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Ascorbic acid requirement and histopathological changes due to its deficiency in juvenile spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner, 1869)

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Abstract

A 13-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal dietary ascorbic acid (AA) requirement of juvenile spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus). Six experimental diets containing 0, 7, 19, 29, 62 and 250 mg AA equivalent kg−1 diet, supplied as l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate designated as VC0, VC7, VC19, VC29, VC62 and VC250, were fed ad libitum to triplicate groups of 20 juveniles [initial weight (IW) of 8 ± 1.85 g]. Nutrient deficiency resulting in fin erosion, dark skin, desquamation and erratic swimming was observed after 8 weeks in fish fed diets from 0 to 29 mg AA kg−1. Fish that were fed all diets showed gill, kidney and brain alterations. The degree of tissue change values indicates that increasing vitamin C (VC) levels reduces these alterations. Fish fed diets VC29, VC62 and VC 250 showed a significantly higher growth rate in comparison with those fed the diets VC0, VC7 and VC17 (P > 0.05). The dietary requirement of VC in L. guttatus was estimated to be 29 mg kg−1 of AA based on weight gain and specific growth rate, but more than 250 mg kg−1 of AA is required to eliminate clinical signs and histopathological lesions.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Ascorbic acid

VC:

Vitamin C

LA2PP:

l-Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate

DTC:

Degree tissue change

MAV:

Mean assessment value

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a research grant from the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT) of Mexico (Project 82991). This work was performed to fulfil the M.Sc. thesis of Briseida Osuna-Durán. The authors are grateful to Biol. Blanca Rodríguez González for her collaboration in the proximal analysis in the Nutrition Laboratory and M.Sc. Estela Rodríguez Ibarra for assistance with student training for taking care of the experimental fish. We highly appreciate the help of Gemma Franklin in the English revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad Mazatlán en Acuicultura y Manejo Ambiental del Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo (CIAD), A.C. Av. Sábalo Cerritos s/n. Estero del Yugo, A.P. 711, C.P. 82010, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico

    María Cristina Chávez-Sánchez, Briseida Osuna-Durán, Isabel Abdo de la Parra, Selene María Abad-Rosales & Irma Martínez-Rodríguez

  2. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Unidad Mérida, Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

    Miguel Angel Olvera-Novoa

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  1. María Cristina Chávez-Sánchez
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  2. Miguel Angel Olvera-Novoa
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  3. Briseida Osuna-Durán
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  4. Isabel Abdo de la Parra
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  5. Selene María Abad-Rosales
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Correspondence to María Cristina Chávez-Sánchez.

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Chávez-Sánchez, M.C., Olvera-Novoa, M.A., Osuna-Durán, B. et al. Ascorbic acid requirement and histopathological changes due to its deficiency in juvenile spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner, 1869). Aquacult Int 22, 1891–1909 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-014-9790-6

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