ABSTRACT The nutritional quality of tilapia fillet is characterized by low omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different dietary concentrations of chia (Salvia hispanica) and flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) meal on the omega-3 fatty acid content of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillet. Six experimental diets incorporating 5, 10, and 15% chia or flaxseed meals, respectively, were given to the fish (238.36 ± 7.61 g, initial weight) for 45 days before harvesting. The α-linolenic acid (ALA) and n-3 PUFA contents in the fillet differed significantly among diets (P < 0.05). Diets containing 15% chia or flaxseed meal had the highest concentrations of ALA (4.80 and 4.75%, respectively) and n-3 PUFA (13.65 and 15.92%, respectively). Thus, chia or flaxseed meal dietary inclusion increased the ALA and n-3 PUFA contents in the tilapia fillet. Chia or flaxseed meals are useful and potential alternatives to improve the nutritional value of O. niloticus fillets.

ABSTRACT The gonadal maturation of the pleasure oyster Crassostrea corteziensis during four cultivation cycles (November 2004-June 2005, N4J5; August 2014-February 2016, A14F16; September 2015-December 2016, S15D16; September 2016-August 2017, S16A17) was studied in the southeastern Gulf of California, Mexico. Although C. corteziensis exhibited the typical reproductive phases (undifferentiated or resting, initial gametogenesis, advanced gametogenesis, maturity, spawning and post-spawning), the intensity of reproduction and the timing of the onset of the different phases of gonadal development varied in each cultivation cycle. Reproductive peaks were observed in different months (N4J5 in May, A14F16 in July, S15D16 in May and S16A17 in June) during spring and summer. Spawning correlated with temperature in the N4J5 and A14F16 cultivation cycles but it showed no correlation with chlorophyll-a concentration in any of the cultivation cycles. C. corteziensis presented an opportunistic continuous reproductive strategy with spawning occurring during several months of the year. The modification of the species' reproduction pattern could contribute to the natural settlement of larvae, increasing the natural production of this native oyster resource in the southeast of the Gulf of California, where it has been fished intensively.

ABSTRACT The squalid callista clam (Megapitaria squalida) is a popular raw seafood item for human consumption; however, as a filter feeder, this clam accumulates heavy metals from natural and anthropogenic sources. The concentrations of copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) in sediments and the soft tissues of M. squalida from two sites on the southeastern coast of the Gulf of California, Mexico, were evaluated from April 2016 to April 2017 on a monthly basis. The metal concentrations in sediments from both sites did not exceed the Mexican and international regulations. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in the clams from Altata bay (2.49 and 5.68 µg/g dw, respectively) and Agiabampo bay (2.38 and 5.54 µg/g dw, respectively) exceeded the permissible limits recommended by Mexican sanitary regulations, thus representing a threat to human health. The higher values of Cd, As, and Hg obtained for the biota sediment accumulation factor in both sampling areas indicate that squalid callista is a strong accumulator of these metals. The metal burdens in sediments and M. squalida soft tissues are influenced by chemicals from agriculture and aquaculture, as well as urban sewage disposal near both sites. This study brings useful information on metal bioaccumulation in one of the most important commercial clam species on the Pacific coast.

RESUMEN La almeja callista escuálida (Megapitaria squalida) es un marisco popular que se consume crudo, pero por ser filtrador, puede acumular metales pesados de fuentes naturales y antrópicas. En el presente trabajo se evaluaron, de abril de 2016 a abril de 2017, las concentraciones mensuales de cobre (Cu), cadmio (Cd), cromo (Cr), níquel (Ni), plomo (Pb), zinc (Zn), arsénico (As) y mercurio (Hg) en sedimentos y tejidos blandos de M. squalida de dos sitios de la costa sureste del Golfo de California, México. Los niveles de metales en los sedimentos de ambos sitios no excedieron las regulaciones mexicanas e internacionales. Las concentraciones de Cd y Pb en las almejas de la bahía de Altata (2.49 y 5.68 µg/g ps, respectivamente) y la bahía de Agiabampo (2.38 y 5.54 µg/g ps, respectivamente) sí excedieron los límites permisibles recomendados por las regulaciones sanitarias mexicanas, lo que representa una amenaza para la salud humana. El factor de acumulación de sedimentos en la biota para las dos áreas muestreadas indica que la almeja callista escuálida es un acumulador fuerte de Cd, As y Hg. Las concentraciones metálicas en los sedimentos y los tejidos blandos de M. squalida están influenciadas por los productos químicos utilizados en la agricultura y la acuicultura, así como por el suministro de aguas residuales urbanas cercanas a ambos sitios. Este estudio brinda información útil sobre la bioacumulación de metales en una de las especies de almejas comerciales más importantes de la costa del Pacífico.

