Efeitos sinérgicos da vacinação e aditivos alimentares para tilápia (oreochromis niloticus) cultivadas em tanques-rede

Abstract

The intensification of tilapia farming in net cages increases susceptibility to diseases and productive inefficiencies. Strategies such as vaccination and the use of phytogenic additives emerge as alternatives to mitigate these challenges. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of vaccination and supplementation with and additive based on saponins from Quillaja saponaria and Yucca schidigera on the performance of Nile tilapia (Orechromis niloticus). The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme (with and without additive, and with and without vaccination), with three replications per treatment. After a production cycle, which lasted 66 days, vaccination and the additive significantly improved (p<0.05) weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The additive promoted an increase in intestinal villi height (p<0.05). A synergistic effect (p<0.05) was observed for commercial classification, where the combined treatment vaccine (+) and additive (+) resulted in the highest percentage of fish in the large category (L), significantly superior to the medium category (M). Hepatosomatic, viscerosomatic, and visceral fat indices were increased by vaccination (p<0.05), while the additive elevated the visceral fat index (p<0.05). It is concluded that the combination of vaccination and the dietary additive, acting through complementary mechanisms (intestinal health and efficiency), represents an innovative zootechnical strategy to maximize productivity and profitability in intensive tilapia farming.