RESUMO A carne de rã apresenta alto valor nutricional, e pode ser utilizada por crianças que apresentem intolerância alimentar e idosos na prevenção da osteoporose e hipertensão. Neste estudo foram desenvolvidas diferentes métodos de preparo de sopas instantâneas usando carne de rã temperada e desfiada acrescida de legumes, prontas para consumo, após reidratação e também desenvolvidos métodos de preparo da carne de rã, desfiada, temperada e desidratada para utilização no preparo de sopas. Na realização dos testes sensoriais foram considerados quatro métodos de preparo: M1 - Liofilização da sopa após preparo com carne do dorso da rã temperada e legumes, M2 - Liofilização da sopa após preparo com carne da coxa da rã temperada e legumes; M3 - Sopa preparada com carne temperada e liofilizada do dorso da rã e adição de legumes; e M4 - Sopa preparada com carne temperada e liofilizada da coxa da rã e adição de legumes As sopas liofilizadas em pó e as carnes temperadas e liofilizadas utilizadas no preparo das sopas foram submetidas a análises microbiológicas: contagem de coliformes termotolerantes e Bacillus cereus; identificação de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva; isolamento e identificação de Salmonella spp. Os resultados das análises microbiológicas evidenciaram que todas as amostras atenderam o estabelecidos pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária do Brasil para carne de rã, pescado seco e mistura em pó para produtos instantâneos. Os resultados do teste de aceitação indicaram que todas as sopas foram aceitas em relação a impressão global e intenção de consumo, apesar da M3 ter sido estatisticamente a menos aceita (P < 0,05). O teste de comparação pareada não indicou uma amostra preferida (P > 0,05). A disponibilidade de produtos semi-prontos de qualidade facilitará e ampliará o consumo promovendo o crescimento da indústria e do setor produtivo, tornando a ranicultura mais atraente e competitiva.

ABSTRACT Frog meat has high nutritional value and can be used by children with food intolerances and by the elderly to prevent osteoporosis and arterial hypertension. In this study, we developed different instant-soup preparation methods using seasoned and shredded frog meat with vegetables ready for consumption after rehydration; as well as preparation methods for shredded, seasoned and dehydrated frog meat for use in the preparation of soups. Four preparation methods were considered in the sensory tests: M1 - Freeze-drying of the soup after preparation with seasoned frog back meat plus vegetables, M2 - Freeze-drying of the soup after preparation with seasoned frog leg meat plus vegetables; M3 Soup prepared with freeze-dried seasoned frog back meat plus vegetables; and M4 - Soup prepared with freeze-dried seasoned frog leg meat plus vegetables. The freeze-dried powdered soups and the freeze-dried seasoned meats used in the preparation of the soups were subjected to the following microbiological analyses: count of thermotolerant coliforms andBacillus cereus; identification of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus; and isolation and identification ofSalmonella spp. The results of microbiological analyses showed that all samples met the standards established by the National Health Surveillance Agency of Brazil for frog meat, dried food fish and powder mixtures for instant products. The results of the acceptance test revealed that all soups were accepted in terms of overall impression and purchase intention, although M3 was statistically the least accepted (P < 0.05). The paired-comparison test did not indicate a preferred sample (P > 0.05). The availability of quality semi-prepared products will facilitate and expand frog meat consumption and marketing, promoting both the growth of the industry and the production sector and rendering frog farming more attractive and competitive.

Abstract Bullfrog meat marketed in Brazil has been gaining ground among the population due to its soft flavor, low calorie content, and high protein content. It is recommended for treating gastrointestinal and allergic diseases. This study aims to maximize the use of bullfrog carcass by applying a heating technology that enables the use of bones in gastronomy, which contain high calcium bioavailability, and represent about 40% of the product’s total weight. A meat-and-bone flour called Low Cost Alternative Food has been developed, which, in addition to being functional and rich in protein and calcium, presents similar flavor to that of unmixed bullfrog meat, allowing food enrichment. Dehydration of the skeleton was carried out in an oven, and the remaining material was crushed and then vacuum packed, all in compliance with the standards for good manufacturing practices and under good sanitary conditions, making it microbiologically fit for human consumption for a total of 60 days while stored under refrigeration. Results showed a composition of 25% mineral matter, 60% protein which presented a 90% digestibility rate, only 12% fat, and 2% carbohydrates. This composition can compensate for calcium deficiency and malnutrition due to the quality of its protein.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the histopathological aspects of the liver of free-living and farmed bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus). Thirty liver samples were collected from young and adult bullfrogs in the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Marked blood congestion and even hemorrhage and a large number of melanomacrophages were observed in most of the livers from free-living bullfrogs. Additionally, hepatocytes showed cytoplasmic eosinophilia and some showed nuclear hypertrophy and presence of microvesicular steatosis; small foci of infiltrates of mononuclear cells were observed in some samples, as well as a thicker capsule. In the farmed bullfrogs, cytoplasmic rarefaction was normal. Morphologically, unlike the livers of animals reared on farms, the livers of free-living animals did not show any evidence of protein-mineral deficiency, characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolation and a larger number of melanomacrophages, suggesting greater aggression to the liver parenchyma, probably due to environmental toxicity. Free-living bullfrogs feed on proteins of better biological value, derived from animals preyed in the natural environment.

