Avaliação do potencial imunoestimulante e metabólico do extrato de geoprópolis em juvenis de Jundiá Rhamdia Quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824).

Abstract

The production of native species in Brazil has been gaining importance in aquaculture scenario and Jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) is considered one of the native fish species with great potential for intensive cultivation. However, the intensification of intensive cultivation of Jundiá can provide conditions for the introduction and spreading of diseases with consequent financial losses to the producer. Thus, this condition arises the need for alternatives to control the diseases and the search for solutions to prevent and / or reduce the risk of transmission of infectious and parasitic diseases in populations of healthy fishes. Several compounds derived from plants and animals have been used in the prevention of diseases in fish and an alternative is to supplement the diets with these compounds. Taking this into account, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential effect of supplementation of different concentrations of geopropolis extract on hematological, immunological and metabolic variables in juvenile phase of Jundiá (R. quelen). After acclimation, animals were distributed into tanks of 56 L of a closed recirculating system divided into three treatments: control diet, diet supplemented with 0.5% and 2% geopropolis extract concentrations and fed over a period of 18 days. At the end of the experiment, the fish were anesthetized for blood collection for the evaluation of hematological, immune and metabolic variables and later euthanized. The 0.5% and 2% geopropolis extracts concentrations influenced the glucose metabolism and the enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of the animals during the study period. Furthermore, the geopropolis extracts showed a dose dependent effect on the hematological parameters suggesting a potential toxic effect and/or a physiological adaptation to the geopropolis extract. On the other hand, the extracts suplemmentation influenced neither the defense cells nor the animals’ growth in the period studied. Also, it did not influence the water quality parameters measured during the present study. Based on that, longer studies with different geopropolis concentrations are mandatory in order to verify and guarantee the effectiveness and safety of the geopropolis as an immunostimulant for jundiás juveniles (R. quelen).