QUALITATIVE REQUIREMENT FOR VITAMIN-B IN DIETS FOR THE GILTHEAD SEABREAM (SPARUS-AURATA L)

Semi-purified diets incorporating 495.4 g/kg crude protein and 72.0 g/ kg oil, were used to identify the qualitative requirement of Sparus au rata juveniles for thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin and pantoth enic acid, Deficiency of these vitamins was associated with poor perfo rmance in terms of growth, food efficiency and apparent net protein ut ilization. All dietary vitamin deficiencies resulted in elevated moist ure and a lowering of the lipid content of the carcass. In addition to increased mortality among the fish fed deficient diets, a small numbe r of externally visible changes were observed including food refusal, anorexia and changes of skin colour. Ar the haematological level, all cases of vitamin deficiency were associated with significant reduction s in haematocrit. In general, histological examination revealed that t he pancreas of vitamin-deficient animals became atrophic with an accum ulation of pigmented granules around this organ while additionally, th e normal homogeneity of the liver parenchyma was lost.