Effects of thymol:carvacrol association on health and zootechnical performance of tambaqui Colossoma macropomum

Rebeca Frota; Sílvia Umeda Gallani; Paulo  Divino Praxedes dos Santos; Carolina de Souza Pereira; César Augusto Oishi; Lígia Uribe Gonçalves; Gustavo Moraes Ramos Valladão

doi:10.20950/1678-2305/bip.2022.48.e725

Authors

Rebeca Frota Universidade Nilton Lins, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aquicultura – Manaus (AM), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0959-6141
Sílvia Umeda Gallani Universidade Nilton Lins, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aquicultura – Manaus (AM), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2635-3210
Paulo Divino Praxedes dos Santos Universidade Nilton Lins, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aquicultura – Manaus (AM), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7702-1270
Carolina de Souza Pereira Universidade Nilton Lins, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aquicultura – Manaus (AM), Brazi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4704-9165
César Augusto Oishi Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – Manaus (AM), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9871-181X
Lígia Uribe Gonçalves Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – Manaus (AM), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5014-6986
Gustavo Moraes Ramos Valladão Universidade Nilton Lins, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aquicultura – Manaus (AM), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3875-6247

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20950/1678-2305/bip.2022.48.e725

Abstract

Research in aquaculture shows that thymol and carvacrol are promising additives in fish diets. In this study, the effects of the thymol:carvacrol combination on health parameters and the zootechnical performance of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) were evaluated. The compounds were incorporated into five concentrations of feed. At intervals of 30 and 60 days, fish were sampled to evaluate haematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters, and after 60 days, zootechnical performance, parasitic load, and resistance to bacteriosis were evaluated. After 30 days, fish that received the highest concentrations of thymol:carvacrol showed a reduction in the number of thrombocytes and lymphocytes and an increase in eosinophils (p ≤ 0.05). After 60 days of feeding, haematological parameters were similar between all groups. Regarding the antiparasitic effect of the compounds, all groups had a high parasitic load (monogenean infestation). Regarding the prevention of bacteriosis, high mortality was detected in all groups after the experimental challenge with Aeromonas jandaei, with no greater protection for fish fed with thymol:carvacrol. In conclusion, it was observed that haematological results corroborate with research on mammals, in which the anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive effects of thymol and carvacrol are highlighted. However, the use of additives for aquaculture should be discussed carefully, as the cost-benefit of supplementation is not a consensus.

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