PUBLICATION

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) physiological and behavioural responses to insect-based diets: a multidisciplinary approach

Authors
Zarantoniello, M., Randazzo, B., Gioacchini, G., Truzzi, C., Giorgini, E., Riolo, P., Gioia, G., Bertolucci, C., Osimani, A., Cardinaletti, G., Lucon-Xiccato, T., Milanović, V., Annibaldi, A., Tulli, F., Notarstefano, V., Ruschioni, S., Clementi, F., Olivotto, I.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200702-6
Date
2020
Source
Scientific Reports   10: 10648 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Bertolucci, Cristiano, Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animal Feed/standards
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Diet*
  • Diptera/chemistry
  • Edible Insects/chemistry
  • Edible Insects/standards*
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
32606335 Full text @ Sci. Rep.
Abstract
Black Soldier Fly (BSF) meal is considered as an alternative, emerging and sustainable ingredient for aquafeed production. However, results on fish physiological responses are still fragmentary and often controversial, while no studies are available on fish behavior in response to these new diets. The present work represents the first comprehensive multidisciplinary study aimed to investigate zebrafish physiological and behavioural responses to BSF-based diets. Five experimental diets characterized by increasing inclusion levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% respect to fish meal) of full fat BSF prepupae meal were tested during a 2-months feeding trial. Prepupae were cultured on coffee silverskin growth substrate enriched with a 10% Schizochytrium sp. to improve insects' fatty acids profile. The responses of zebrafish were assayed through biometric, histological, gas chromatographic, microbiological, spectroscopic, molecular and behavioural analyses. Results evidenced that BSF-based diets affected fish fatty acid composition, while behavioural tests did not show differences among groups. Specifically, a 50% BSF inclusion level diet represented the best compromise between ingredient sustainability and proper fish growth and welfare. Fish fed with higher BSF inclusions (75 and 100%) showed hepatic steatosis, microbiota modification, higher lipid content, fatty acid modification and higher expression of immune response markers.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping