Serum Protein Profile of Juvenile Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) and Dourado (Salminus brasiliensis) Fed Bovine Colostrum as Partial Source of Protein in the Diet

Abstract

Objective: The electrophoretic profile of serum proteins was investigated in juvenile Piaractus mesopotamicus and Salminusbrasiliensis fed with diets containing bovine colostrum, a nutraceutical food, in lyophilized form (LBC) for either 30 or 60 days.Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from juveniles of P. mesopotamicus and S. brasiliensis fed for either 30 or 60days with diets containing 0%, 10% or 20% of LBC. Serum protein fractions were then determined by electrophoresis in agarose gel.Results: The P. mesopotamicus, an omnivorous fish, showed six serum protein fractions, while the S. brasiliensis, a carnivorous fish,showed four serum protein fractions. In both species the albumin fraction showed higher protein content at 30 days than at 60days (p