Lutein enrichment of the rotifer Brachionus sp. using freeze-dried Muriellopsis sp. cells

Rotifers, used in aquaculture as feed for early larval stages, are poor in carotenoids compared with copepods, the natural most common prey item of marine fish larvae. A minimal sufficient level of carotenoids in fish larvae may be essential for a correct development. The freshwater microalga Muriellopsis sp. has been identified as a potential source of the carotenoid lutein with possible application in aquaculture. Lutein is a potent antioxidant, with potentially beneficial effects as a carotenoid for fish larvae. This study describes the lutein enrichment of the rotifer Brachionus sp. when incubated with homogeneously dispersed suspensions of freeze-dried, lutein-rich Muriellopsis sp. in seawater. A short enrichment time (2 or 2.5 h) resulted in a higher lutein content of the rotifers than a long enrichment time (13.5 or 24 h). Although the concentration of lutein in enriched rotifers, 0.06–0.16 mg (g dry weight) 1 was low compared with its content in Muriellopsis sp. [about 3 mg (g dry weight) 1 ], it was in the range reported for natural copepod populations. Therefore, we conclude that freeze-dried biomass of Muriellopsis sp. can be used to enrich rotifers with lutein, providing an adequate level of this carotenoid for marine fish larvae.