ABSTRACT Background: Different species of Perkinsus spp. have been associated to mortality of commercial mollusks. Goals: The prevalence of Perkinsus sp. in the callista clam Megapitaria squalida was evaluated monthly (June 2015 to November 2016) to determine the relationship between the infection and size of clam. Methods: 5,000 clam seeds (5.73 mm height of the shell and 0.03 g of initial weight) were placed in a fishing refuge of Altata, Sinaloa. A total of 60 specimens were collected each month to evaluate their growth and parasite prevalence. The water physicochemical parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, depth, and transparency) and the length, height, and width of the shell and final weight of M. squalida were obtained. Results: Ray’s thioglycollate fluid medium test (MFTR) detected spherical cells (10X) of dark color indicating the presence of presumed hypnospores of Perkinsus sp. during the first 17 months of sampling. The mean infection intensity was grade 2 (mild), while the maximum prevalence was 43.33% in the months of November (2015) and March (2016), with an average of 21.05%. None of the Perkinsus sp sample (n = 112) positively detected by MFTR confirmed the presence of the protozoan. There was no correlation (p >0.05) between the prevalence of the pathogen with all the parameters studied. Conclusions: The results suggest that M. squalida is not susceptible to Perkinsus sp. The present represents the first report of Perkinsus sp. in the callista clam M. squalida.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: Diferentes especies del protozoario Perkinsus spp. han sido asociados con mortalidades de moluscos comerciales. Objetivos: Se evaluó la prevalencia de Perkinsus sp. en la almeja Megapitaria squalida (junio 2015 a noviembre de 2016) para determinar la relación de la infección con la talla. Métodos: Se sembraron 5,000 semillas (5.73 mm altura de la concha y 0.03 g de peso inicial) en un refugio pesquero de Altata, Sinaloa. Se recolectaron 60 ejemplares cada mes para evaluar su crecimiento y prevalencia del parásito. Se obtuvieron los parámetros fisicoquímicos del agua (temperatura, salinidad, pH, oxígeno disuelto, profundidad y transparencia) y la longitud, largo y ancho de la concha y peso final de M. squalida. Resultados: La prueba de medio fluido de tioglicolato de Ray (MFTR) detectó células esféricas (10X) de color obscuro, indicando la presencia de presuntas hipnosporas de Perkinsus sp. durante los primeros 17 meses de muestreo. La intensidad de la infección promedio fue de grado 2 (leve), mientras que la prevalencia máxima fue de 43.33% en los meses de noviembre (2015) y marzo (2016), con un promedio de 21.05%. Ninguna de las muestras positivas (n = 112) de Perkinsus sp. con MFTR confirmó la presencia del protozoario. No se obtuvo correlación (p >0.05) entre la prevalencia del patógeno con todos los parámetros estudiados. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que M. squalida es poco susceptible a la infección de Perkinsus sp. El presente trabajo representa el primer reporte de Perkinsus sp. en la almeja chocolata M. squalida.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated growth responses of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei by testing different combinations of Jatropha curcas kernel meal (JCK) and tilapia waste silage (FS) as dietary protein sources under laboratory and pond conditions. A reference diet (RD) based on fish meal was elaborated to contain 35% crude protein and 434 kcal/g; then, five isoproteic and isoenergetic experimental diets were formulated from RD with different FS/JCK proportions as follows: 75%FS/0%JCK; 56.25%FS/13.25%JCK; 26.5%FS/30.89%JCK; 18.75%FS/39.75%JCK; and 0%FS/53%JCK. For the laboratory trial, shrimp (2.90 g) were stocked at 10 m2 in an indoor recirculating system during 90 days. There were differences among the growth parameters of diets. Mean weight gain fluctuated from 6.71±0.61 g observed for the shrimp fed the 75%FS/ 0%JCK diet, to 9.70±0.61 g for the group fed the RD. The RD and 18.75%FS/39.75%JCK diet obtained the highest mean final weight (above 12 g), weight gain (above 9 g), and specific growth rate values (above 1.6%/day). Average final survival was 90.97%. The RD and 18.75%FS/39.75%JCK diets were used for the pond trial. Shrimp (0.49 g) were stocked at 10 m2 within 1-m3 cages into the pond for 35 days. Weight gain (3.47 g) and survival (93.33%) of shrimps were similar between the diets. Quadratic equations with the laboratory data indicated that the maximum responses for growth parameters correspond to FS and JKC inclusion levels in the range of 27.83 to 29.00%, and 32.25 to 33.64%, respectively. A combination of 18.75% FS/39.75%JCK meals as protein source is a potential alternative to effectively substitute FM in practical diets for L. vannamei at the studied ages under both laboratory and pond conditions.

