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This study was performed to determine the optimum dietary carbohydrate (CHO) levels of sea cucumber, based on the parameters of growth, digestive enzymes, digestibility, non‐specific immune enzymes and acute low‐salinity (20 g/L) stress and high‐temperature (30°C) stress tolerance. Diets with eight different CHO (dextrin) levels (32.9, 107.6, 192.5, 257.2, 316.8, 428.0, 482.4 and 572.8 g/kg) were fed to sea cucumber juveniles (0.49 ± 0.01 g) for 60 days. Significant higher amylase activity was observed in sea cucumbers fed diet with CHO ranging between 32.9 and 192.5 g/kg than that of other treatments (p <.05). The sea cucumbers fed with 192.5 g/kg CHO showed significantly higher acid phosphatase activity than the treatments of 482.4 and 572.8 g/kg CHO (p <.05), and significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity than other treatments (p <.05, except 257.2 g/kg). The treatments of 428.0–572.8 g/kg were found significantly lower values than other treatments in apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter and crude protein (p <.05). The sea cucumbers fed with 192.5, 257.2 and 316.8 g/kg CHO showed better tolerance to high‐temperature (30°C) and low‐salinity (20 g/L) stress than other treatments. In brief, the optimal dietary CHO level for the growth of juvenile sea cucumber is 177.96 g/kg. However, excessive CHO will inhibit amylase enzyme activity and decrease digestibility, resulting in low growth of sea cucumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triplicate groups of sea cucumbers (4.83 ± 0.15 g) were exposed to one of the four nominal concentrations of dietary mercury [0 (control), 67.6, 338, and 676 mg/kg dry weight, and actually total mercury were 17.55, 87.00, 275.50, 468.50 mg/kg, respectively; Table 3] for 21 days. Mercury accumulation in the intestine showed the greatest mercury burden (77.96 ± 1.20 mg Hg/kg tissue wet weight basis). However, survival rate (SR) was not affected. Body weight gain after the 676 mg Hg/kg treatment was significantly lower than the control group. The feed conversion rate of the 676 mg Hg/kg treatment group was significantly higher than the control group. Additionally, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) of sea cucumbers decreased as the mercury dose increased. SOD, T-AOC and alkaline phosphatase of the 676 mg Hg/kg treatment group were significantly lower than the control group. However, there were no significant differences between the four groups in acid phosphatase and catalase (CAT) activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 56-d feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lysine levels on growth performance, intestinal digestive enzymes, and nonspecific immune response of Apostichopus japonicus juveniles. Five semipurified diets were formulated to contain graded levels of lysine (from 0.28 to 2.32% of dry matter). Although no significant differences ( P > 0.05) were observed in survival rate, final weight ( FW), and body weight gain ( BWG), the FW and BWG increased from 0.28 to 1.19% with increasing dietary lysine levels, then showed a declining tendency. Broken-line regression analysis of BWG indicated sea cucumber requires lysine at 0.76% of dry diet. Proximate composition, lysine content of the body wall, and total amino acid profiles were not affected by dietary treatments. Intestinal protease level increased with increasing dietary lysine level from 0.28 to 1.19%, then decreased. Acid phosphatase and superoxide dismutase activities of the sea cucumbers were not affected by various dietary lysine levels; however, significantly ( P < 0.05) higher alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in sea cucumbers fed 2.32% lysine diet than those fed diets having 0.28 and 1.89% lysine. Overall, sea cucumber juveniles fed with diets containing between 0.76 and 1.19% lysine showed better growth performance, digestive enzymes, and nonspecific immune enzyme activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 ( HK L-137) on growth performance, digestive, non-specific immune and phagocytosis of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Sea cucumbers (initial body weight 1.35 ± 0.04 g) were fed diets supplemented with five levels of HK L-137 (0, 0.005, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.25 g HK L-137 kg−1 diets) for 60 days. Results indicated sea cucumbers fed with diets containing 0.05 and 0.25 g HK L-137 kg−1 diets showed significantly ( P < 0.05) higher body weight gain and specific growth rate than other groups. Sea cucumbers fed with diets containing 0.05 and 0.25 g HK L-137 kg−1 diets showed significantly ( P < 0.05) higher protease activity than control group. Higher amylase, lysozyme and phagocytic activities were found in 0.25 g HK L-137 kg−1 diet group. Higher superoxide dismutase enzyme and alkaline phosphatase activity was found in 0.05 g HK L-137 kg−1. While no significant differences ( P > 0.05) were found in acid phosphatase activity. These results suggested that dietary supplementation of 0.05 g HK L-137 kg−1 diets would have benefit on growth, digestive enzymes and several non-specific immune parameters of sea cucumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]