RESUMO Apesar da evolução tecnológica da ranicultura, ainda é possível perceber que as questões voltadas para o meio ambiente, biossegurança e emprego de tecnologias que reduzam o impacto ambiental, são frequentemente ignoradas pelos criadores. Com o objetivo de desenvolver uma tecnologia de baixo custo para reuso e preservação da água foi implantado um sistema de filtragem anaeróbia, acoplado à filtragem aeróbia, no setor de engorda inundado do ranário experimental da Fundação Instituto de Pesca do Rio de Janeiro (FIPERJ). O sistema de filtragem recebeu o efluente de seis baias de engorda. A eficiência do sistema foi avaliada, por meio da análise da água antes e depois da passagem nos filtros. Além dos padrões de qualidade da água foi observado o desempenho dos animais, por meio das taxas de sobrevivência, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram a eficiência do sistema, em média foram removidos 87% da matéria orgânica. Os valores médios de amônia total e amônia não ionizável, após a filtragem aeróbia, foram respectivamente 1.04 e 0.004 mg/L. Conclui-se, ainda, que as rãs submetidas ao sistema apresentaram taxas satisfatórias de ganho de peso, conversão alimentar e sobrevivência (97%).

ABSTRACT Despite the technological progress in frog farming, issues related to the environment, biosafety, and the use of technologies that minimise environmental impacts are frequently neglected by farmers. With the goal of developing a low-cost technology for reuse and preservation of water quality, an anaerobic filtering system combined with an aerobic filtering system was implemented in the grow-out sector in the Frog Culture Research Unit at Fundação Instituto de Pesca do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FIPERJ). The filtering system received the effluent from six pens of frogs that were populated with 362 frogs in different development phases. The efficiency of the filtering system was evaluated by an analysis of the water before and after passing through the filters. In addition to the standards of water quality, the animals' performance was also observed through monitoring rates of survival, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The results showed the effectiveness of the filtering system by removing organic matter, on average 87%. The values of total ammonia and non-ionisable reached 1.04 and 0.004 mg/L, respectively. Also, frogs subjected to the system presented satisfactory rates of weight gain and a high survival rate (97%).

A partir dos valores de digestibilidade de alguns ingredientes foram propostas dietas, com diferentes níveis de proteína e energia digestíveis, em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, destinadas a girinos de rã-touro para avaliar o desempenho zootécnico. O experimento, com duração de 60 dias, foi conduzido com 810 girinos, oriundos da mesma desova, distribuídos em 27 caixas de polipropileno, em uma densidade de 1girino/L. O delineamento experimental foi um esquema fatorial com três níveis de proteína digestível (27; 31 e 35%) e três níveis de energia digestível (2.700; 2.800 e 2.900kcal/kg) com três réplicas. Os parâmetros avaliados aos 60 dias foram ganho de peso, consumo da dieta, consumo em proteína da dieta, conversão alimentar, taxa de eficiência proteica e índice de sobrevivência. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e ao teste de Duncan (95% de precisão). Os resultados encontrados não apresentaram interação entre proteína e energia digestível para nenhum parâmetro avaliado. Em relação à proteína digestível, foram verificadas diferenças nos parâmetros consumo em proteína da dieta e taxa de eficiência proteica (TEP), o que demonstra ineficiência das dietas com altos valores proteicos. Deve-se oferecer aos girinos de rã-touro dietas com 27% de proteína digestível, por apresentarem melhor resultado para taxa de eficiência proteica e para consumo em proteína da dieta.

From the digestibility values of some ingredients, it was proposed diets with different levels of digestible protein and energy, in a 3x3 factorial design for bullfrog tadpoles, aiming at evaluate the zootechnical performance. The experiment was conducted during 60 days with 810 tadpoles from the same spawning distributed into 27 polypropylene boxes at a density of 1 tadpole/L. The experimental design consisted of a factorial arrangement with three levels of digestible protein (27; 31 and 35%) and three levels of digestible energy (2700; 2800 and 2900kcal/kg) with three repetitions. Parameters evaluated at 60 days were weight gain, feed intake, dietary protein intake, feed conversion, protein efficiency rate and survival rate. Results were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan test (95% accuracy), and presented no interaction between digestible protein and digestible energy for any parameter evaluated. As for the digestible protein, significant differences were detected in the dietary protein intake, and protein efficiency rate, evidencing inefficiency of diets with high protein values. Bullfrog tadpoles should be given diets with 27% digestible protein by having the best result for the protein efficiency rate and for the dietary protein intake, with the lowest value and similar to other levels among evaluated parameters.

Avaliou-se a relação entre a qualidade da proteína bruta da ração e a sanidade de imagos de rã-touro (Lithobates catesbeianus) por meio de necropsia e exame histopatológico dos animais. Independentemente do nível de proteína bruta da ração, os animais apresentaram hepatite linfocitária; colite e achatamento das microvilosidades; rins com áreas de tubulonefrose e calcificação de túbulos renais; miocardite e dissociação das fibras musculares cardíacas. Essas lesões sugerem quadro degenerativo nutricional, com desenvolvimento de processos inflamatórios que se difundem para todos os órgãos. Esses achados indicam que os animais foram alimentados com proteínas de baixo valor biológico, como resultado de má qualidade das rações, o que compromete sua sanidade e seu desempenho. Estudos complementares são necessários para compreensão do comportamento bioquímico de rãs-touro em sua segunda fase de vida e para o entendimento da nutrição desses animais.

The relationship between the quality of dietary crude protein and health of bullfrog juveniles (Lithobates catesbeianus) was evaluated by necropsy and histopathological examination of animals. The histopathology results showed that animals fed different feeds, regardless of CP levels, presented lymphocytary hepatitis, colitis and flattened microvillosities; kidneys with areas of tubulonephrosis and renal tubule calcification; myocarditis and cardiac muscular fiber dissociation. Such injuries suggested a degenerative nutritional process, with development of inflammatory processes spread to all the organs. These findings suggested that the animals had been fed with proteins of low biological value, indicating, apparently, poor feed quality, that harmed the health of the frogs and, consequently, their performance. Complementary studies are necessary to understand the biochemical behavior of the bullfrog in its second phase of life, supplying data for a better understanding of the nutrition of these animals.