ABSTRACT In this work, we studied the digestibility, growth, blood chemistry, and enzyme activity of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles (0.95±0.18 g) using different animal (fish silage meal, whey meal, bovine blood meal, and red crab meal) and plant (extruded bean, extruded chickpea meal, coconut paste, Jatropha curcas meal, and chickpea meal) dietary byproducts. Nine isocaloric diets (321.92±9.10 kcal g−1) were evaluated for 60 days. The highest digestibility of crude protein values for animal and plant sources were obtained for the whey (93.6) and extruded bean meal (90.5) diets, respectively. The final body weight was higher for the red crab and extruded chickpea meal diets, meanwhile the fish silage and red crab byproducts obtained the highest protein efficiency ratio. Hematocrit was similar among the diets of each byproduct source and presented correlation with growth parameters. The highest glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride values were obtained for fish silage (138.0, 260.5, and 389.0 mg dL−1, respectively) and whey meal (174.5, 242.3, and 284.0 mg dL−1, respectively) groups. A positive correlation was found between the digestibility of crude protein of ingredients and chymotrypsin activity. Oreochromis niloticus is able to better utilize fish silage, whey, extruded bean, and extruded chickpea byproducts, adjusting its digestive physiology. Such ingredients can be used for formulating cheaper and efficient tilapia diets.

Our objective was to assess the quality of eggs and juvenile of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from broodstock of three commercial hatcheries (Hl, H2, and H3). Larval weight was significantly higher for H2 and H3 hatcheries (P < 0.05). After 45-day growth, weight of juveniles of H2 was higher, while specific growth rate was significantly higher for H1 and H2 (P < 0.05). After the ammonia stress test, no significant differences in mortality were found among larvae from the three hatcheries, although a positive relationship between carbohydrate content in eggs and juvenile mortality was observed (P < 0.05). After the salinity stress test, the lowest and highest mortality (P < 0.05) occurred respectively in tilapia larvae from the H1 (24.2%) and H3 (57.8%) hatcheries. We concluded that egg quality was not affected by tilapia broodstock from the three hatcheries studied, but differences were obtained for growth performance, carbohydrate content, and survival of juveniles when exposed to the salinity stress test. These three indexes should be considered as potential juvenile quality criteria for tilapia.

ABSTRACT The objective of our study was to assess the apparent digestibility of plant ingredients in diets for juvenile (50 g) and adult (220 g) Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Dietary dry matter and protein apparent digestibility coefficients of four plant-derived feedstuffs (chickpea, maize, high-quality maize protein, and beans) were tested. The beans diet had the lowest apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter (ADCDM) (69.41%), while no significant differences were detected in ADCDM among the other diets; ADCDM was significantly higher in adults compared with juveniles (77.02 vs. 73.76%). Apparent dry matter digestibility coefficient of ingredients (ADCI) was significantly higher in the chickpea (70.48%) and high-quality protein maize (71.09%) ingredients, and lower in the beans (52.79%) ingredient. Apparent dry matter digestibility coefficient of ingredients was significantly higher in juveniles compared with adults (72.56 vs. 56.80%). The protein digestibility of diet (ADCCP) was significantly higher in the reference diet (93.68%), while the lowest corresponded to the maize (87.86%) and beans (87.29%) diets. Significantly lower apparent digestibility coefficient of protein (ADCICP ) was obtained with the high-quality maize protein (59.11%) and maize (49.48%) ingredients, while higher ADCICP was obtained with the chickpea and beans ingredients (71.31 and 63.89%, respectively). The apparent digestibility coefficient of ingredient crude protein ADCICP was significantly higher in juveniles compared with adults (67.35 vs. 53.46). Digestibility is generally higher in juveniles, and we recommend using chickpea as an ingredient in diets for Nile tilapia.

