (SOFIA) 2024. Rome: FAO. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd0683en DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd0683en

Glencross BD, Booth M, Allan GL. 2007. A feed is only as good as its ingredients? a review of ingredient evaluation strategies for aquaculture feeds. Aquacult Nutr. 13 (1): 17-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2095.2007.00450.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2095.2007.00450.x

He G, Chen X, Zeng Q, Zhu W, Chen Z, Tan B, Xie S. 2022. Effects of compound feed attractants on growth performance, feed utilization, intestinal histology, protein synthesis, and immune response of white shrimp (Litopenaeus Vannamei). Animals. 12 (19): 2550. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192550 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192550

He G-L, Shi M-L, Liu Y-C, Chen L-T, Chen X, Zhu W-B, Chen Z-B, Tan B-P, Xie S-W. 2023 June 19. Effects of dietary betaine supplementation on growth performance, feed intake, intestinal histology, lipid metabolism, and immune response of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) fed diets containing two levels of raw feed attractants. Aquacult Int. [accessed 2023 Oct 3]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-023-01180-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-023-01180-x

Hossain MdS, Koshio S, Kestemont P. 2020. Recent advances of nucleotide nutrition research in aquaculture: a review. Rev Aquacult. 12 (2): 1028-1053. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12370 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12370

Hossain MdS, Small BC, Kumar V, Hardy R. 2024. Utilization of functional feed additives to produce cost-effective, ecofriendly aquafeeds high in plant-based ingredients. Rev Aquacult. 16 (1):121-153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12824 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12824

[ISO] International Organization for Standardization 2009. ISO 1871:2009 - Food and feed products. General guidelines for the determination of nitrogen by the Kjeldahl method.

Jannathulla R, Sravanthi O, Khan HI, Moomeen HS, Gomathi A, Dayal JS. 2021. Chemoattractants: their essentiality and efficacy in shrimp aquaculture. Indian J Fish. 68 (1). [accessed 2024 Sep 5]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21077/ijf.2021.68.1.95994-20 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21077/ijf.2021.68.1.95994-20

Li W, Li E, Wang S, Liu J, Wang M, Wang X, Qin C, Qin J, Chen L. 2025. Comparative effects of four feed attractants on growth, appetite, digestion and absorption in juvenile Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). Aquaculture. 594: 741441. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741441 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741441

Meyer KH, Noelting G, Bernfeld P. 1948. Starch research; determination of the molecular weight of natural polysaccharides by colorimetric determination. Helv Chim Acta. 31 (1): 103-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.19480310122 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.19480310122

Ng TH, Chang S-H, Wu M-H, Wang H-C. 2013. Shrimp hemocytes release extracellular traps that kill bacteria. Dev Comp Immunol. 41 (4): 644-651. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2013.06.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2013.06.014

[NRC] National Research Council. 2011. Nutrient requirements of fish and shrimp. Washington: The National Academic Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/13039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/13039

Nunes AJP, Dalen LL, Leonardi G, Burri L. 2022. Developing sustainable, cost-effective and high-performance shrimp feed formulations containing low fish meal levels. Aquacult Rep. 27:101422. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2022.101422 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2022.101422

Qu K, He G, Shi M, Chen X, Zhu W, Chen Z, Tan B, Xie S. 2024. Effects of compound feed attractants on the growth rate, feed consumption, intestinal histology, protein synthesis, and immune response of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Anim Feed Sci Technol. 311: 115952. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2024.115952 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2024.115952

Samocha TM, Prangnell DI. 2019. Water quality management. In: SAMOCHA TM, editor. Sustainable biofloc systems for marine shrimp. Elsevier. p. 133-151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818040-2.00007-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818040-2.00007-1

Schleder DD, Peruch LGB, Poli MA, Ferreira TH, Silva CP, Andreatta ER, Hayashi L, do Nascimento Vieira F. 2018. Effect of brown seaweeds on Pacific white shrimp growth performance, gut morphology, digestive enzymes activity and resistance to white spot virus. Aquaculture. 495: 359-365. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.06.020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.06.020

Silva-Neto JF, Nunes AJP, Sabry-Neto H, Sá MVC. 2012. Spirulina meal has acted as a strong feeding attractant for Litopenaeus vannamei at a very low dietary inclusion level. Aquacult Res. 43 (3): 430-437. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2109.2011.02846.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2109.2011.02846.x

Tabbara M, Strebel L, Peixoto S, Soares R, Morais S, Davis DA. 2024. Use of passive acoustic monitoring to evaluate the effects of a feed effector on feeding behavior, growth performance, and salinity stress tolerance of Litopenaeus vannamei. Aquaculture. 582: 740499. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.740499 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.740499

Terrey D, James J, Tankovski I, Dalim M, van Spankeren M, Chakraborty A, Schmitt E, Paul A. 2021. Palatability enhancement potential of Hermetia illucens larvae protein hydrolysate in Litopenaeus vannamei diets. Molecules. 26 (6): 1582. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061582 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061582

The Jamovi Project. 2022. Jamovi [computer software]. https://www.jamovi.org.

Walsh S, Nguyen K, Strebel L, Rhodes M, Davis DA. 2022. Utilising feed effectors and automated feeders for semi-intensive pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production. Aquacult Fish Fish. 2 (6): 540-551. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.83 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.83

Winkler UK, Stuckmann M. 1979. Glycogen, hyaluronate, and some other polysaccharides greatly enhance the formation of exolipase by Serratia marcescens. J Bacteriol. 138 (3): 663-670. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.138.3.663-670.1979 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.138.3.663-670.1979

Yang W, Tran NT, Zhu C-H, Yao D-F, Aweya JJ, Gong Y, Ma H-Y, Zhang Y-L, Li G-L, Li S-K. 2021. Immune priming in shellfish: a review and an updating mechanistic insight focused on cellular and humoral responses. Aquaculture. 530: 735831. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735831 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735831

Zhou Z, Wang L, Dai M, Gao Q, Wang P, Zhao L, Li Y, Xi R, Pan M, Ma Q, et al. 2023. Three types of enteromorpha prolifera bio-products based on different processing procedures as feed additives in the diets of pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Fishes. 8 (12): 587. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8120587 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8120587

Zhu T, Morais S, Luo J, Jin M, Lu Y, Le Y, Zhou Q. 2019. Functional palatability enhancer improved growth, intestinal morphology, and hepatopancreas protease activity, replacing squid paste in white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, diets. J World Aquacult Soc. 50 (6): 1064-1077. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12615 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12615

Published

2025-10-31

How to Cite

Martins, M. A., Coelho, J. da R., Rios, C., Silva, C. P., Ferreira, T. H., Morais, S., Raggi, T., Seiffert, W. Q., & Vieira, F. B. (2025). Effects of a functional palatability enhancer on growth performance, digestive physiology, and immune response in the Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) fed low-quality fishmeal diets. Marine and Fishery Sciences (MAFIS), 39(1). https://doi.org/10.47193/mafis.3912026010103