<b>Supplementation with DL-&alpha; tocopheryl acetate and parasitism by <em>Anacanthorus penilabiatus</em> (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) in <em>Piaractus mesopotamicus</em> (Osteichthyes: Characidae)</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v27i1.1244

Abstract

The rates of Anacanthorus penilabiatus parasitism were investigated in 126 pacus, (Piaractus mesopotamicus) -with initial weight of 95.71 ± 24.23 g and final weight of 155.76 ± 28.62 g, from the same spawn and naturally infested. Fishes were randomly distributed among three groups of 42 animals each and submitted to treatment with 0, 100 and 450 mg of DL-α tocopheryl acetate/Kg of dry diet, fed twice a day during 18 weeks. The gills were evaluated according to the presence of parasites and collected blood samples. Although 100% of pacus examined were parasited, the results did not show statistical difference (P > 0.05) for parasite counting among the groups treated. Therefore, fish supplemented with vitamin E demonstrated lower parasites counts. In the same way, fish fed with low rates of vitamin E did not differ statistically (P > 0.05) to erythrocyte counts, hematocrit and average corpuscular volume when compared to the pacus supplemented with 100 and 450 mg of DL-α tocopheryl acetate. Dietary supplementation with vitamin E did not affect the pacus growth rates