ABSTRACT The objective of the present work was to identify and validate single nucleotide variations located in candidate genes to growth traits in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Two transitions were identified in the promoter region of the growth hormone gene (GH); eight nucleotide changes were identified in introns and promoter region of the IGF-I gene; and a transition (T/C) was identified in the Myogenin gene (MyoG). The highest genotypic frequency (0.8) for GHpA1 and MyoG was found in the GG and TT homozygous individuals, while the highest frequency (0.9) for GHpB1 was observed in the CT heterozygous fish. There was no genotypic frequency in the CC homozygous tilapia for the GHpB1 and MyoG markers. Based on their allelic frequencies, validation as novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of those variations located at O. niloticus GH and MyoG genes was possible. These new markers will allow their association with growth traits in tilapia to be exploited in order to determine their potential use as assisted-selection markers.

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is one of the endemic fishes of North America with the greatest potential for aquaculture. Despite this, data of its current distribution is scare and many aspects of its dynamic and productive performance remain unknown. In the present study, results are reported from a literature search and field analysis for describing the current status of channel catfish in Mexico regarding its historical and current geographical distribution as well as the problems faced by fish farmers and production systems. We were able to identify a lack of information and indicators to properly assess the extent of the species natural habitat and its productive potential. The quality and availability of water are among the main problems of the industry. Food costs represent the larger cost-loss for producers and there is great heterogeneity on the management of both breeding and production farms. Much of the production dynamics follows a pattern of trial and error. It became clear the need to optimize and standardize the processes on the channel catfish production system and to properly characterize domestic and wild populations to maximize their potential.

El bagre de canal (Ictalurus punctatus) es uno de los peces endémicos de Norte América con mayor potencial para la acuicultura. A pesar de esto, los datos sobre su distribución actual son escasos y se desconocen muchos aspectos de su dinámica y desempeño productivo. En el presente estudio se reportan los resultados de una búsqueda bibliográfica y análisis de campo que permiten describir la situación actual del bagre de canal con respecto a su distribución geográfica histórica y actual, así como de la problemática que enfrentan los sistemas productivos de esta especie en México. Se identificó la falta de información e indicadores que permitan conocer la extensión de su hábitat natural, movilización o potencial productivo. La calidad y disponibilidad del agua figuran entre las principales problemáticas de la industria; el alimento supone el mayor gasto para los productores y existe gran heterogeneidad de manejo tanto en granjas reproductoras como de engorde, gran parte de la dinámica productiva sigue un modelo de ensayo y error. Se requiere optimizar y homologar los procesos del sistema productivo de bagre de canal, así como caracterizar correctamente las poblaciones domésticas y silvestres para aprovechar al máximo su potencial.

Os parâmetros do crescimento (comprimento padrão, peso, taxa de crescimento específica e ganho diário do peso) de juveniles do Macrobrachium tenellum alimentaram a 40% a proteína crua as dietas isoproteic que substituem a refeição de peixes com feijão de soya a refeição nos vários níveis (20, 40, 60, 80 e 100%) foi avaliada por 45 dias sob condições do laboratório. As dietas experimentais foram comparadas com uma dieta baseada da refeição de peixes de 100%. A sobrevivência total foi gravada para todos os tratamentos no fim da experiência. Não havia nenhuma diferença significativa (p > 0.05) para todos os parâmetros do crescimento entre os tratamentos dietéticos. O peso médio inicial (0.36 ± 0.10 g) aumentado quase três vezes (1.00 ± 0.13 g) após 45 dias da cultura. O crescimento específico final flutuou de 1.82% BW/d para a dieta do inclusion da refeição do feijão de soya de 60%, a 2.62% obtidos para a dieta da refeição de peixes de 100%. A sobrevivência final média foi de 91.66%. O desempenho do crescimento de juveniles do M. tenellum não foi afetado pelos níveis dietéticos da refeição do feijão de soya testados.

Growth parameters (standard length, weight, specific growth rate and daily weight gain) of prawn Macrobrachium tenellum juveniles fed 40% crude protein isoproteic diets substituting fish meal with soya bean meal at various levels (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%) were evaluated for 45 days under laboratory conditions. Experimental diets were compared with a 100% fish meal based diet. Total survival was recorded for all the treatments at the end of the experiment. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) for all the growth parameters among the dietary treatments. The initial mean weight (0.36 ± 0.10 g) increased almost three times (1.00 ± 0.13 g) after 45 days. The final specific growth fluctuated from 1.82% BW/d for the 60% soya bean meal inclusion diet, to 2.62% for the 100% fish meal diet. The mean final survival was 91.66%. Growth performance of M. tenellum juveniles was not affected by the dietary soya bean meal levels tested.