Evaluation of Schizochytrium meal in microdiets of Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei) larvae.

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of dietary Schizochytrium meal supplementation on survival, growth performance, activities of digestive enzymes and fatty acid composition in Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei) larvae (initial body weight 4.21 ± 0.10 mg). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain graded levels of Schizochytrium meal: 0% (S0, the control diet), 2% (S2), 4% (S4) and 6% dry matter (S6). Results showed that there was no significant difference in survival of shrimps among dietary treatments ( P > 0.05). Shrimps fed diets with 2% and 4% microalgae meal had significantly higher specific growth rate (SGR) than that of shrimps fed diets with 0% and 6% microalgae meal, and no significant differences were observed between shrimps fed diets with 2% and 4% microalgae meal ( P > 0.05). Activity of trypsin in the pancreatic and intestinal segments, and activity of amylase in the pancreatic segments were not significantly affected by dietary microalgae meal levels ( P > 0.05). Specific activities of both alkaline phosphatase and leucine-aminopeptidase in intestine and purified brush border membrane of intestine were significantly higher in shrimps fed diet with 2% microalgae meal ( P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in C18:2n-6, n-3 fatty acids, n-6fatty acids, PUFA and n-3/n-6 in muscle samples among dietary treatments. C16:1n-7, C18:1n-9, MUFA, C18:3n-3 and C20:5n-3 decreased, however, C20:4n-6 increased in the muscle as dietary microalgae meal level increased. In conclusion, 4% Schizochytrium meal in microdiets of shrimps can improve growth performance and may be a valuable additive in the microdiets of shrimps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]